Community Education
College Students & First-Time Renters
General information for anyone renting or living away from home for the first time. This is educational only, not personalized advice.
The basics
- Your landlord's insurance covers the building, not your belongings
- Renters insurance can help cover your personal belongings if they're stolen or damaged
- It can also help with liability if someone is injured in your rental
- Some renters policies extend to belongings in a dorm room, not just an apartment. Ask about this specifically
Before you sign a lease
- Make a rough list of what you own and roughly what it would cost to replace
- Ask whether your parents' homeowners policy already extends some coverage to you
- Ask about coverage for a laptop, phone, or bike taken off-premises
- Understand your deductible before you need to use it
- Keep your policy documents and agent's contact info somewhere easy to find