Does Renters Insurance Cover Floods? What You Need to Know

If you’re a renter, you probably know it’s important to have renters insurance to protect yourself against different kinds of perils. But you may not realize that not all perils are covered. Take, for example, floods.

While renters insurance may pay for water damage from a pipe that bursts unexpectedly or a dishwasher that overflows without warning, it typically doesn’t cover flood damage. If you want that kind of protection, you should consider purchasing a separate flood insurance policy.

Understanding Flood Damage and Standard Renters Insurance

Renters insurance can protect tenants in a few key ways. It provides financial reimbursement for covered losses to your personal property. It can help protect you if someone is injured while on your rented premises. And some policies will also pay your living expenses if your home is deemed uninhabitable due to damage from a covered peril, like a fire or storm.

Unfortunately, although it’s generally easy to get renters insurance, policies don’t typically cover damage to your rental or belongings that’s caused by a flood. As we mentioned above, for that type of coverage, you’ll need to look into purchasing a flood insurance policy for renters.

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How Separate Flood Insurance Policies Protect Renters

Renters who live in one of the more than 22,600 participating National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) communities may be eligible to purchase renters flood insurance. The NFIP is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is delivered to the public by a network of more than 48 insurance companies and the NFIP Direct.

To purchase flood insurance, you can get a quote with the NFIP Quote Tool available via FloodSmart.gov. Then share the quote with an agent near you, or call your insurance company directly. There’s typically a 30-day waiting period for an NFIP policy to go into effect.

The cost for flood insurance for renters depends on a variety of factors, including whether your rental is located in a flood plain or other high-risk area and what your renters insurance coverage limits are. Living near a body of water within a high-risk area will usually drive flood insurance prices up.

Internal Water Damage vs External Flooding

Renters insurance may differentiate between types of water damage when determining what’s covered. Sudden, accidental internal damage -– from a broken pipe or a leaking washing machine, for instance — are typically covered. External flooding — like damage from a flood or backed-up sewer — will likely not be covered by an average renters insurance policy, though you might be able to purchase additional coverage to protect against such events. Here’s a brief rundown of common water damage events and what would or would not probably be covered by a renters insurance policy.

Type of Water Damage	Typically Covered?
Burst plumbing	Yes
Overflowing toilet	Yes
Leaking appliance	Yes
Heavy rain	No
Storm surge	No
Overflowing river	No
Mudslide	No

The Flood Exclusion (and Related Limitations) in Renters Insurance

Standard renters insurance policies typically exclude flood damage. Renters insurance often covers water damage from unexpected events inside the building, like burst pipes, leaking appliances, and accidental water discharge from plumbing. As we’ve mentioned, to protect your belongings from flood damage, you’ll need to purchase a separate renters flood insurance policy.

Flood insurance for renters is typically a “contents-only” policy, meaning that only your personal property within the rental unit will be covered. Renters flood insurance can cover up to $100,000 of tenant-owned property in rental units on or above the lowest elevated floor, according to FEMA. This can include things like furniture, clothing, electronics, and other personal items. Coverage for contents below the lowest elevated floor or in a basement or basement apartment is generally limited to a washer, a dryer, and/or a freezer, including the food in it.

Recommended: Does Renters Insurance Cover Water Leak Damage?

Does Renters Insurance Cover Basement Flooding?

Renters insurance typically doesn’t cover basement flooding. If you rent your home and you’re concerned about flooding, there may be other insurance you can buy or add on that will provide some coverage, but it’s wise to make sure you fully understand what exactly you’re signing up for.

Natural Flood Damage to Basements

Natural flood damage is the damage that occurs to basements when water seeps in from an outside source. These sources can include rainstorms, rising bodies of water, or storm surges.

for example. You can buy a separate renters flood insurance policy. This will generally cover your possessions up to the policy limit — but not necessarily in a basement. In a space below the first elevated floor – a basement or underground crawl space, for instance — even flood insurance typically covers only a few major appliances, such as a washer, dryer, and/or freezer.

Sewer Backup and Sump Pump Failures

Generally, renters insurance doesn’t cover damage caused by a backed-up sewer or a failed sump pump. Nor does flood insurance. However, you may be able to purchase a water backup endorsement from your insurer to provide protection from issues like this. Policies may vary in terms of what they cover in the basement, so read the fine print carefully.

Recommended: Does Renters Insurance Cover Temporary Housing?

Protecting Your Belongings From Flood Damage as a Renter

One of the most effective ways to protect your belongings from flood damage as a renter can be having renters flood insurance coverage.

Other proactive measures include moving valuable belongings to higher ground, creating flood barriers like sandbags to block water from entering your rental, and sealing cracks and gaps around windows, doors, pipes, and wires.

If you see appliances or parts of the rental unit that are in need of upkeep, be sure to let your landlord know so that they can be promptly fixed.

What to Do After Experiencing Flood Damage in Your Rental

If a flood is in progress in your rental, immediately turn off the gas, electricity, and central air conditioning and heating to prevent further damage. Then contact your landlord or property manager to inform them about the flood and any damage it caused.

If you have renters flood insurance and want to file a claim, then you should also contact your insurance company to start the claims process. Take photos and videos of the water and the damage to your belongings for insurance purposes.

However, before making the call, it’s helpful to consider the pros and cons of filing. One clear benefit of filing a claim is that, ideally, you’ll receive money for some or all of the costs to fix or replace your items (and, depending on the extent of the damage, perhaps pay for your living expenses while your home is being repaired).

However, you’ll be on the hook for any insurance deductibles. If the only thing that was damaged during the flood was a cheap couch that’s several years old and broken, it might not be worth filing a claim, especially if the insurance company raises your premium afterward. The process can also be time consuming and potentially frustrating.

Recommended: How Much Renters Insurance Do I Need?

The Takeaway

Does renters insurance cover flood damage? While renters insurance generally covers water leak damage from pipes unexpectedly bursting or appliances leaking, water damage from floods will likely not be covered. If you rent in a high-risk flood zone, you’re generally not required to have flood insurance, but it can be a good idea. And keep in mind, floods can still occur outside high-risk flood zones.

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FAQ

Does renters insurance cover any type of water damage?

Renters insurance does usually cover some types of water damage, such as damage from a pipe unexpectedly bursting or an appliance leaking.

Where can renters buy flood insurance?

Renters who live in a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) area may be able to buy flood insurance from one of the more than 48 participating insurance companies. You can get a quote through the online NFIP Quote Tool and then contact the insurance company to purchase the renters flood insurance policy.

What does flood insurance for renters typically cover?

Renters flood insurance can cover up to $100,000 of tenant-owned property in rental units above the lowest elevated floor. This can include things like furniture, clothing, electronics, and other personal items. Coverage for contents below the lowest elevated floor or in a basement or basement apartment is limited to a washer, a dryer, and/or a freezer and the food in it.

Is flood insurance expensive for renters?

The cost of flood insurance for renters depends on a variety of factors, including your renters insurance coverage limits and whether your rental is located in a floodplain or other high-risk area. Living near a body of water within a high-risk area will generally increase the price you pay for flood insurance.

Do I need flood insurance if I don’t live in a high-risk flood zone?

Generally speaking, you’re not required to have flood insurance if you don’t live in a high-risk flood zone, but it’s usually recommended. Floods can still occur outside high-risk flood zones.

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