Whether you’re in Austin to study, work, play, or anything in between, you’ll want to cover your stuff with renters insurance. It offers valuable protection in several inconvenient scenarios—like if your canvas tote is swiped at Austin City Limits or if a pipe bursts during an unexpected (but increasingly common) cold spell and spews water all over your stuff.
Plus, renters insurance prices are generally very affordable—at Lemonade, premiums start at just $5/month.
Let’s dig into the finer points of getting covered in Austin.
What does renters insurance cover in Austin?
Renters insurance in Austin covers your stuff for all kinds of unfortunate events, plus offers some financial protection if you ever injure another person or their property.
Let’s break down what your policy covers and the different components of your coverage options.
Personal Property
‘Personal property’ coverage makes sure your personal belongings are protected, whether you’re relaxing at your apartment or off traveling across Europe. So if your living room furniture is ruined due to water damage from that burst pipe, or your phone is stolen while you’re taking a trip to Berlin, your renters insurance policy has your back.
Loss of Use
What about if disaster strikes? If you can’t stay at your home because of covered losses (like a fire or windstorm), your ‘loss of use’ coverage provides reimbursements for temporary housing and additional living expenses such as food, laundry, hotel parking, and more.
Liability coverage
If someone is injured in your apartment, or anyone on your policy causes damage to someone else’s property or stuff, your insurance company should have things like legal fees and property damage covered.
Medical Protection
Your insurance provider covers medical expenses if your guests get injured at your place, or if you accidentally hurt people outside of your home as well. Note that your renter’s insurance policy does not cover medical payments if you or your roommates are injured—only non-residents and guests.
How much is renters insurance in Austin?
The average cost of renters insurance in Austin is $17/month, according to ValuePenguin.
But did you know that the average cost of Lemonade renters insurance across the U.S. is just $14/month, with prices starting as low as $5/month?
When considering costs, keep in mind that your policy price depends on a lot of factors—like where you live, your deductible amount, and the actual amount of coverage you need.
Is renters insurance required in Austin?
While there’s no law requiring that you purchase renters insurance in Austin, your landlord might specifically require it. And if your lease specifies that you need renters insurance, well… that’s that.
The good news is that it’s easy to sign up for a renters insurance policy with Lemonade. When you get renters insurance, you’ll thank yourself later if your stuff gets stolen or damaged! When signing up, your landlord might request they be added as an ‘interested party’ on your policy.
This just means they’ll be kept in the loop when you make any policy changes—or if you cancel your policy. It’s super easy to add them using the Lemonade app.
Why do I need renters insurance in Austin?
Austin is an awesome place to call home, but these days it can be as unpredictable as it is exciting. Renting in Austin can mean contending with several risks that could damage your personal property—from severe thunderstorms to extreme heatwaves and even the occasional tornado.
Fortunately, with a standard Lemonade renters policy, you could be protected for a whole range of bad things that could happen to you or your stuff. If, for instance, a tornado causes some water damage to your things and also renders your rental unit temporarily unlivable, you could receive reimbursement for your stuff as well as for any additional living expenses you incur while away from home.
And, while renters insurance probably can’t ease your anxieties about a looming apocalypse, knowing that it could protect you in several disaster scenarios can still offer some valuable peace of mind.
What’s the right amount of coverage to get?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of how much coverage you should get. It depends on several factors specific to your circumstances. For example, when setting your personal property coverage limit, you should select an amount that’s based on how much stuff you have to cover and what it’s all worth.
As mentioned above, your policy has a few main categories: personal property (your stuff); loss of use (temporary living expenses); and then personal liability and medical bills. You’re able to set the coverage limits for each of these categories when you sign up for a Lemonade policy. Lower coverage limits might save you a few bucks on your monthly insurance premiums—but they might also leave you with insufficient coverage when you have to make a claim.
Also, if you’ve got valuables that are especially pricey or important—things like engagement rings, fancy cameras, musical instruments, or artwork—you can add ‘scheduled personal property coverage’ for those items. At Lemonade, we simply call it ‘Extra Coverage’—here’s a bunch more info about that.
How can I lower my renters insurance rate?
Although renters insurance rates are generally very affordable, there are still some ways to drive your premium down even lower. Here are some possibilities:
- Adjust your deductible and coverage amounts: Increasing your deductible and lowering your total coverage amount will both automatically lower your premium. Just make sure that you’re still adequately covered should disaster strike.
- Check for security devices: If your rental property has a fire alarm or burglar alarm, you could qualify for a discount.
- Pay in full: Paying your annual premium all at once instead of month-to-month will earn you a discount with many insurance providers, including Lemonade.
- Bundle: Bundling multiple policies is a simple way to save money on your renters insurance. You can get a discount by bundling renters insurance with car insurance, for instance. Or, if you’re a pet parent, you can bundle renters with pet insurance by clicking the button below.
A few quick words, because we <3 our lawyers: This post is general in nature, and any statement in it doesn’t alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. You’re encouraged to discuss your specific circumstances with your own professional advisors. The purpose of this post is merely to provide you with info and insights you can use to make such discussions more productive! Naturally, all comments by, or references to, third parties represent their own views, and Lemonade assumes no responsibility for them. Coverage and discounts may not be available in all states.
