How To Choose The Best Landlord Insurance In Florida | Baselane (2024)

Nearly 35% of Florida’s population are renters, and thousands of landlords are working to keep homes available.

Technically, landlord insurance in Florida is not required by law. But, when you’re planning on sticking to a specific budget for the long run, having landlord insurance should be a no-brainer.

After all, it will protect you from monetary losses that may happen due to accidents, natural disasters, or liability problems brought on by renting out your house or property to others. This is especially crucial for landlords in Florida, as the state has one of the highest rates of natural catastrophes.

Plus, lenders typically require this policy if you’re financing a rental property.

Landlord insurance may seem like an expensive investment at first, but you should definitely consider it. Discover why property insurance could be a good idea, what it usually covers, and how you can choose the best landlord insurance in Florida.

Landlord insurance is a type of policy for landlords renting out their properties to tenants. It is also commonly known as rental property insurance.

While not required by law, many seasoned landlords have found that having this kind of insurance coverage can make a huge difference in profits because it protects you from severe financial harm brought on by:

• Damage caused by natural disasters
• Water damage
• Fire damage
• Legal liability issues
• Damage to the landlord’s belongings on a rental property

Landlord insurance covers those renting out properties such as condos, apartments, and residential homes. When your profits are highly dependent on the livability of your investment properties, you need to have this kind of security against financial loss. Without it, you expose yourself to risks you can’t afford to take.

Florida’s rental property insurance covers a wide range of possibilities. However, remember that the coverage included depends on a policy’s specific terms. These are but a few examples of typical coverage types.

Typical insurance coverages for a landlord policy can include:

• Dwelling: Covers repair costs for a rental house, condo, or apartment resulting from covered perils like fire, wind, flood, and hail damage, as well as oil leaks, broken pipes, and appliance leaks.

• Other structures: Covers the cost of repairing damage to detached structures on a rental property, such as a detached garage or a fence.

• Landlord’s personal property: Covers property of the landlord used to maintain the property, like lawnmowers and snowblowers.

• Landlord liability: Covers the medical costs of third parties injured on your rental property.

• Optional coverages: Include vandalism and burglary, as well as coverage for building codes and rental property under construction—all of which can be added to your landlord insurance policy for a fee.

To choose the best landlord insurance that will fit your needs, you must first understand what is typically covered by landlord insurance and what is not. These are a few of the exclusions that you’ll often find on landlord insurance policies.

Owner-Occupied Properties

Some insurance providers won’t provide landlord insurance if a property is owner-occupied. For instance, you might need to rely on homeowners’ insurance rather than landlord insurance if you rent a portion of your house to a tenant. To make sure you understand the facts of your policy, speak with your insurance provider.

Renter Belongings

Landlord-held insurance often excludes coverage for your tenant’s personal items. Tenants’ belongings may need to be insured by their renters, which a landlord may require to protect them from liability.

Maintenance of Equipment and Appliances

While most landlord insurance policies cover damages brought on by an appliance leak or other equipment malfunction, the cost of repairing or replacing an appliance will not be covered. For example, replacing an air conditioner is the landlord’s duty and is not protected by insurance.

Landlords are required to carry insurance coverage for both liability and property damage. This includes damage caused by tenants, guests, contractors, and others. If you don’t have enough coverage, it could cost you thousands of dollars in repairs. Here are some tips to help you choose the best landlord insurance policy in Florida.

Prepare For Inspection

Before you start shopping around for insurance, make sure you know what inspections are covered under your current policy. You’ll want to check whether your policy covers pre-existing conditions, such as mold, water leaks, and termite infestations. Also ask about the scope of the inspection. Some policies cover everything except appliances, while others include appliances, too.

Most insurance companies require property inspections prior to issuing a policy. These inspections are typically focused on the roof, electrical system, plumbing, and heating/cooling systems. They are looking for signs of water damage, leaks, mold, termite activity, and other issues that could lead to future claims.

Insurance companies want to make sure there aren’t any major structural issues that might cause additional expenses down the road. This is why it’s important to prepare for the inspection ahead of time. You don’t want to find out about a problem during the inspection process.

