What is Florida landlord insurance?
Landlord insurance is a type of dwelling insurance designed for individuals who lease their properties to others for an extended time or for those who regularly rent out their vacation homes or other investment properties. A policy can protect your finances if there’s physical damage to your rental home's structure, but it can also cover personal items you may leave onsite as well as your liability if a tenant or one of their guests gets hurt on the property.
Florida landlord insurance also usually provides coverage for loss of rental income. This coverage protects you if you can’t rent out the property while it’s being repaired or rebuilt after a covered loss.
Types of landlord insurance policies in Florida
You can get one of three types of landlord insurance in Florida. For owners of rental or investment properties, landlord insurance typically comes in the form of a dwelling property policy called a DP3 policy.
Florida DP3 policy highlights
Most popular form of landlord insurance in Florida
Closely resembles standard homeowners insurance (also called an HO3 policy)
Open-perils policy with replacement cost coverage for property damage
Typically includes personal liability coverage, property coverage, and fair rental value coverage
Comes with an option to add a roof surfacing payment schedule endorsem*nt
Offers optional medical payments coverage for injured visitors
We offer DP3 policies in Florida. Get an online quote now to see if our coverage fits your budget.
Other companies may offer two other types of landlord insurance in Florida. Coverage details vary by insurer, but here’s what those landlord policies normally look like:
Florida DP1 policy
The most basic type of landlord coverage
Covers only limited named perils such as fire
Excludes damage caused by theft, water, and more
Doesn’t cover loss of use or personal liability
Provides actual cash value coverage for the structure
No building age limit requirements
Available for multi-family dwellings, condo units, and traditional houses
Florida DP2 Policy
Covers more perils than a DP1, such as falling objects, freezing pipes, and theft, but is still a named perils policy
Provide replacement cost coverage for the structure
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Landlord insurance vs. homeowners insurance in Florida
At first glance, you'll see more similarities than differences between our Florida homeowners insurance and our landlord insurance. Much like our Florida homeowners insurance (HO3), our landlord policies are designed to cover the primary home and other structures on an open-perils basis. That means these structures are protected from all sources of damage except the few the policy lists as exclusions.
But some optional coverages with landlord insurance come standard with a homeowners policy. And landlord insurance can cover some risks that homeowners insurance can't. The chart below shows the common coverage differences between DP3 vs. home insurance.
DP3 vs HO3
DP3 | HO3 | |
Coverage A (Dwelling) | Open perils | Open Perils |
Coverage B (Other structures) | Included | Included |
Coverage C (Personal property) | Included | Included |
Coverage D (Loss of use) | Loss of use/loss of rental income | Loss of use |
Coverage E (Personal liability) | Optional | Included |
Coverage F (Medical payments) | Optional | Included |
Roof Surfacing Payment Schedule | Included | Optional |
How does landlord insurance in Florida work?
Landlord insurance in Florida is pretty straightforward if you understand the difference between problems that you, as the owner, are responsible for and problems that your tenants are responsible for.
For example, say your tenant accidentally lets the bathtub overflow, causing extensive water damage. Here's how landlord insurance in Florida addresses that situation:
Sudden and accidental damage to the building’s structure is usually covered by landlord insurance. This includes damage to the floor, baseboards, and cabinets – even when the damage is caused by a tenant.
Water damage caused by a long-term leak that wasn’t addressed is probably not covered. The key to coverage is the “sudden and accidental” nature of the damage, not a problem that was caused by neglect, poor maintenance, or normal wear and tear.
Any damage to the tenant's possessions is not covered by your landlord policy. Your insurance covers your property. However, your tenant's renters insurance should cover damage to their personal belongings.
You'll want to encourage or require your tenants to purchase renters insurance (HO4) to complete the circle of protection for your rental property.
New to running an investment property? Check out our tips for first-time landlords.
What's covered by Florida landlord insurance?
Property coverage: This coverage includes the dwelling, other structures, and any personal property used to service the rental that you leave onsite (e.g., a snowblower or lawn mower).
Fair rental value coverage: Sometimes called "loss of rental income" coverage, this reimburses some of your lost rental income if your tenants have to move out so you can repair your building after a fire, storm, or some other covered peril.
Liability coverage: If you’re responsible for someone else’s bodily injury or property damage, this coverage helps pay for medical treatment or property repairs and your legal expenses if you're sued.
What's not covered by Florida landlord insurance?
Regular maintenance costs or items damaged by normal wear and tear
Tenants' belongings
Owner-occupied properties (e.g., you still live on the property but rent out a room to a tenant)
Who needs landlord insurance in Florida?
Owners of residential rental properties in Florida must protect themselves with landlord insurance. Getting coverage helps protect you from natural disasters and liability risks. Moreover, it can protect a portion of your rental income if your property is damaged enough to require your tenants to move out while you repair it, leaving you without your regular income stream.
Landlord insurance guides
- Hialeah
- Miami
- Orlando
- Pembroke Pines
- St. Petersburg
How much is landlord insurance in Florida?
According to the Insurance Information Institute, landlord policies generally cost about 25% more than a standard homeowners policy, mainly because landlords face additional risks and may be more likely to file an insurance claim.
Landlord insurance premiums in Florida are based on the type of rental property you have and the property's unique risk factors, such as:
The size and location of your property.
The age and construction of your building.
The weather and crime risks in your city.
Florida landlord insurance may cost more than in other states due to the increased weather-related risks in the state. However, if your residential rental property has fire sprinklers, burglar alarms, gated access, or other security systems, you may be able to lower your costs.
Florida landlord insurance FAQs
Is landlord insurance required in Florida?
Landlord insurance is not required in Florida. While it is in your best interest to have it, purchasing landlord insurance is not one of the Florida landlord responsibilities required by law.
Why do I need landlord insurance in Florida?
You need landlord insurance if you own a rental property in Florida because it protects your investment if storms, fires, and other covered perils damage your property. It also can cover you if someone is injured on your property.
Can a landlord require renters insurance in Florida?
You can require renters insurance in Florida. In these cases, you must specify the insurance requirements in the lease agreement, with specific tenants' responsibilities clearly spelled out.
