Pet Liability Insurance for Renters: Complete Guide 2023

If you are a tenant with a pet, you may be concerned about what would happen if your animal companion hurts someone or damages your house. Some pet liability coverage options are available from insurers that offer renters insurance. Some situations may require you to get separate liability insurance for your pet. This article entails everything you need to know about pet liability insurance for renters including the cost. I also added some tips about renters insurance pet policy. Enjoy the ride!

What Is Pet Liability Insurance for Renters?

Pet liability insurance covers injuries or damages your pet causes to other people or their belongings. If your pet causes damage to another person or their property, the liability section of your renters insurance policy will pay for the costs.

Furthermore, renters insurance policies will probably not cover certain dog breeds, especially if they have a history of biting other people. For instance, if you own any of the following dog breeds, you might not be covered (although your carrier will ultimately determine this):

Presa canarios
Akitas
Great Danes
Pit bulls
Dobermans
Rottweilers
German shepherds
Chows
Bull terriers
Wolf/wolf hybrids

Furthermore, certain renters insurance providers could decline to insure unusual pets, including spiders, birds, rabbits, and ferrets. Although frequently adorable, hamsters, guinea pigs, and other rodents might not be covered. Also perhaps left out of coverage are reptiles, including lizards, turtles, and snakes.

Types of Pet Liability Insurance for Renters

Depending on the insurer and whether or not your renters insurance covers pet damage, you may have a few options when it comes to pet liability insurance. The following are the available pet liability insurance options for renters:

#1. Standard pet liability insurance

Insurance providers can typically provide a standard pet liability policy that pays basic claims up to the designated liability coverage limit. This typically covers things like harm your pet might cause to a neighbor’s property or damage to the rental property itself.

It typically also pays for expenses associated with the harm your pet causes to other people, such as visitors and neighbors. If someone sues you, your legal defense may also be covered, up to the amount of your coverage.

#2. Breed-specific liability insurance

You might need to obtain a separate policy for certain dog breeds, such as German shepherds and pit bulls, as they are deemed high-risk for pet coverage. 4.5 million people are impacted by dog bites annually, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Certain dog breeds may have distinct regulations and limits for their insureds because insurers believe that they are more inclined to bite. Furthermore, you might need to obtain additional coverage to handle any damage your exotic pets may do.

How Does Pet Liability Insurance for Renters Work?

Anytime a pet-related problem arises, like the renter’s dog damaging a neighbor’s patio furniture or their cat scratching a guest, the person who was hurt may ask for compensation. If the tenant is responsible for the other party’s repair or medical costs, they can submit a liability claim to their renters insurance company. The renter would get in touch with the carrier directly if they had stand-alone pet liability insurance.

Losses up to the policy maximum would be compensated if the insurance company decides after an investigation that the claim is valid. If the allegation were to progress into a lawsuit, the costs associated with defending yourself against that case would also be covered.

Having pet liability insurance also protects you against accidents that occur outside of your house. For instance, in the event that your dog bites someone while out for a walk in the park, tenants can still obtain dog liability insurance.

Remember that filing a liability claim pertaining to your pet—or really any kind of claim—may cause your premiums to increase. Therefore, rather than paying higher rates over time, you might want to think about paying out of pocket if the damages or injuries are very minimal.

What Is Covered by Pet Liability Insurance for Renters?

Pet liability insurance guards against harm that a renter’s animal may do to other people or their property. In particular, it can encompass:

#1. Bodily injury

This covers any medical expenses, missed income, and other losses brought on by a person becoming hurt by the renter’s pet. In the event that a neighbor is bitten by a renter’s dog, pet liability insurance will pay for the neighbor’s medical bills and other associated costs.

#2. Legal expenses

Pet liability insurance pays for legal fees and other related costs in the event that the injured party files a lawsuit over their injuries or property damage claims.

#3. Property damage

Pet liability insurance can help cover the cost of repairs or replacement if a renter’s cat claws a visitor’s pricey couch.

What Isn’t Covered by Pet Liability Insurance for Renters?

Although pet liability insurance may cover some damage a renter’s pet causes, the policy may not cover all situations or all losses. These are a few typical exclusions:

#1. Deliberate actions

Accidents that happen unexpectedly and are the result of negligence are the focus of liability insurance. Your insurance would not cover losses if you gave your dog instructions to break into your neighbor’s backyard and destroy their stuff.

#2. Business activities

The policy may not cover any losses caused by a pet while doing business activities if the renter is utilizing the rental property for business purposes, such as operating a dog grooming business.

#3. Damage to the renter’s personal property

Since you are responsible for your pet, you are to blame if it damages any of your possessions.

