Having a pet is a lot of fun, but it also comes with risks if you rent your home. Pets might make a mess on carpeting or damage blinds. A pet could also bite or severely injure a guest in your home.

Renters with pets should ensure that their renters insurance includes pet liability coverage. If you don’t have pet liability coverage, there are often other ways you might be able to get coverage for pet risks.

Covering Pets with Liability Coverage

Renters liability coverage generally provides some degree of coverage for pet risks.

If your pet harms another person, such as by biting or attacking, your coverage may help. You might use it to settle a lawsuit claim or provide financial assistance for a victim’s medical needs.

Perhaps the pet inadvertently causes damage to the home. It might break a window or damage a light fixture. Pets usually cause this damage purely by accident. If the damage warrants making an insurance claim, your renters policy often covers inadvertent pet damages.

However, renters insurance does contain exceptions regarding pets.

• If you take no steps to prevent or mitigate further damages, your insurance carrier might deny your claim. Your insurance may claim that your negligence allowed the pet to continue damaging behaviors.
• Certain breeds or types of pets may not have coverage under every policy. Insurance companies may deem these breeds dangerous and thus not be able to insure them.
• Furthermore, some insurance policies may exclude pet coverage altogether. Some states even explicitly exclude pet coverage from renters insurance requirements. You might have to seek alternative insurance to protect pet liabilities.
• Extra Options for Pet Liabilities
• If you find that your renters policy excludes pet liability coverage, don’t panic. You may be able to secure other forms coverage that might help mitigate pet risks.
• Certain insurance companies offer pet liability policies that are separate from renters or homeowners insurance. These policies may cover your pets whether they are on or off your property.
• Umbrella liability coverage can add extra coverage that your standard renters insurance may not include. This might include pet liability coverage. However, not every umbrella policy covers these risks.

If you have a pet, make sure your rental owner is willing to accept the breed on their property. Then talk to your insurance agent about how best to cover that pet’s risks.

We’ve got you covered. McFarlin Insurance Agency can help you get a renters insurance policy that meets your needs. Call us at (410) 312-7800 for more information.