Personal property (Coverage C)
Furniture, electronics, clothing, kitchen items, and other belongings inside the rental, up to your selected limit.
Renters Insurance
Renters Insurance (HO‑4) in Florida and Georgia
Personal property, personal liability, additional living expenses, and the protection your landlord's policy was never going to give you. We size the limits to your actual belongings and exposure, and we issue the certificate of insurance your lease may require at signing.
Why this matters
Your landlord's insurance covers the building, not you.
The single most common misunderstanding in personal insurance is that your landlord's policy somehow covers your belongings or your personal liability. It does not. The landlord's policy covers the structure, the landlord's liability, and the landlord's lost rental income if the building becomes uninhabitable. Everything that is yours, and any liability you may have to others, is your responsibility to cover. Renters insurance is what fills that gap.
Whether you're moving into your first apartment, signing a lease that requires renters insurance with the landlord listed as additional interest, sharing a place with roommates, or just renting because you're not buying yet, we'll size the personal property and liability limits to match what you actually own and the exposure you actually have.
What's covered
What a renters policy includes.
Personal liability (Coverage E)
Pays if you're sued for bodily injury or property damage to others, including guests injured at your rental, up to your liability limit.
Loss of use (Coverage D)
Hotel, food, transportation, and similar additional living expenses while you're displaced from a covered loss that makes the unit uninhabitable.
Medical payments (Coverage F)
Small medical coverage for guests injured at your rental, regardless of fault, typically up to $1,000 to $5,000.
Off-premises coverage
Belongings stolen or damaged while you're traveling, at work, or otherwise away from the rental, typically up to 10% of your personal property limit.
Improvements and betterments
Limited coverage for upgrades you make to the rental (paint, fixtures, built-ins) that the landlord's policy would not cover.
Gaps
What renters coverage doesn't cover.
The building itself
The structure (walls, roof, plumbing, electrical, HVAC) is the landlord's responsibility, covered under the landlord's policy. Renters insurance is built to cover what is yours, not the building.
Flood damage
Excluded from every standard renters policy. NFIP and private flood carriers write a renters flood policy (covering personal property only) at low cost relative to the protection.
Roommates not on the policy
A renters policy covers the named insured(s). Roommates who aren't on the policy are not covered for their belongings or their liability. Each roommate should either be added or carry their own policy.
High-value items above category sublimits
Jewelry, watches, firearms, silverware, and similar categories have low default sublimits (often $1,500 to $2,500, sometimes only for theft). Higher-value items need scheduled personal property coverage.
Business use of the rental
Home-based business activities (clients visiting, inventory on premises, paid services) have limited business property coverage and generally excluded business liability. Business activity often needs a separate endorsement or commercial policy.
Routine wear, maintenance, and pest damage
Renters covers sudden accidental damage to your belongings, not gradual wear, deferred maintenance, rot, rust, or damage from pests (rodents, termites, bed bugs).
State knowledge
What to know about renters insurance in Florida and Georgia.
Florida
Not required by law
Landlord often requires
Hurricane exposure for belongings
Florida does not require renters insurance by state law, but most leases now require it as a condition of signing, often with the landlord listed as an additional interest on the policy. Personal property is exposed to the same hurricane risk as the building, and some Florida carriers apply a separate hurricane deductible to personal property losses (others use a single all-perils deductible). Flood is excluded from standard renters policies, which matters in Florida even outside designated flood zones.
Georgia
Not required by law
Landlord often requires
Hail and wind exposure
Georgia does not require renters insurance by state law either, but lease requirements are equally common. Hurricane exposure is lower than Florida, but tornado, hail, and straight-line wind storms create their own risk profile, especially in northern Georgia. We write renters in both states from our offices in Saint Augustine and Saint Johns.
Limits
Coverage limits to consider.
The first decision on a renters policy is replacement cost versus actual cash value. Actual cash value (ACV) pays the depreciated value of your belongings at claim time. Replacement cost pays what it costs to buy comparable new items at today's prices, with no depreciation. The premium difference is usually small, but the claim outcome is materially better with replacement cost. For most renters, replacement cost is the right answer.
Personal property limit should match what your belongings would actually cost to replace at today's prices, not what they're currently worth used. Most renters underestimate this, and most carriers default to a personal property limit that turns out to be low after a careful walk-through of furniture, electronics, clothing, and kitchen items. A simple inventory exercise is the best way to size the limit correctly.
Liability limits matter more than most renters realize. The cheapest liability tier (often $100,000) is the carrier's minimum, not a recommendation. Moving up to $300,000 or $500,000 is usually a small premium increase for substantially more protection, especially for households with pets, regular guests, or significant assets. For higher exposure, pairing renters with a personal umbrella extends liability across all your personal lines.
