What are a tenant’s right regarding rental insurance requirements?
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What are a tenant’s right regarding rental insurance requirements?
My landlord sent a lease renewal along with an insurance form requesting that they be named as “additional insured” on my my renter’s insurance. My insurance company will not allow the landlord as an “additional insured”. They also supplied the name of an insurance company who will allow this. Do I have to comply with their request and change insurance companies? Also, do I have to show them proof of my insurance?
Asked on August 8, 2011 New Jersey
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
A landlord doesn't have to be a landlord; there is no law requiring people to rent out units or space. Since being a landlord and renting is therefore a voluntary act, a landlord may put essentially any requirements he wants on prospective tenants, with only a few, fairly well know, restrictions (e.g. no discrimination in housing based on race, sex, religion, disability, etc.). That means that a landlord may make it a condition of getting or renewing a lease that the tenant get renter's insurance, name the landlord as an additional insured, and provide proof of insurance. If the tenant doesn't want to do this, he or she would have to rent elsewhere.
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