If you rent out homes, condos, boarding houses, hotels, or other types of properties, you could greatly benefit from having habitational insurance. This type of special insurance policy is specifically designed for commercial residential properties and often includes unique characteristics that are not covered under standard property insurance policies. As the owner of commercial residential properties, you face a number of risks due to the complexity of the owner-tenant relationship. Habitational insurance is designed to protect you against these types of risks to help prevent major financial loss.
When you operate any type of commercial residential property, you are responsible for not just the property itself, but also for the people that reside in it. What makes habitational insurance so effective is that is blends elements of several different types of insurance, including home insurance and business insurance, to create a comprehensive policy. Habitational insurance provides liability coverage in the event of a tenant injury, as well as for losses caused by storms, fire, theft, wind, vandalism by tenants, and malicious damage.
What Is Habitational Insurance?
Habitational insurance provides comprehensive coverage for the owners of all types of commercial residential properties, such as apartment buildings, condominiums, and multi-unit dwellings. While policies can vary, most include coverage for property, general liability and excess, and environmental-impairment liability. Some types of coverage are standard while others can be added onto your policy to extend your benefits. Customizing an insurance policy to meet your unique needs is a wise choice if you wish to protect your business and bottom line. If you are not sure what type of coverage you need, speak with an experienced specialty insurance broker for guidance.
With habitational insurance, you can not only keep your property protected, but also any personal property inside. In addition, there are a number of optional insurance coverages that may be added to your policy upon request, such as coverage for outdoor signs, glass, water damage, loss of rental income, accounts receivable, errors and omissions, and the fees for condominium association directors and officers. Many policies also provide coverage for the breakdown of equipment, which includes physical equipment such as HVAC systems, which are required to keep the building operating efficiently. Under general liability coverage, habitational insurance may help cover the cost of medical bills and legal fees faced when a tenant or guest becomes injured on your property.
Who Should A Habitational Insurance Policy?
So, who really needs habitational insurance? In short, anyone who owns a rental property can benefit from having a policy. The more tenants you have, the more important habitational insurance coverage will be. You do not have to be the owner of a large condo, student dormitory, or boarding house to acquire a policy. Even owners of single-dwelling homes should have coverage. If you desire comprehensive coverage that protects your livelihood while also receiving the peace of mind that you are protected against the unknown, look into getting habitational insurance.
Why Do I Need To Acquire A Policy?
You may be wondering if you really need habitational insurance. For the majority of landlords and commercial property owners of residential homes, the answer is yes. Say that your building’s heating system breaks down in the middle of winter. Your tenants are calling you to complain about their cold apartments and you need to work fast. Would you have the funds necessary to repair or replace the heating unit? This is where habitational insurance could come in handy. What would you do if a fire broke out in your building, forcing your tenants to move out? You would be responsible for extensive repairs and you would lose rent money. Habitational insurance could help cover these costs.
Habitational insurance can be useful for all types of situations, including losses caused by hail, explosions, building codes, pollution, vehicle damage, theft, windstorms, and many other issues. As each property is different and owners have unique coverage needs, it is important to compare your options to determine which policy is best suited for you. An experienced specialty insurance broker can walk you through each step of the process and help you customize a policy that meets your budget and specific coverage needs.
Speak To Experienced Specialty Insurance Brokers
While running any type of business brings its own set of challenges, renting out rooms or apartments to tenants can result in major losses. It is important to be prepared for any situation that could arise, whether it is destruction by a tenant or a fire that causes extensive damage to your property. Even landlords with just a couple rental properties should consider acquiring a policy to ensure that they are covered when an unexpected even arises. Interested in learning more about habitational insurance or want to get started customizing your own policy? If so, contact the experienced specialty insurance brokers at JMG Insurance Agency today.