High-value items deserve a separate look. Standard renters policies cap jewelry, watches, firearms, silverware, and certain other categories at low sublimits, often only for theft. Engagement rings, watch collections, professional equipment, or fine art above the sublimit need to be scheduled separately, which provides agreed value, broader perils, and often no deductible.
Lower premium, depreciated payout
Actual cash value
Pays the depreciated value of your belongings at the time of loss. Lower premium. The shorter answer when premium savings outweigh the difference, often the case for renters with minimal belongings.
Recommended for most renters
Replacement cost
Pays what it costs to buy comparable new items at today's prices, with no depreciation. Slightly higher premium for materially better claim outcomes. The right choice for most renters.
Common scenarios
Situations that change your renters coverage.
Signing a lease that requires renters insurance
We can issue the certificate of insurance with your landlord listed as additional interest, typically same-day so coverage is in place at lease signing.
Adding or changing a roommate
Roommates not on the policy aren't covered. We can add a roommate as a named insured or help structure a separate policy for them.
Buying significant electronics or jewelry
Higher-value items above the standard category sublimits need to be scheduled separately. A photo and receipt is usually enough for most carriers.
Adding a dog or other pet
Pets affect liability underwriting. Some carriers exclude certain breeds, some require a specific endorsement. We confirm the carrier's position before binding.
Starting to work from home
Home-based business activity often exceeds the standard business property and liability limits on a renters policy. We can add the right endorsement or recommend a separate policy.
Moving across town or out of state
Premium and underwriting change based on the new address. Updating the policy at the move date keeps coverage current and accurate.
Premium and discounts
What goes into your renters premium.
What affects your premium
Renters premiums come down to a small number of factors. The biggest are the location (ZIP code), the personal property limit you choose, the liability limit you select, and whether you choose replacement cost or actual cash value. Building characteristics (age, construction type, fire protection, security features) also matter and are part of the underwriting carriers do on the rental itself.
Claims history (the CLUE report) follows the renter for several years and can affect both pricing and eligibility. Pets, particularly certain dog breeds, can affect both pricing and which carriers will write the policy at all. Deductible choice is the lever most renters don't realize they can use: a higher deductible reduces premium meaningfully on a renters policy.
No two carriers weight these factors the same way. Some carriers price renters aggressively to capture the bundle with auto; others write renters as a standalone product without aggressive pricing. We compare across carriers to find the right combination of price and coverage.
Discounts that may apply
Discounts on a renters policy are smaller in dollar terms than on home or auto, but renters premiums are also smaller, so even modest discounts produce meaningful savings. The biggest is usually the multi-policy bundle with auto.
Multi-policy bundling
Bundling renters with auto when the same carrier writes both lines. The most reliable and common renters discount.
Protective devices
Monitored security systems, smoke detectors, deadbolts, fire sprinklers, and gated community access can each carry small credits that stack with other discounts.
Claim-free history
A clean claims record over several years often produces a small but reliable discount with most carriers.
Payment and billing
Paid-in-full, autopay, and paperless billing are small individually but stack across a renewal cycle.
Available discounts vary widely between carriers. We check what you actually qualify for as part of the coverage review and tell you when a carrier's discount lineup makes bundling with auto worth more than the lowest standalone renters quote.
Decisions
When you actually need each coverage.
Actual cash value, or replacement cost?
For most renters, replacement cost is the right answer. The premium difference is usually small, but the claim outcome is materially better. A 5-year-old laptop, TV, or piece of furniture is worth a fraction of its purchase price under ACV; under replacement cost, the policy pays for a comparable new version. The exception is renters with minimal belongings where the premium savings outweigh the potential claim difference.
How much personal property coverage do I need?
Estimate what it would cost to replace everything you own at today's prices. Most renters underestimate this. A walk-through inventory of furniture, electronics, clothing, kitchen items, and personal belongings often surfaces meaningfully more than the carrier's default coverage. We'll help size the limit based on what you actually own.
What liability limit makes sense?
$100,000 is the carrier minimum on most renters policies. $300,000 is common and usually only a small premium increase. For renters with significant assets, pets that increase exposure, or households that regularly host guests, $500,000 or pairing renters with a personal umbrella policy is the right move. The liability portion of renters is one of the cheapest pieces of protection per dollar in personal insurance.
Should I schedule jewelry, watches, or electronics?
If you own items with significant value (engagement rings, watch collections, high-end electronics, professional equipment), scheduled personal property is almost always the right answer. Standard renters policies cap these categories at $1,500 to $2,500 and often only for theft. Scheduled coverage uses agreed value, covers broader perils, and often has no deductible.
Carriers
Carriers we work with for renters coverage.
We write renters insurance through multiple carriers, mostly bundled with auto when the same carrier writes both lines. The right fit depends on the rental's location and characteristics, your personal property and liability needs, any pets in the household, and what other policies you'd like to bundle.
