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Is renters insurance per person or per unit?

My roommate and I are a little confused about renters insurance policies. They got their own policy, but will it cover me as well because we’re in the same unit? Does every person need their own renters policy?

avatar
Natalie Todoroff · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
We’re glad you asked; insurance can be confusing, especially when you throw other people in the mix. Yes, it’s recommended that every tenant get their own
renters insurance policy
. Renters insurance will only cover the person listed as the policyholder, or anyone related or married to them.
Bottom line: if you’re not named on the policy or living with a sibling or spouse, you’re not covered. It’s wise to get your own policy for several reasons:
  • Makes filing claims for your items easier: When and if one of your belongings is damaged, it makes no sense to
    file
    your claim on their policy. You’re better off having your own in this case.
  • You’ll be covered if your roommate moves out: Roommates aren’t permanent. If you don’t have your own policy and your roommate/policyholder moves out, you could find yourself uninsured.
  • Saves money and lowers risk in the long run: Let’s say you’re the policyholder and your roommate is piggybacking off of you. If they file a claim, that claim will go on your insurance record, and you may have to pay more when it’s time to renew.
If you need help finding a renters insurance policy, look no further than Jerry(
https://getjerry.com/signup
). Jerry’s not a person—it’s an app you download for free from the app store. Signup takes only a couple of seconds, and Jerry instantly shows you renters insurance policies from many top providers. Once you find one that’s best for you (and not your roommate!), Jerry can even help you cancel your old policy.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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