Renters Insurance: Why It's Worth Every Penny
It costs about as much as a coffee a week and covers way more than you think. Here's what every campus renter should know.
Renters insurance is one of those things students skip until they really wish they hadn't. The good news: a basic policy in Columbus usually runs $12–$20 a month — about the price of a couple coffees — and it covers a lot more than most people realize.
What it actually covers: your stuff (laptop, bike, clothes, that nice espresso machine), liability if a guest gets hurt in your unit, and 'loss of use' expenses (hotel, food) if your place becomes unlivable due to a covered event like a fire or burst pipe. Theft is covered too — even if your laptop is stolen from a coffee shop or your bike from outside a class building, many policies follow you.
What it doesn't cover: damage to the building itself (that's your landlord's policy), flooding from rising water (separate policy), or roommates' belongings unless they're on the policy too. Pro tip: each roommate should get their own policy rather than sharing one.
Before you buy, do a quick inventory: photograph each room, save receipts for big-ticket items, and keep the list somewhere cloud-based. When (not if) you ever need to file a claim, that two hours of prep is what makes the difference between a $200 reimbursement and a $2,000 one.
Shop around. Lemonade, State Farm, Allstate, GEICO, and Liberty Mutual all write Ohio renters policies. Ask about a 'student discount' or a bundle with your auto policy. And if you're moving into a Here & There property, let us know — having proof of insurance makes leasing paperwork move faster.
