California Tenant Rights Insurance

Those who rent in California may want to invest in renter's insurance.

California residents who rent their residences are well advised to invest in renter's insurance. Even if nothing ever happens to your personal belongings, renter's insurance can provide you with something valuable: peace of mind.

Purpose

The purpose of renter's insurance in California is to protect the tenant's personal belongings in the event of theft or fire. While a landlord may have insurance for the apartment building as a whole, personal belongings are not necessarily are covered under the landlord's policy.

Waterbeds

Landlords in California cannot prohibit tenants from having waterbeds in buildings built after 1972, but they can require the tenant to show proof of insurance in case the waterbed causes any damage to the building structure. Under California Civil Code Section 1940.5, a tenant with a waterbed must have an insurance policy for at least $100,000.

Warning

Although renter's insurance in California protects against some disasters and unfortunate events, it does not protect against all such occurrences. Renter's insurance in California does not cover damages related to flooding or earthquakes.

References

• California Dept. of Consumer Affairs: When You Have Decided to Rent
• Landlord: Overview of California Residential Landlord/Tenant Law
• Renters Insurance: California Renters Insurance

Resources

• Los Angeles Times: Renters Insurance: What You Need to Know