Protect What You Own with West Virginia Renter's Insurance

West Virginia Renter’s Insurance 

Purchasing a renter’s insurance policy is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to protect yourself and your belongings while renting your home in West Virginia. 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 in West Virginia 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.

Is Renters Insurance Required?

No, renters insurance coverage is not required by federal or state laws. However, some landlords may require their tenants to purchase insurance as a stipulation of the lease agreement. Regardless of whether your landlord requires it, purchasing renter’s insurance is a good idea. It’s the only way to gain financial security for your belongings as well as liability protection. 

What Does Renters Insurance Cover? 

Renter’s insurance has three main categories of coverage.

1. 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
2. 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.
3. 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.

West Virginia Renters Insurance :

Renters insurance in West Virginia protects you and your belongings from a range of perils. Although West Virginia’s inland location leads to fewer types and numbers of natural disasters on average, the state nonetheless experiences weather-related damages each year. Renters insurance can protect you financially if severe weather causes damage to your personal property. Renters insurance can also cover property crimes like burglary/theft and medical expenses or legal fees if you are liable for an injury that occurred in your home. 

How Much Does Renters Insurance in West Virginia Cost? 

What does renters insurance cost in West Virginia? Many renters are understandably concerned about what renters insurance costs. Fortunately, the cost of renters insurance in West Virginia is very affordable. According to NerdWallet, the average West Virginia renters insurance premium in 2024 is $140, or about $12 a month. West Virginia’s renters insurance rates are typical in the U.S., the same as the national average monthly cost. 

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 West Virginia?

Common renter’s insurance claims in West Virginia include damage from natural hazards like storms, high winds, landslides, subsidence, and winter precipitation. If your belongings are damaged due to an extreme weather event, your insurance company can reimburse you either the actual cash value or replacement cost value. 

What Additional Policies Do I Need in West Virginia? 

West Virginia renters may also need flood insurance. Flooding often occurs near large bodies of water after heavy rains and storms.  

FEMA data from the past several decades shows that flooding is common across West Virginia. Almost all counties in the state experienced at least 50 flood events between 1996 and 2019. Areas with the highest historical flood risk in that period include Kanawha County (113 flood events), Harrison County (84), and Marshall County (80). 

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 Renter’s Insurance in West Virginia

Most major insurance providers offer renter’s insurance, often bundled with auto insurance for renters insurance discounts. 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 so that 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 Assurant. If you’re a renter, regardless of whether your landlord uses Innago, you can purchase a policy and get protection for you and your personal belongings. You can get quick and affordable renters insurance quotes, customize your coverage, and add an additional person onto your policy at no extra cost.