Renters insurance vs. your landlord’s policy: who covers what

The Insurance Information Institute lays out a distinction that catches renters off guard at the worst possible moment: your landlord’s insurance covers the building, not your belongings. A renters policy fills that gap with three protections — personal-property coverage for losses like fire, theft, and certain water damage; liability if someone is hurt or their property is damaged; and additional living expenses if the unit becomes uninhabitable after a covered event.

When an appliance leaks, a washer overflows, or a dishwasher floods the kitchen, the question “whose insurance — and whose responsibility — is this?” gets complicated fast. OwnWise helps you sort it: it identifies what actually failed, whether the damage points to normal wear or misuse, and what a fair repair should cost — the facts you need to route a claim to the right policy instead of paying out of pocket.

Read the I.I.I. guide to know what your policy covers; let OwnWise pin down what broke so the right coverage pays for it.