Mitigate Storm And Wind Damage

A license can help you prepare for severe storms and high winds. These experts are trained to assess damage caused by wind and rain and recommend ways to mitigate storm and wind damage. Some of these methods include installing shutters, securing windows, caulking cracks around doors and windows, and adding hurricane straps to roof vents.

Insurance companies often offer discounts for homeowners who take steps to protect themselves against extreme weather conditions. For example, many insurers offer discounts for homes that have been retrofitted with hurricane resistant roof coverings.

If you live in a hurricane zone, you’ll want to consider purchasing storm surge and wind damage protection. These types of policies typically add $1-$2 per square foot to your premium. They’re especially important if you rent out vacation homes.

Higher Deductible

You might think that having a high deductible makes sense because you won’t pay anything unless there’s a major claim. But a high deductible actually increases your risk. A lower deductible means you’ll pay less up front, but you’ll end up paying more policy premiums over time.

If you want to save money on insurance premiums, it might be worth considering increasing your deductible. This means that you are responsible for paying out of pocket for smaller claims, like replacing a broken window pane or fixing a leaky faucet. However, this could mean that you don’t have to worry about major repairs, such as having your roof replaced or repairing a water heater.

While this sounds great, there are some drawbacks to raising your deductible. For example, you may end up spending more money on repairs over the course of the year. You may also find yourself dealing with more paperwork, since you will now have to keep track of every repair bill. Finally, you may lose out on discounts offered by your insurer because you haven’t had a claim in the past three years.

If you’re looking for a landlord insurance provider in Florida that will suit your needs, you’ve come to the right place! Some of the best options available to you right now are:

Obie

Obie offers instant insurance built for multifamily landlords and real estate investors. With Obie, you can get the coverage you need for your specific property without spending countless hours trying to figure everything out yourself. Upon entering your property address, Obie’s simple quote request process will compare carrier rates, matching you with the right insurance for your property.

This provider covers many types of rental properties including single-family homes, multi-family homes, apartments, and condo units, in addition to also covering short-term rentals, vacant properties, and properties undergoing renovations.

Obie’s policies include protection against financial losses resulting from damage to the property, liability for injuries that occur on the property, and loss of rental income if the property becomes uninhabitable due to a covered event.

Citizens

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is a state-run insurance company in Florida that provides coverage to residents who are unable to find insurance through the private market. It was created in 2002 to provide insurance to Florida homeowners who were unable to find coverage due to the high risk of natural disasters in the state. It is the largest insurance company in Florida and is funded by premiums paid by policyholders. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation offers a range of insurance products, including home, condo, renters, flood, and windstorm insurance.

It is important to note that Citizens Property Insurance Corporation is a last resort for residents seeking insurance coverage, and residents are encouraged to explore options with private insurance companies before turning to Citizens.

Security First

Security First Insurance is a property and casualty insurance company based in Florida. It was founded in 2005 and is licensed to sell insurance in Florida, Texas, and North Carolina. The company offers a range of insurance products, including home, condo, renters, flood, and windstorm insurance.

Security First Insurance is known for its use of technology to provide a modern, convenient insurance experience for its customers, including the use of mobile apps and online tools to manage policies and file claims. The company has received high marks for customer satisfaction and is highly rated by industry experts.

Florida Peninsula

Florida Peninsula Insurance Company is a property and casualty insurance company based in Florida. It was founded in 2006 and is licensed to sell insurance in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The company offers a range of insurance products, including home, condo, renters, flood, and windstorm insurance. Florida Peninsula Insurance Company prides itself on its commitment to providing high-quality insurance products and services to its customers, and has a reputation for excellent customer service. The company has received high marks for financial stability and is highly rated by industry experts.

Landlords Need Protection, Too

There’s no denying that being a landlord in Florida can be incredibly lucrative. Still, there’s a chance you’ll experience devastating natural disasters that leave you and your tenants in a difficult situation. If damage occurs, you’ll be forced to pay for repairs, temporary housing for tenants, and much more if you don’t have the right insurance.

Make sure to choose the exact coverage you need based on your budget and the needs of your property. To make sure you don’t go overboard with your insurance expenses, always research your options first before moving forward!

Looking for more insightful tips and information about working as a landlord? Check out Baselane’s Resources section today!

Read More

• Florida Real Estate Investing Guide
• What is Landlord Insurance? What does it Cover?