What to Do Before You Sign a Lease Without Renters Insurance

Some landlords require renters insurance as a lease condition, and some don't ask for it at all. Either way, moving in without a policy in place is a gap worth closing before you sign, not after something happens.

The biggest misconception is that a landlord's insurance has you covered. It doesn't. Their policy protects the building itself, not your belongings and not your personal liability if someone gets hurt in your unit. Without your own policy, both of those come straight out of your pocket.

Before you sign anything, it's worth checking the lease for an insurance requirement clause, getting a quick renters insurance quote so there's no scramble later, and confirming what your policy would need to name as an "interested party" if your landlord requires proof of coverage.

None of this takes long to sort out. See our coverage guide for what a standard policy includes, or get a quote before move-in day.