Pet Liability Insurance for Renters (2024) (2024)

Pet liability coverage is often a provision in a renters insurance policy. Sometimes, it’s a separate coverage option beyond a standard renters insurance policy.

Pet liability insurance covers property damage or injuries to a third party caused by your pet. Just like any insurance policy, there are coverage restrictions and limitations.

Specifically, pet liability insurance doesn’t cover a pet’s medical expenses, even when they’re due to an injury that happened inside your rental. When you have both pet liability insurance and pet insurance, you know that you’re covered when your pets cause damage to your rental — and possibly to themselves in the process.

When included in a standard renters insurance policy, pet liability coverage is sometimes limited even further through sub-limits on the expenses associated with pet incidents. For example, if a renters insurance policy has a $100,000 liability limit, the insurer could put a cap on what it pays for pet liability claims, reducing the coverage limit to $25,000.

What Does Pet Liability for Renters Insurance Cover?

Pet liability for renters can cover pet-related incidents of damage, legal fees or injury through the personal liability portion of your renters insurance policy.

You would be covered in three ways:

• Legal fees if someone were to sue you over a pet-related issue
• Property damage caused by a pet
• Emergency medical care if your pet injures or bites someone

As a renter, a pet liability insurance policy provides comfort that if your pet causes damage, your personal liability may be significantly reduced.

Does Renters Insurance Include Pet Liability Coverage?

Renters insurance coverage generally does not extend to the health costs related to a pet’s injuries, even if the injury happened in or near the rental. Pet insurance is a separate policy that covers the health costs of a pet.

Most rental insurance policies have some coverage for damage that a pet leaves behind. However, some insurance companies won’t cover the cost of damages when an excluded animal, such as an exotic pet or a specific dog breed, causes the damage.

Does Pet Insurance Include Pet Liability Coverage?

Pet insurance is insurance for the veterinary medical expenses and treatment costs for your pet. It doesn’t cover physical property damage or bodily injury to another person or animal. It’s comparable to personal health insurance, as it reduces the costs of medical services for your pet in the event of emergencies or long-term illness.

Pet insurance policies vary by insurance company, but most plans won’t cover routine veterinary services or pre-existing conditions. Emergency pet care is an unexpected expense, with the average cost of emergency care falling between $800 and $1,000.

While it’s certainly optional to get it, pet insurance can be beneficial when your pet routinely runs up costly vet bills. You might be able to bundle a pet policy with your other coverage. For example, Lemonade offers a bundling plan for renters insurance and pet insurance.

Benefits of Purchasing a Separate Pet Liability Policy

If your renters insurance doesn’t cover pet damage, consider getting a separate pet liability policy. You should also consider adding additional coverage if the covered incidents or policy limits don’t adequately cover your potential liabilities.

With separate pet liability insurance, dog bites or other injuries to third parties don’t need to occur at your home. The same goes for property damage: The policy isn’t tied to your status as a renter, but rather as a pet owner.

Your coverage includes financial support for pet-related incidents that lead to damage, injury or legal expenses. Claims can cover the costs of:

• Legal defense when sued for an animal attack or bite
• Replacing a neighbor’s personal property
• Emergency medical care or other treatment for an injury for which your pet is liable

When you own a property, you decide how you live and what you do and don’t let your pets do around your house. When renting, you are at the mercy of the landlord and subject to the terms of your lease agreement. If your pet scratches the wall in your rental bedroom, your landlord will expect it to be fixed at your expense.

Plus, your lease contract may prescribe what type of pet you can bring home, or it might assign different rules depending on the type of pet you have. To preemptively cover pet damage, your landlord might require a larger deposit. These typically apply to more than just dog owners, as furry friends of any kind can wreak havoc on property.

How much renters insurance and pet liability insurance cost and what they cover will vary by situation and insurance company. Some insurance companies will not cover damage from some breeds of dogs at all, while others may offer coverage with a much higher starting premium to reflect the increased risk. Additionally, if your pet is a working dog performing security or guard duties for a business, you could see a higher premium as well.

Supplemental coverage for dog bites or other damages your pet causes should have limits that are sufficient to protect against liabilities like medical payments and property damage.

Medical bills are often the subject of pet liability claims, so a relatively high limit is a good choice. According to a study by the Insurance Information Institute and State Farm, the average dog bite claim cost a pet owner more than $49,000 in 2021, an amount that often exceeds allowable payouts under a standard renters or homeowners insurance policy.

Just like renters insurance, pet liability policies range from cheap to expensive. Inexpensive, low-limit, high-deductible pet liability policies cost as little as $10 a month, while more comprehensive coverage for higher-risk breeds could cost up to $1,000 a year. While low-cost policies might seem more affordable, they might not be sufficient to cover a big claim.

Shopping around for the best rate, as well as bundling your pet coverage with other policies, can help lower the cost of your pet liability insurance.

Here are some tips when shopping for pet liability insurance:

1. Look for insurance providers that offer standalone pet liability insurance or as an inclusion with renters insurance.
2. When shopping for insurance, don’t just look at the liability coverage limits. Also, look at coverage options and pet eligibility. Compare included claims against limitations and exclusions.
3. Fill out an application and provide the insurer with proof of your pet’s health and history. This could mean submitting a medical record and immunization history from a licensed veterinarian.
4. A reputable provider provides a fair price, comprehensive coverage and attention to your claims and questions. Read through reviews and ratings or check the resources online before making a final determination.

A Review of Renters Insurance

Renters insurance covers damage in the house or apartment you’re renting. Renters policies generally cover damage to the rental’s structure, damage to your personal property, and fees related to legal action against the renter. There are three different coverage elements under a renters policy:

1. Personal belongings: the costs of repairing or replacing your possessions, such as furniture, clothing or electronics, following damage or theft
2. Liability: the costs associated with damages, injuries and legal fees when you are found liable for an incident
3. Additional living expenses: the costs of temporary living arrangements if your residence is uninhabitable due to damage from a covered incident

It’s important to protect yourself as a pet owner and renter with renters liability insurance. However, while these policies provide some protection from the costs related to pet damage to property or injuries to others, it’s worth considering the peace of mind from higher limits and inclusions that come with pet liability insurance.

Check on your current protections and consider getting a renters insurance quote to find out your other coverage options. Your research and diligence will safeguard both you and your furry friends.