Protect What You Own with Renter's Insurance in Washington D.C.

Purchasing a renter’s insurance policy is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to protect yourself and your belongings while renting your home. A typical policy costs only $10 to $20 per month and can save you much more should unexpected damage or liability occur. 

But despite its affordability and practicality, only about half (55%) of U.S. renters currently have renter’s insurance, most of whom must have a policy per their landlord’s requirements. 

We’ve prepared this article to help you understand why you need renters insurance and how to obtain a policy in this state—from cost and coverage to additional policies you may need.  

What is Renter’s Insurance? 

Renter’s insurance is insurance that covers specific types of losses suffered by renters during their occupation of a rental property. A typical renter’s insurance policy covers personal property, liability protection, and additional living expenses. Renter’s insurance often kicks in after damage from natural disasters, accidents, or other incidents.  

An important note: Renter’s insurance does not cover the actual building itself. The physical building you live in should be covered by your landlord’s insurance. Renters insurance helps protect you and the belongings you own within the property that may be damaged or stolen. 

Why Do I Need Renter’s Insurance? 

Everyone who rents their home—whether that be a single-family home, studio apartment, mobile home, townhome, condo, or other type of property— should have a renter’s insurance policy. This is because even though you don’t own the physical building you are renting, the items you keep within it (or even in your car, or elsewhere) could still be damaged or stolen. 

For example, imagine that a fire occurred in your apartment complex. Your landlord’s insurance would cover the damage to the actual building, appliances, and building systems. However, your landlord is not responsible for replacing all your lost clothes, furniture, electronics, and other belongings. That’s what renter’s insurance is for.  

Renters insurance policies can also cover medical or legal expenses if you are sued. For example, your renter’s insurance would apply if someone gets injured in your home and you are responsible for their medical bills. 

An average renter’s insurance policy includes $20,000 – $30,000 of personal property coverage and doesn’t cost you more than a $20 bill each month. It’s a small price to pay for the great financial security renters insurance offers. 

What Does Renters Insurance Cover? 

Renter’s insurance has three main categories of coverage. 

• Personal Property: Personal property refers to any belongings like clothes, furniture, electronics, etc. Your personal property is subject to limits and requires a deductible. However, your insurance will reimburse you should your personal property get damaged by disasters such as the following:  
• • Fire and smoke 
  • Storms, lightening, wind, hail 
  • Theft 
  • Vandalism 
  • Explosions 
  • Winter weather damage 
  • Damage from infrastructure tearing, cracking, burning, etc. 
  • Sudden, accidental damage from electric currents 

•  
• Liability: Liability coverage pays for your medical or legal bills should you be responsible for an injury on the property or damage to the property itself. 
• Loss of Use/Living Expenses: Loss of use insurance kicks in if the property you rent becomes uninhabitable due to damage or repairs. It pays for your hotel bills and even certain food expenses while you wait for repairs to be completed. 

There are a few disasters renter’s insurance doesn’t cover, like flooding. It’s important to read your renter’s insurance policy to understand what is and isn’t included. If you need coverage that isn’t included, you can purchase add-on policies, such as water backup coverage, theft extension coverage, scheduled valuables coverage, or earthquake and volcano coverage. 

DC Renters Insurance 

Renters insurance in D.C. protects you and your belongings from a range of perils. Washington, D.C. is affected by hurricanes, floods, and winter storms. A renters insurance policy in D.C. protects you financially should your personal property be damaged by an extreme weather event. It can also cover losses due to property crime and/or legal or medical expenses if you are liable for an injury in your home. 

What Does Renters Insurance D.C. Cost? 

What does renters insurance cost in D.C.? Fortunately, the cost of renters insurance in D.C. is very affordable. According to NerdWallet, the average D.C. renters insurance premium in 2024 is $154, or about $13 a month. D.C.’s renters insurance rates are only slightly more expensive than the national average monthly cost of $12 per month. 

Keep in mind that individual preferences and coverage limits will influence the total cost of your renter’s insurance. The cheapest renters insurance companies and policies tend to have higher deductibles, while more expensive premiums will have lower deductibles. The best renters insurance companies will offer renters insurance discounts for bundling with an existing policy, like your car insurance. Regardless of your policy, however, renter’s insurance is generally very inexpensive for everyone and well worth the small investment. 

What Are the Most Common Claims in D.C.? 

Common renter’s insurance claims in D.C. include damage due to storms and severe weather events. Blizzards, ice storms, nor’easters, and extreme precipitation can damage your home or personal property in D.C.  

Property crime is also common in some areas of D.C. According to Neighborhood Scout, D.C. residents have a 1 in 28 chance of becoming a victim of a property crime. Obtaining a D.C. renter’s insurance policy is the best way to protect yourself and your property against both natural disasters and property crime.  

What Additional Policies Do I Need in D.C.? 

D.C. renters may also choose to purchase flood insurance. Flooding often occurs near large bodies of water after heavy rains and storms. According to FEMA data, D.C. has experienced 126 flood events between 1996 and 2019. 

If your home is in a floodplain or has a high likelihood of flooding, flood coverage may be needed. Flood coverage is typically excluded from most renter’s insurance policies, so a separate policy is necessary. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) helps renters find a flood insurance policy customized to their individual needs and coverage preferences. 

How to Get Renters Insurance in D.C. 

Most major insurance providers offer renter’s insurance, often bundled with auto insurance for a lower price. To determine your policy and coverage details, your insurer will typically ask you a few questions about the rental unit (such as the type of building, year it was built, and address) and the dollar value or replacement cost of high-value personal belongings you own. You’ll be able to tailor your policy and coverage details to your needs and compare renters insurance quotes until you’ve found a policy that works for you. When you need to make a renters insurance claim, you’ll be prepared. 

Get Renter’s Insurance with Innago 

Innago offers renter’s insurance through our partnership with Viaffinity. If you’re a renter, regardless of whether your landlord uses Innago, you can purchase renters insurance policies and get protection for you and your personal belongings. You can get a quick renters insurance quote, customize your coverage, and add an additional person onto your policy at no extra cost.