What renters insurance covers
- Your belongings against theft, fire, water damage and other listed events.
- Liability if someone is injured in your home or you damage someone else’s property.
- Loss of use (US) or alternative accommodation: extra living costs if your home becomes uninhabitable after an insured event.
- Tenant’s liability (UK): accidental damage to the landlord’s fixtures, such as a cracked bathroom basin. Check whether it’s included or optional.
Deposits vs insurance
In England and Wales, deposits for assured shorthold tenancies must be protected in a government-approved scheme, and disputes about damage at the end of a tenancy go through that scheme. Insurance is different: it covers sudden accidental damage and insured events during the tenancy, not general wear and tear or cleaning.
Sharing a home
Shared-house policies often need forced entry for theft claims, because housemates and their guests can come and go. Look for policies built for sharers that cover your own room’s contents. In the US, roommates are usually not covered by your policy unless named, so each person should normally buy their own.
Renting in France and the rest of Europe
French law requires tenants of unfurnished homes to insure against rental risks (fire, water damage, explosion) and to show the landlord proof each year. Elsewhere in the EU, rules vary: some leases require liability cover, and in Germany many households hold private liability (Privathaftpflicht) insurance even though it isn’t compulsory. See insurance in Europe.
Last updated: 15 October 2026