Each carrier has a different appetite. Some price renters aggressively as a bundle product with auto; others write standalone renters at competitive standalone rates. We compare both, because the cheapest standalone renters quote and the cheapest bundled renters quote are often from different carriers.
Allstate
American Integrity
Cypress
Florida Peninsula
Monarch National
One Alliance
Security First
Slide
Tower Hill
Braishfield
Carrier appointments vary by line and state. Available carriers depend on the rental's location, your specific situation, and underwriting eligibility.
Questions
Renters insurance questions we hear a lot.
Is renters insurance required in Florida?
Florida does not require renters insurance by state law. However, most leases require renters insurance as a condition of signing, often with the landlord listed as an additional interest on the policy. Even where it's not required, the cost is small enough relative to the protection that most renters carry it voluntarily.
Does my landlord's insurance cover my belongings?
No. Your landlord's policy covers the building itself: the structure, the landlord's liability, and the landlord's lost rental income. It does not cover your belongings, your personal liability, or your additional living expenses if the unit becomes uninhabitable. Renters insurance is the policy that protects what is yours.
How much renters insurance do I need?
Personal property coverage should match the cost to replace everything you own at today's prices. Most renters underestimate this; a walk-through inventory of furniture, electronics, clothing, and kitchen items often surfaces more than the default coverage offered. Liability limits should match your overall household exposure, with $100,000 being a common minimum and $300,000 or higher being a frequent upgrade.
What's the difference between actual cash value and replacement cost?
Actual cash value (ACV) pays the depreciated value of your belongings at the time of loss. Replacement cost pays what it costs to buy comparable new items at today's prices, with no depreciation. The premium difference is usually small, but the claim outcome can be very different. A five-year-old TV is worth a fraction of its purchase price under ACV; under replacement cost, the policy pays for a comparable new TV.
Does renters insurance cover my roommate's belongings?
Generally not. A renters policy covers the named insured(s) on the policy. If a roommate is not on the policy, their belongings are not covered. Roommates should either be added as named insureds or carry their own separate renters policy.
Am I covered if my belongings are stolen away from home?
Yes. Most renters policies include off-premises coverage that protects your belongings while you're traveling, at work, or otherwise away from the rental, typically up to a sublimit (often 10% of your personal property limit). Phones, laptops, luggage, and similar items taken on a trip are usually covered.
Does renters insurance cover flood damage?
No. Flood is excluded from every standard renters policy. If you live in a flood-prone area, a separate NFIP renters flood policy (which covers personal property only, since the building isn't yours) is available and inexpensive relative to the protection.
What about hurricane damage to my belongings?
Hurricane damage to your personal property is generally covered under a renters policy, though deductible structure varies by carrier. Some Florida carriers apply a separate hurricane deductible to personal property losses; others use a single all-perils deductible. We'll explain your specific policy's deductible structure before binding.
Am I covered if someone is injured in my apartment?
Yes. Personal liability coverage on a renters policy pays if you're sued for bodily injury or property damage to others, including guests injured at your apartment. This is one of the most undervalued parts of a renters policy and is often the reason the policy is worth more than its premium.
Does my renters insurance cover my dog?
Personal liability typically extends to injuries your pet causes to others, but carriers vary significantly on breed restrictions and dog-specific underwriting. Some carriers exclude certain breeds entirely; others charge more or require an additional endorsement. We always disclose pets during underwriting and confirm the carrier's specific position before binding.
What is loss of use coverage?
Loss of use (also called additional living expenses) pays for hotel, food, transportation, and similar costs while you're displaced from your rental after a covered loss. If a fire makes your apartment uninhabitable, loss of use pays for somewhere to live until you can return. It's usually capped at a percentage of your personal property limit.
How much does renters insurance typically cost?
Renters insurance is among the lowest-cost personal lines products. Premiums vary by location, coverage limits, deductibles, and claims history, but it's commonly one of the smallest line items in a household's annual insurance spend. The protection-per-dollar, especially for the liability portion, is among the best in personal insurance.
Can I bundle renters with auto?
Yes, when the same carrier writes both. The auto and renters multi-policy discount is one of the most common and reliable discounts in personal lines, and most carriers that write auto also write renters. We compare bundled pricing against split-policy pricing before recommending.
How fast can I get a renters insurance quote?
Same day in most cases. Carriers ask for the rental address, your estimated personal property value, the deductible and liability limit you want, any prior claims, and information about pets or specific items to schedule. Renters quotes are generally fast and easy to bind, and we can issue the certificate of insurance your landlord may require at lease signing.
Related
Coverage that pairs with renters.
Ready to compare your renters coverage?
Send us your current declarations page, give us a call, or request a free quote. We'll review what you have and walk you through the options.