North Dakota 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 North Dakota. 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 North Dakota 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.
- 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.
North Dakota Renters Insurance :
Renters insurance in North Dakota protects you and your belongings from a range of perils. North Dakota is a large state with a variety of weather and climate risks. Possible natural disasters in North Dakota that could damage your property include winter storms/blizzards, wildfires, extreme heat, tornadoes, and landslides. Renter’s insurance is the only way to protect your belongings financially should one of these events cause damage or loss. Your North Dakota renters insurance policy can also cover certain medical expenses and legal fees if you are liable for an injury in your home.
How Much Does Renters Insurance in North Dakota Cost?
What does renters insurance cost in North Dakota? Fortunately, the cost of renters insurance in North Dakota is very affordable, with among the lowest rates in 2022. According to NerdWallet, the average North Dakota renters insurance premium in 2024 is $119, or about $10 a month. North Dakota’s average renters insurance rates are several dollars cheaper than the national average of $12 a month, making it a relatively inexpensive investment.
Remember that other factors will influence the cost of your insurance as well, such as the specific risks in your location and the amount of your deductible (The cheapest renters insurance companies and policies tend to have higher deductibles, while more expensive policies will have lower deductibles).
What Are the Most Common Claims in North Dakota?
Common renter’s insurance claims in North Dakota include damage due to severe winter weather as well as losses due to property crimes like burglary. In 2021, North Dakota experienced 342 burglaries per 100,000 people. Neighborhood Scout reports that residents of North Dakota currently have a 1 in 50 chance of becoming victim to a property crime like theft, burglary, or break-ins. Your renter’s insurance policy can cover loss, damage, or vandalism if your personal belongings are stolen from your home or car.
What Additional Policies Do I Need in North Dakota?
North Dakota renters may also need flood insurance. Flooding is common after storms and near large bodies of water. FEMA data shows that flooding has occurred in all North Dakota counties between 1996 and 2019, with the greatest number of flood events in Richland County.
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 a standard renters insurance policy, 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 North Dakota
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.
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.
