Do all insurance companies offer landlord insurance?

No, not all insurance carriers offer rental property coverage. Landlord insurance is typically written as a standalone policy, which means you can purchase it from a different insurer than the one that provides your auto or homeowners coverage. That said, some companies offer bundling discounts that may include landlord policies, so it’s worth getting quotes both with your current carrier and from other insurers to compare your options.

What is the official name for landlord insurance?

Landlord insurance is the layman’s term for what insurers call a dwelling policy (DP). Because the homeowner doesn’t live in the home, as with a typical HO-3 policy, a dwelling policy is designed to protect the landlord’s financial interest in the property, covering the structure and certain liability exposures, but not the tenant’s personal belongings.

Is landlord insurance required?

If your property has a mortgage, you will likely have to carry landlord insurance on your tenant-occupied home. Although landlord insurance is not required by law, it may offer financial protection if your home experiences severe damage from a covered peril. Plus, you can most likely write off the insurance when you file your taxes, so you may be protecting your investment and saving money at tax time.

Can landlords require tenants to carry renters insurance?

Yes, landlords can include a clause in the lease that requires proof of renters insurance. Renters insurance is generally a good idea anyway, as it protects tenants’ property, and it may also include liability to cover damages or injuries incurred on the property. In some cases, landlords can be named as an "additional interest" on the policy (note that this is different from being named as an "additional insured"), so that they are notified if the policy lapses.

Is landlord insurance expensive?

The cost of a landlord insurance policy may vary greatly based on the property’s features, location and the landlord’s personal rating factors. Landlord insurance does not typically include personal property coverage, which may make it cheaper than homeowners insurance. On the other hand, carriers may see rental properties as riskier to insure than owner-occupied homes, as tenants may be less likely to maintain properties regularly. The best way to understand what you might pay for landlord insurance is likely to compare quotes from a handful of providers.

Is landlord insurance tax-deductible?

Landlord insurance can be expensive, especially since it can carry more risk than a traditional homeowners insurance policy. Since you are not living on the property, you’re relying on your tenants (and their guests) to limit damage. You’re also counting on them to report maintenance issues promptly, so small problems don’t turn into costly insurance claims. Many landlord policies also include loss of rental income coverage, which helps replace your rental income if the property becomes uninhabitable after a covered loss — another factor that can drive up cost. If you choose to furnish the property or store your belongings there, you may have to consider purchasing personal property coverage for your landlord policy, too. Beyond coverage options and tenant risk, the cost of landlord insurance may vary greatly based on the property’s features, location and your personal rating factors.

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Best landlord insurance for rental property owners

Written by

Mary Van Keuren

Edited by

Amelia Buckley

Edited by

Amelia Buckley

Updated Mar 20, 2026

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What is landlord insurance?

Landlord insurance, as the name suggests, covers risk to a property you own and rent out. It works similarly to a standard homeowners insurance policy and includes many of the same coverage options, with some key differences. Landlord insurance provides coverage if your property is damaged from covered perils, such as fire and windstorm damage. However, it does not cover tenant belongings within the home. For that, your tenants need renters insurance. Although coverage types may vary by carrier, many landlord insurance policies include loss of rent coverage to soften the blow of lost rental income while a home is uninhabitable due to a covered loss.

Like homeowners insurance, landlord insurance is usually required if your tenant-occupied property has a mortgage. Even if your home is paid off, it may be worth having this coverage to avoid paying out of pocket to rebuild or repair your home should you incur substantial property damage.

Best landlord insurance companies

To find the best landlord insurance companies, Bankrate’s insurance editorial team reviewed companies based on an array of factors, including financial strength, customer satisfaction, coverage options, digital tools and available discounts.

Based on our findings, you might start your search for landlord insurance quotes from these companies:

Top 5 companies for landlord insurance

Personalized coverage

Allstate may be worth considering for landlords looking for personalized coverage. All Allstate policies come with fair income coverage, which pays the rental income you would otherwise earn if your unit becomes uninhabitable due to a covered loss. In addition to standard coverage types, Allstate policyholders can choose from various add-ons, including vandalism coverage for vacant units, building code coverage and rental property under construction coverage. With an A+ rating from AM Best, Allstate has demonstrated financial strength. However, Allstate does not offer online quoting for landlord insurance, so you will have to call the company or contact a local agent for a quote.

Enhanced liability coverage

American Family may be worth considering for landlords interested in purchasing robust coverage on their properties, such as commercial umbrella liability protection. The company also offers landlord insurance policies for business owners, which cover business essentials that are not covered under typical landlord policies, such as auxiliary structure coverage. Shoppers who are new to property rental and management may appreciate AmFam’s Landlord Toolbox, which offers useful resources for property owners. These include articles on state tenant laws, property upkeep and tenant selection. AM Best has assigned this insurer an A rating, reflecting strong financial stability. However, this insurance company has limited state availability.

