Will Renters Insurance Cover Water Damage?
Updated March 4, 2020 . AmFam Team
Renters insurance can help to cover all sorts of damages and losses to your property. But does it cover water damage and sewer backup? If your apartment is damaged by water, your renters insurance may be able to help you cover the costs of replacing your belongings. It all depends on the type of water damage.
When it comes to sewer backup, your renters insurance most likely won’t cover damage caused by this type of event. Sump pump failure and water backup coverage is available as an optional add-on though.
So what kind of water damage does renters insurance cover? We’ve got the info to help you understand just how renters insurance can help.
What Types of Water Damage Does Renters Insurance Cover?
Your renters insurance water damage coverage is meant mainly to protect your personal belongings and the property of others in your apartment, not the actual structure of your unit. Here are a few types of water damage that your renters insurance may cover:
Water leaks
Many people store toiletries and beauty products in the cabinet under their sink. But if your apartment’s sink springs a leak and damages expensive hair care tools and cosmetics, like that $200 curling wand, your renters insurance may be able to help you recover that financial loss.
Burst pipes
Let’s say you’re on vacation when your rental home’s furnace stops working, causing your pipes to freeze and burst while you’re away. If this happens, your renters insurance may help cover damage to your personal property.
Damage to other people’s belongings
If water damage to your apartment seeps into another unit, damaging the resident’s belongings, your renters insurance liability coverage can help protect your finances from the cost of replacing their things.
What Types of Belongings Are Covered With Renters Insurance for Water Damage?
One of the standard coverages of your renters insurance is personal property protection, which helps protect your personal property from a covered water damage loss. This includes many different kinds of things you own, including:
- Jewelry
- Appliances
- TVs
- Laptops
Does Renters Insurance Cover Sewer Backup?
If sewer backup happens in your apartment, you may be wondering if your renters insurance will cover damage to your personal property. Unless you’ve purchased sewer backup, septic backup and sump overflow coverage in addition to your standard renters policy, your renters insurance won’t cover your personal property should a sewer backup occur.
Paying Your Renters Insurance Deductible
One thing to keep in mind before filing a renters insurance claim is your deductible. If the value of the items you’re trying to recoup isn’t enough to meet your deductible — which is typically between $500 or $1000, depending on your policy — you may want to think twice before filing a renters insurance water damage claim. Not only will your insurance not pay out for anything below the deductible, you may see a premium rate increase for filing a claim.
We know that a deductible isn’t always the easiest thing to pay after an unexpected event American Family Insurance offers Diminishing Deductible coverage as a way to help reduce your deductible amount.
What Types of Water Damage Does Renters Insurance Not Cover?
Not all types of water damage are covered by your renters insurance. In some instances, damage caused by water will be covered by your landlord’s insurance. For example, if your landlord has flood insurance for the building and a flood damages the carpet in your first floor apartment, you wouldn’t have to file a claim with your renters insurance.
In other instances, certain types of water damage need their own coverage or insurance policy or just may not be covered altogether. Make sure you know what’s covered by your renters policy before filing a claim.
Does renters insurance cover floods?
If you live in a floodplain or somewhere prone to flooding, consider purchasing a separate flood policy. You can protect your belongings from flood water damage, and having your own flood insurance policy can make a big difference — because your renters insurance won’t cover your personal property in the event of a flood.
What Types of Water Damage are Covered by a Landlord?
In some instances, water damage may be covered by your landlord instead of covered by your renters insurance policy. Generally, your landlord’s insurance will cover damage to the apartment itself and will not help replace your things if they’re damaged. For example, water damage caused by building maintenance issues that cause stains on your walls or mold growth is typically the responsibility of your landlord, not you. However, a landlord’s policy will vary with different commercial policies that cover different things.
Ensure You’re Covered With Renters Insurance for Water Damage
If your belongings have been recently damaged by water or sewer backup, contact your American Family Insurance agent (Opens in a new tab) to see if you should file a renters claim. They can help you navigate the details of your deductible and get all the information together that you need to file a claim.
Have a question about renters insurance? Check out our Renters Insurance FAQs.
Related Articles
- 9 Steps to Create a Home Inventory for Insurance Claims
Your home is more than a roof over your head. It’s where your dreams grow, your family thrives and memories are made. But the possessions you keep inside are important, too.
Whether you’re renting an apartment or own your home, you’ve most likely got an insurance policy designed to protect your dwelling and the things inside. Should the unthinkable happen and you have to use that insurance policy, it’s important to have a plan in place. And a home inventory list is a great way to get started!
We’ll walk you through how to create a home inventory so — in the event of the unexpected — you’ll be more prepared and have a streamlined recovery.
What Is a Home Inventory?
Quite simply, a home inventory is a complete list of all the items, especially valuables, in and around your home. The best home inventories include photos, descriptions and dollar values of each of your belongings. The more detail, the better! It’ll help you provide a comprehensive list to your agent of items lost in the event your home is damaged or destroyed, allowing you to get the most out of your coverage.
When your describing the items in your list, remember that the more information, the better. Here’s a quick reference list of the type of information you should include in your home inventory list:
- An in-depth description of the items. For example, rather than writing down “diamond ring,” be more descriptive, such as: “an emerald cut diamond ring, with white gold shank, accent stones and initials inscribed below the bridge.”
- Make, model, and/or serial number of the items.
- Date of purchase, receipts and photos.
- Estimated replacement cost if you bought it today. Do note that the value of the items might be different today than it was when you first bought them. This is especially true with jewelry, and other valuables.
- Appraisals at time of purchase. Especially if your items were appraised for insurance purposes.
Why Do I Need a Home Inventory?
Whether you’re a homeowner or a renter, everyone can benefit from a home inventory!
If you ever have to make a claim, a home inventory is a great asset to have, especially after stressful events like theft, storm damage or a fire (take a look at how one renter used their home inventory after facing an apartment fire).
When you make a claim, you typically submit information on everything that was lost — which can be difficult to do off the top of your head for all your possessions. Remembering to replace your TV or computer are no-brainers, but when it comes to remembering each piece of jewelry in your jewelry box, things tend to get overlooked. Having a personal property inventory will help, along with knowing how to properly insure your jewelry.
When you have your home inventory checklist, you know exactly what needs to be replaced, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing your entire household is protected.
- Reasons Why a Roof Leaks
You’re admiring the rain from the comfort of your home when you notice a sound — the unmistakable drip of water dropping onto your floor. The first and hardest step is figuring out why your roof is leaking. And with these tips, you’ll find the culprit in no time!
Here’s Why Your Roof Is Leaking
The list of reasons why your roof is leaking may seem long, but don’t worry — when it comes to finding the leak and fixing it, the finding is the hardest part. And the good thing about these problems? They can all be fixed. Check out the list and see what’s troubling your roof:
Your roof is old
Roofs don’t last forever. Protecting your home and everything inside it from the elements comes with a cost. And with all that rain, snow, ice, wind and even sunlight wearing down your roof, it becomes more susceptible to leaks. Every roof will eventually need to be replaced, so learn more about how long your roof should last based on what it’s made of.
- How to Check Your Roof for Storm Damage
There’s no good time to find out your roof needs repair — but you may be able to mitigate that pain by routinely checking your roof for damage after severe weather. Waiting for a leak or damage to present itself gives the problem time to grow and worsen.
And sometimes, you’ll be faced with expensive roof and interior damage repairs if you’re not diligent. By being proactive and checking your roof for damage after severe weather hits can help your roof — and your savings — stay healthy.