#4. Certain animal breeds and types

However, this is not always the case, and certain renters insurance may include coverage for your pet even if it is not listed on your policy.

Pet Liability Insurance for Renters Companies

The follwing arethe companies that provides pet liability insurance for renters:

#1. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance

Most pet insurance policies provide coverage for sickness, accidents, and injuries. The majority of programs contain age limitations for pets to be eligible or exclude pets with congenital or inherited diseases. Plans offered by ASPCA Pet Health Insurance cover pets regardless of their health status and include coverage for congenital and inherited diseases. Its plans cover hip dysplasia regardless of the age of your pet during enrollment. Enrollment in ASPCA sickness coverage is open to all ages. This is the age at which newly enrolled pets are no longer eligible for disease coverage. Additionally, pet owners can get their claims reimbursed without having to undergo an exam.

#2. Spot Pet Insurance

While many pet insurance providers only provide a small range of coverage options, Spot Pet Insurance gives pet owners the freedom to select custom pet policies, their preferred reimbursement percentage, the yearly limit, and the annual deductible. Spot has no lifetime cap, no per-incident cap, and an infinite annual limit. After the deductible is satisfied, there is no limits on the annual or lifetime claim limit when using this option. Spot offers policies with 100% coverage options, minimal deductibles, and a range of preventive pet insurance solutions for pet owners who desire the highest level of coverage. Plans for spots involve things like behavioral training, vitamins, and supplements, as well as alternative therapies.

#3. Embrace

Embrace offers a program known as the “Healthy Pet Deductible.” Pet owners get a $50 reduction in their deductible the next year for each year they do not receive a claim refund. In other words, your deductible will be zero if you have a $200 deductible and you do not file a claim for four years. The Healthy Pet Deductible resets once you file a claim. There are waiting periods of 14 to 30 days before coverage begins with many pet insurance providers. Embrace has very short waiting periods—two days for accidents and fourteen days for sickness. The expense of a pet’s examination is sometimes not covered by insurance, but Embrace pays for exams for any illnesses and accidents that fall under its coverage.

#4. Lemonade

Lemonade is a pet insurance provider that employs artificial intelligence (AI) to swiftly handle claims via its mobile app. It promises to accept claims in minutes and potentially cover pet owners in a matter of seconds. In addition, the insurer provides auto, homeowners, and renters insurance. If pet owners utilize it’s other services, they can earn a multi-pet discount of 5% and a 10% bundle discount. The app has received a 4.9 rating in the Apple App Store and a 4.4 rating in the Google Play Store.

Read Also: Compare Pet Insurance Companies, Coverage & Plans Quotes & More

What Is the Cost of Pet Liability Insurance for Renters?

If you’re able to get renters insurance that includes coverage for pet damage, you may be able to get it for a reasonable rate because you won’t have to pay anything more to have your damages covered. The cost can range from $9 to $73 each month, depending on your location, the type of coverage, and other variables.

The following are some factors that may influence how much your pet liability insurance for renters will cost:

Where in the United States do you reside?
Type of animal you own
Does your renters insurance allow pets?
Probable legal costs that may arise as a result of a breed
Whether the coverage is a part of an umbrella policy or not
The extent of your policy’s coverage limitations

How to Reduce the Cost of Pet Liability Insurance for Renters

Fortunately, you can lower your expenses based on your circumstances. The following are some possible strategies to reduce the cost of pet liability isurance for renters:

See if you can obtain a lower limit by looking at the restrictions on your policy.
Check if basic pet liability is already covered by your regular renters policy.
If you want to get a dog, think about the breed you want to get and if it’s a high-risk breed.
To lessen the likelihood of mishaps, enroll your pet in an obedience course.

How to Find the Best Pet Liability Insurance for Renters

Here are some things to think about if you need to locate the best pet liability insurance for renters:

#1. Study the fine print

Make sure your renters insurance covers pet-related property damage by reading your policy. Assuming it does, read the small print to see if it leaves out certain dog types or exotic pets from the bite coverage. Find out from your insurance representative why they might reject a claim in the event that your pet causes harm or damage.

#2. Compare rates provided by various insurers

Compare estimates from various insurers once you’ve determined what kind of coverage you require. Examine three to five different businesses to compare their coverage, premiums, and policy limitations. Make sure that when you compare policies, you are comparing like with like.

#3. Include pet liability insurance in your renters policy

Speak with your insurer about adding pet liability coverage if your basic renters insurance does not include pets or if you acquire a pet later in life. Once the agent has a better understanding of your circumstances and the kind of pet you have, they can typically add coverage to your renters insurance.

