• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Insurism

Insurism

The best way to save on insurance

Insurism
  • Apartment Hunting
  • Renters Insurance
  • Renters Insurance Quotes
  • Renting FAQs
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Renters Insurance Does Renters Insurance Cover Fire?

Does Renters Insurance Cover Fire?

Yes, renters insurance covers fire. As long as you didn’t deliberately start it, renters insurance covers fire and smoke damage to your personal property. Read on for more info on how renters insurance can help you in the case of a fire.

Annette L. Annette L. February 22, 2021 Get a Renters Insurance Quote
Firefighter putting out house on fire

Table of Contents

  1. When is fire damage covered by renters insurance?
  2. What types of coverage does renters insurance offer for fire damage?
  3. What if there’s a fire in my apartment and I have no renters insurance?

Get cheap renters insurance quotes from insurers near you!

When is fire damage covered by renters insurance?

Fire damage is almost always covered by renters insurance. Renters insurance covers the following types of fire damage:

  • Electrical fires
  • Grease fires
  • Chimney fires
  • Accidental fires
  • Wildfire
  • Fire damage caused by earthquakes
  • Arson (caused by somebody else)

Renters insurance also covers damage from smoke caused by the fire.

Renters insurance still covers fire when it was caused by an excluded peril.

If an earthquake starts a fire that damages your home, the damage from the fire will be covered, although the damage directly caused by the earthquake won’t be.

There are some exceptions when renters insurance does not cover fire damage.

When is fire damage not covered by renters insurance?

Renters insurance doesn’t cover fire damage when you started the fire intentionally. If you burn your garage in the hopes of getting reimbursed … you won’t be.

Your provider also won’t cover a fire that you caused through gross negligence. If you leave an open canister of gasoline next to your gas-burning stove, you won’t be covered.

What types of coverage does renters insurance offer for fire damage?

If you’ve read our article on what renters insurance is, you know that renters insurance offers personal property, loss-of-use, and liability coverage for fire damage.

Personal property

With a few exceptions, renters insurance will reimburse you for any personal property you lose in the fire or that was damaged by the smoke. The exceptions to this are:

  • Your building: The actual structure that you live in is never covered by renters insurance because it’s your landlord’s responsibility. Their insurance policy will cover it.
  • Your car: Motor vehicles are also never covered by renters insurance. To protect your car from fire damage, you need to buy a separate auto insurance policy. However, if your belongings inside the car get damaged in the fire, your renters insurance will reimburse you for the contents.

Loss-of-use coverage

If the fire destroys your home and forces you to evacuate, your policy’s loss-of-use provision will reimburse you for the additional living expenses you incur, such as:

  • New accommodations (hotel or temporary rental)
  • A longer and more expensive commute
  • Meals and groceries

The policy aims to restore your normal living standards and will cover the excess of what you normally spend.

For example, if there’s a fire in your kitchen and you have to stay at a hotel for a week while it’s being repaired, your provider will pay for your hotel stay. It will also cover some extra living expenses, such as those incurred due to having to eat at restaurants instead of at home. You may have to provide receipts documenting your typical living expenses, such as what you normally spend on groceries.

Liability coverage

If you negligently caused the fire in your building and your landlord or neighbors seek compensation from you, your renters insurance may cover some of your liability, including legal expenses and medical bills.

However, if the fire is due to your negligence, you may not be able to claim for personal property damage.

Your policy won’t provide personal property damage in the case of negligence

If you caused the fire through your own carelessness, your provider will help you pay your liability expenses, but they won't pay for any of your damaged property.

What if there’s a fire in my apartment and I have no renters insurance?

If you have no renters insurance and there’s a fire in your apartment, you may end up paying out of pocket for a huge loss – not just for your damaged personal property, but possibly legal and medical expenses if the fire was due to your negligence.

While renters insurance isn’t required by law, we recommend being proactive about getting renters insurance so you don’t end up in this situation. You should also think about installing fire safety features in your apartment to prevent fires from happening at all. Consider installing:

  • Smoke detector or carbon monoxide alarm
  • Fire extinguisher
  • A sprinkler system

Because fire is one of the most common covered perils, insurers often offer discounts to renters who have these safety features.

Takeaways

  • Renters insurance covers fire and smoke damage to your personal property, as long as you did not intentionally set the fire or cause it by gross negligence.
  • Renters insurance doesn’t cover fire damage to your building or to your car.
  • If your home becomes uninhabitable due to the fire, renters insurance will reimburse you for additional living expenses through your policy’s loss-of-use provision.
  • If you negligently caused the fire in your building, your renters insurance can pay for some of your liability in medical or legal expenses.

Related Questions

  • What is guest medical coverage in renters insurance?
  • What is a sub-limit in renters insurance?
  • Does renters insurance cover home-based businesses?
  • Does renters insurance cover gold or silver bullion?
  • What does "dependent in the care of" mean in renters insurance?
  • Does State Farm renters insurance cover hotel stays?

Related Articles

Man considering whether renters insurance is worth it
Renters Insurance

Is Renters Insurance Worth It?

Yes, renters insurance is worth it. Given its relatively low cost, the protection it offers makes it a smart investment for any tenant....

Insurism Team Insurism Team
Mechanism with gears representing how renters insurance works
Renters Insurance

How Does Renters Insurance Work?

Renters insurance covers your belongings, your legal liability, and your expenses if a disaster forces you to temporarily leave home....

Insurism Team Insurism Team
Renters insurance in Mississippi
Renters Insurance

Renters Insurance in Mississippi: Best Options, Cheapest Prices

Want to know who offers the best (and cheapest) renters insurance in Mississippi? We've gathered data on the cost of renters insurance...

Insurism Team Insurism Team
Renters insurance in Nashville
Renters Insurance

Renters Insurance in Nashville: Best Options, Cheapest Prices

We collected data on the cost of renters insurance in Nashville and what you can expect to get for your money. Stay with us for how to...

Insurism Team Insurism Team
Renters Insurance

Does Renters Insurance Cover Broken Windows?

Renters insurance doesn’t cover broken windows in your own apartment, although it might cover your legal expenses if you accidentally...

Insurism Team Insurism Team
Renters insurance in Phoenix
Renters Insurance

Renters Insurance in Phoenix: Best Options, Cheapest Prices

We collected data on the cost of renters insurance in Phoenix and what the city's major providers have to offer. Stay with us for tips on...

Insurism Team Insurism Team
  • Apartment Hunting
  • Renters Insurance
  • Renters Insurance Quotes
  • Renting FAQs
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
Insurism

© 2023 – ONR Housing Labs LLC - All Rights Reserved