Does Renters Insurance Cover Property Damage?

Renters insurance includes coverage for many types of personal property damage. However, renters insurance isn't designed to cover property damage related to the structure of the unit or house you're renting. It's critical to know exactly which types of property damage renters insurance covers before an incident occurs, and you have to decide if filing a claim is appropriate.

An independent insurance agent can also help you get set up with all the renters insurance you need. They can even help you review your existing policy to be sure of what's covered and what's not. But until then, here's a breakdown of which types of property damage are covered by renters insurance.

Does Renters Insurance Cover Property Damage?

Generally speaking, renters insurance provides two types of coverage, which are for your personal property and liability. Liability coverage kicks in if you're found liable for injuries or property damage to another person who takes legal action against you. 

However, renters insurance generally won't cover either intentional or negligent property damage to your actual unit or rented house. It covers your personal property, but the unit itself is covered under your landlord's policy, not renters insurance.

Does Renters Insurance Cover Personal Property Damage?

Your personal property is covered against damage, loss, and destruction caused by listed perils under renters insurance. Listed perils named on standard renters insurance policies include:

• Fire and smoke
• Lightning strikes and resulting fires
• Windstorms and hail
• Theft and vandalism
• Snow, ice, and sleet
• Damage from roof collapses
• Falling objects and trees
• Busted or frozen pipe damage
• Damage from certain types of explosions

Most renters insurance policies come standard with a personal property liability limit of $25,000. Because you could have significantly more or less property to cover than other individuals, be sure to discuss coverage options and policy limits with your independent insurance agent. 

Does Renters Insurance Cover Personal Property Away from the Home?

Even if your personal property gets damaged or destroyed due to a covered loss outside of your primary residence, your renters insurance will often pay out 10% of the policy limit to cover those losses. So, if your policy included $25,000 in personal property coverage, you could receive up to $2,500 for property damaged or destroyed by a named peril outside of your primary residence.

Luckily, renters insurance applies to personal property kept in a storage unit and personal property that's with you whether you're traveling or commuting to work. It can also cover incidents of theft of your personal property while you're away from home. However, remember that if your property is lost or stolen away from your home, you won't receive reimbursement up to your full policy limit, but you can still recover something. 

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Does Renters Insurance Cover Holes in Walls?

A renters insurance policy protects your personal property and provides liability coverage, but it doesn't cover the structure of your rented home. Your landlord is responsible for any damage to the unit, not you. That's why they have their own landlord insurance policies.

Your landlord's policy covers any accidental damage to your unit. This would provide coverage if you accidentally put a hole in the wall moving furniture. 

However, intentional damage is likely excluded. So if you get mad and punch a hole in the wall, your renters insurance isn't going to help and neither is your landlord's policy, which means you'd have to pay for the repairs.

Will Renters Insurance Cover Intentional Holes in the Wall?

Again, the answer is no. It's important to be aware that intentional damage is virtually never covered under your renters insurance policy or by your landlord's insurance policy. So, while your landlord's policy would cover negligent damage (i.e., you put a hole in the wall moving furniture), it won't cover damage if you punched the wall on purpose. 

Negligent or accidental damage will almost always be covered, at least in part, by your landlord's policy, whereas intentional damage is going to leave you on the hook for the full cost of the damage. If you'd like to discuss this distinction in greater detail to better understand your renters insurance policy, your independent insurance agent can help. 

Does Landlord Insurance Cover Holes in the Wall?

Yes, provided that the damage was accidental. The best example of this is that you damaged the wall while moving a new couch into your unit. Your renters insurance won't cover this, but your landlord's insurance policy likely will. 

Does Any Other Type of Insurance Cover Holes in the Wall?

Because renters insurance isn't designed to cover damage to your unit, it isn't going to help you out with structural damage to the unit. If you're concerned about other potential sources of damage or liability that aren't covered by a standard renters insurance policy, you can speak with your independent insurance agent to discuss potential riders you may want to purchase.

Why Work with an Independent Insurance Agent?

When you need to get renters insurance, there's no one better equipped to help than an independent insurance agent. These agents can shop and compare policies from multiple local carriers for you. They'll get you matched to the policy that ultimately offers the best overall blend of coverage and cost. And they can even help file claims for you or update your coverage down the road.