Pet Liability Insurance vs. Pet Insurance

It’s also critical to recognize the distinction between pet insurance and liability coverage. Pet insurance usually means coverage for your dog, cat, or other animal companion’s veterinary bills. You may get pet insurance as an add-on to your renters policy from several different firms.

Make sure your renters insurance covers pet responsibility, even if you obtain pet insurance from the same company.

Is Damage to Pets Covered By Renters Insurance?

The liability coverage in renters insurance typically covers harm your pet makes to your apartment or while you are away from home, assuming your policy does not exclude your pet. Renters insurance often provides the same level of liability coverage for your pet as it does for you and other members of your household.

In most cases, your renters insurance will pay your landlord’s repair costs if you, your pet, or anybody else in your home unintentionally causes structural damage to your rental property. Renters responsibility, however, does not protect you against harm your pet makes to your personal property or possessions.

When you’re not home, renters liability insurance usually covers any damage to your property that you, your pet, or other occupants may cause. For instance, your renters insurance will probably pay for any harm that you, your dog, or your kid cause to a friend’s assets while you are at their house.

What if My Renters Insurance Company Doesn’t Cover Pet Liability?

It is wise to look for a provider that will cover responsibility for your pet if your current renters insurance policy or a business you contact for a quote won’t. The kinds of dogs that renters insurance providers cover or do not cover vary. Just remember to let them know about your pet upfront when you ask for a quote.

You could have to accept a renters insurance policy with a pet exclusion and get separate pet liability insurance if no insurers are willing to take your pet.

Specialty companies offer stand-alone pet liability. If you must settle for stand-alone pet liability insurance, visit the website of your state’s insurance commissioner to verify the license status of the company selling the coverage.

Pet liability insurance providers that operate independently should hold an admitted firm or surplus lines broker license in your state. Go on to another company if the current one has a history of infractions or no license records at all.

Will Renters Insurance Cover Dog Bites?

The costs associated with a dog bite claim are typically covered under the bodily injury liability portion of a renters insurance policy. Therefore, the policy should pay for the victim’s medical expenses if the renter’s dog bites and seriously injures a neighbor. Still, this coverage is not unlimited. If an animal’s medical costs are not paid for by insurance, the owner may be held accountable.

Nevertheless, each insurance is different, so it’s crucial for tenants to thoroughly read theirs in order to comprehend any additional restrictions, exceptions, or exclusions that may apply to dog bites.

For What Types of Damages is Renters Insurance not Applicable?

Property damage or personal injury are typically not covered by renters’ liability insurance. This essentially means that the renter’s liability insurance won’t pay for any damages their dog does to the landlord’s property or any medical bills the landlord incurs as a result of the renter’s dog biting someone. Furthermore, the majority of renters insurance policies exclude coverage for accidents sustained by other residents of the rented property.

Does Renters Insurance Have any Exclusions for Pet Liability Coverage?

A large percentage of renters insurance policies in the United States unfortunately do not cover certain types of pets or breeds of pets. This implies that they will not pay for any harm or damage these pets may cause.

Not all insurance policies contain these exclusions, nor do all insurance companies employ them. A number of companies advertise the fact that they do not exclude pets from coverage in an effort to win over customers who have problems doing so elsewhere.

Is Pet Liability Insurance Necessary?

To find out what your policy covers, speak with your insurer. It could be a good idea to either seek separate coverage or add this coverage to your renters policy if you find any gaps in your coverage.

The following are a few instances that pet liability insurance may pay for:

Medical costs for an injured party
Damage to the rental property
Dog bites
Cat scratches
Applicable legal expenses

Your landlord may occasionally ask you to obtain supplemental pet insurance if you have a pet or acquire one after moving into a rental house or apartment.

Is there Cat Liability Insurance for Renters?

There isn’t yet a policy that is exclusive to cats. You can, however, protect your feline companions with a pet liability policy.

How Is Pet Liability Insurance for Renters Different from a General Renters Insurance Policy?

However, not all standard policies will cover damages caused by pets. Pet liability insurance covers accidents or damages brought on by your own animal only; it does not cover other injuries or damages that may arise from your rental property.

How Do You File a Claim if Your Pet Causes Damage or Injury While You’re Renting a Property?

To figure out the procedure, like with other insurance claims, you must contact your insurer. If your pet causes harm or damage, get in touch with them. Typically, you can submit a claim over the phone or online at the insurer.

Does Renters Insurance Cover Pet Urine?

Urine stains are usually not covered by renters insurance because the incident was preventable. Because you are the pet’s owner and are in charge of their upkeep and training, items like damaged stuff that is your property will not be covered.

Final Thoughts

This article should have surely helped your confusion about pet insurance for as a renter. You can can also use it as a guideline for pet liability insurance for renters.