Apartment or condo owners

State Farm landlord insurance policies vary based on whether you rent out a home, condo or apartment, with specialized policies for each property type. All three policy types include loss of rent coverage. The carrier’s apartment landlord insurance includes equipment breakdown coverage and heating and air conditioning loss reimbursement, while condo landlord insurance includes inflation coverage and loss assessment coverage. Policyholders may also save with potential discounts for home safety devices. If you’re having trouble navigating the landlord insurance market, you may appreciate State Farm’s many local agents available for face-to-face service and its AM Best rating of A++ (Superior), highlighting its financial reliability.

First-time landlords

Landlord insurance policies from Farmers are fairly basic, but policyholders can choose from a handful of endorsements, like loss of rent coverage, personal property coverage and other structures coverage. Backed by an A rating from AM Best, Farmers shows consistent financial health. If you’re a first-time landlord, selecting a tenant can be stressful. Farmers offers a quick screening tool called SmartMove, which provides in-depth reports on tenant suitability to potentially minimize risks for landlords. Like most other landlord insurance companies, online quotes are not available for this policy type.

Accessibility

Geico may be a great landlord insurance company for property owners looking for robust policies with easy digital property management tools. Geico's website and mobile app allow policyholders to easily manage their policies and file a claim on the go. The carrier offers standard coverage types, including loss of rent payments coverage, as well as optional add-ons like vandalism coverage and additional building code construction expenses coverage. Unlike many competitors, Geico offers online quoting for landlord insurance. However, policies are underwritten by affiliate companies, so the actual company underwriting your policy may vary. While Geico carries an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best, it’s still a good idea to review the financial stability of any insurer you’re considering for landlord insurance independently before making a decision.

How to find the best cheap landlord insurance

The best landlord insurance for you may vary based on your property type, location, budget and personal preferences. For example, landlords with multiple properties may appreciate a carrier with an easy-to-use mobile app to easily manage their policies virtually. Landlords with older rental properties may want a carrier that offers building code coverage to financially protect their property while the home is under construction to bring it up to code. Here are some tactics to find the best cheap landlord insurance for you.

Speaking with a licensed insurance agent may help guide your landlord insurance shopping process.

Frequently asked questions

No, not all insurance carriers offer rental property coverage. Landlord insurance is typically written as a standalone policy, which means you can purchase it from a different insurer than the one that provides your auto or homeowners coverage. That said, some companies offer bundling discounts that may include landlord policies, so it’s worth getting quotes both with your current carrier and from other insurers to compare your options.
Landlord insurance is the layman’s term for what insurers call a dwelling policy (DP). Because the homeowner doesn’t live in the home, as with a typical HO-3 policy, a dwelling policy is designed to protect the landlord’s financial interest in the property, covering the structure and certain liability exposures, but not the tenant’s personal belongings.
If your property has a mortgage, you will likely have to carry landlord insurance on your tenant-occupied home. Although landlord insurance is not required by law, it may offer financial protection if your home experiences severe damage from a covered peril. Plus, you can most likely write off the insurance when you file your taxes, so you may be protecting your investment and saving money at tax time.
Yes, landlords can include a clause in the lease that requires proof of renters insurance. Renters insurance is generally a good idea anyway, as it protects tenants’ property, and it may also include liability to cover damages or injuries incurred on the property. In some cases, landlords can be named as an "additional interest" on the policy (note that this is different from being named as an "additional insured"), so that they are notified if the policy lapses.
The cost of a landlord insurance policy may vary greatly based on the property’s features, location and the landlord’s personal rating factors. Landlord insurance does not typically include personal property coverage, which may make it cheaper than homeowners insurance. On the other hand, carriers may see rental properties as riskier to insure than owner-occupied homes, as tenants may be less likely to maintain properties regularly. The best way to understand what you might pay for landlord insurance is likely to compare quotes from a handful of providers.
Landlord insurance can be expensive, especially since it can carry more risk than a traditional homeowners insurance policy. Since you are not living on the property, you’re relying on your tenants (and their guests) to limit damage. You’re also counting on them to report maintenance issues promptly, so small problems don’t turn into costly insurance claims. Many landlord policies also include loss of rental income coverage, which helps replace your rental income if the property becomes uninhabitable after a covered loss — another factor that can drive up cost. If you choose to furnish the property or store your belongings there, you may have to consider purchasing personal property coverage for your landlord policy, too. Beyond coverage options and tenant risk, the cost of landlord insurance may vary greatly based on the property’s features, location and your personal rating factors.

Written by

Mary Van Keuren

Contributor, Insurance & Home Lending