What Does Renters Insurance Cover After a Fire?

10/21/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage in a building.

When a fire breaks out in your rented home, you may have a lot of questions about what your renters insurance covers and what isn't included.

Tips To Prepare For Fire Damage 

There are several things you can do to prepare for this stressful experience before it happens:

• Understand the most common causes of residential fire damage and take steps to prevent them.
  
• Install smoke and fire alarms throughout the home and keep fire extinguishers conveniently available. You may be eligible for better insurance rates by taking these steps and any others recommended to you by your agent.
  
• Create a plan of action to guide your steps after a fire breaks out. Make sure this plan includes an evacuation route and phone numbers, such as for first responders.
  
• Learn what your insurance covers and what isn't covered.
  

The short answer to your concerns about insurance coverage is that you'll be reimbursed for your belongings.

More Details About Coverage

Fires are covered by renters insurance. Any of your possessions, furnishings, and other belongings are eligible for reimbursement. If the fire causes your home to be uninhabitable, your insurance provider may pay for you and your family to stay at a hotel in White Bear Lake, MN. If you were responsible for the fire and resulting damage, your insurance may cover some of that damage and associated losses. If you left a candle burning or caused an electrical fire by overloading an outlet, the damage is covered by your policy, unless there's evidence that you caused the fire intentionally.

Things Not Included in Your Policy

Naturally, there are some exceptions to this coverage. For example, your insurance doesn't cover damages to the structure of the apartment itself. Any work completed by fire restoration and cleanup professionals should be covered by the insurance the property owner carries. Whether the property owner has the right insurance coverage or not, your insurance won't cover these repairs.

Protecting your home and family from fire damage doesn't begin and end with your renters insurance. Take the steps listed above and learn more about preventing fires by working with your insurance agent and other professionals.