Your roommate is on the lease. Should they be on your policy?
June 29, 2017
Note: This post is part of a series of insurance blogs on Safeco.com showcasing the expertise of local independent agents and aimed at helping you understand insurance coverage and other important issues.
You like your roommate. You trust your roommate. But should you both be on the same renters policy?
The answer, in most instances, is "no," even though some insurance companies allow it.
Renters insurance covers your belongings, along with providing protections for loss of use, liability, etc. Roommates are not included by default on a policy, even if you're both on the lease. Also, there's no "insurable interest" between roommates, which means they typically don't have any financial interest in your stuff, and you don't have any in theirs.
To put it another way: If you didn't renew your lease, you'd take your things, and they would take theirs. It's not like a divorce, with a lot of shared property. (Although maybe you'd both fight to take that rice cooker you bought together and never used).
Here are three reasons not to share a renters policy with a roommate:
About Frank Siciliano, WHINS Insurance Agency
Frank Siciliano has been an all-lines agent with the WHINS Insurance team since 2012 and has been in the insurance game for nearly 10 years. WHINS Insurance Agency serves the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles area from its home base in Encino, Calif., with a focus on providing great coverage at a great value, all in a timely and professional manner. Frank is fiercely devoted to his clients. He specializes in auto, home and umbrella insurance but works tirelessly to insure whatever his clients throw at him. He lives in the Faircrest Heights area of Los Angeles with his wife, children, four cats, and a fish.
You like your roommate. You trust your roommate. But should you both be on the same renters policy?
The answer, in most instances, is "no," even though some insurance companies allow it.
Renters insurance covers your belongings, along with providing protections for loss of use, liability, etc. Roommates are not included by default on a policy, even if you're both on the lease. Also, there's no "insurable interest" between roommates, which means they typically don't have any financial interest in your stuff, and you don't have any in theirs.
To put it another way: If you didn't renew your lease, you'd take your things, and they would take theirs. It's not like a divorce, with a lot of shared property. (Although maybe you'd both fight to take that rice cooker you bought together and never used).
Here are three reasons not to share a renters policy with a roommate:
- If they get sued, you could get hurt. Say your roommate's dog bites somebody. If it's even covered (some policies exclude certain dog breeds), a shared policy means you could be part of the lawsuit. That would be a hassle, and it might mean higher premiums for you down the road.
- Your stuff isn't all the same. Does your roommate have expensive items, such as jewelry? If they have a lot of valuables and you don't, you could end up paying more than your fair share for coverage.
- It's more complicated than sharing the power bill. First of all, sharing a policy means you need to make sure your roommate pays their part of the bill. But things can really get complicated if there's a claim. The check will be made out to both of you, even if it's just your stuff that was damaged or stolen. If they don't sign it, you can't cash it. (Important note: If your roommate steals your stuff, that's not covered by renters insurance. And it's probably time to find a new roommate, too.)
About Frank Siciliano, WHINS Insurance Agency
Frank Siciliano has been an all-lines agent with the WHINS Insurance team since 2012 and has been in the insurance game for nearly 10 years. WHINS Insurance Agency serves the San Fernando Valley and greater Los Angeles area from its home base in Encino, Calif., with a focus on providing great coverage at a great value, all in a timely and professional manner. Frank is fiercely devoted to his clients. He specializes in auto, home and umbrella insurance but works tirelessly to insure whatever his clients throw at him. He lives in the Faircrest Heights area of Los Angeles with his wife, children, four cats, and a fish.