Can You Get Evicted For Not Having Renters Insurance?
The short answer: Yes, but it depends on your lease.

The short answer: Yes, but it depends on your lease.
It might come as a shock, but skipping out on renters insurance could lead to serious financial and legal implications. In fact, if your lease says renters insurance is a must and you don’t get it, your landlord could issue an eviction notice for breaking the lease terms.
Let’s unpack why understanding your lease agreement is crucial, and how having renters insurance can help you stay compliant and avoid potential eviction.
You’ll need to sign up for renters insurance if it’s listed as a requirement in your lease agreement. Even if it’s not mandatory for your lease, renters insurance is a smart choice to protect your personal property (aka your stuff) against a lot of bad things that can happen to it—like theft, vandalism, and fires.
Picture this: you come home after a long day at work ready to binge-watch some TV, only to find your front door unlocked and your brand-new 75-inch flat-screen TV stolen from your living room. Without renters insurance, you’d be stuck shouldering the full cost of replacing your favorite source of entertainment.
If you had renters insurance in this scenario, your insurance company would step in to help cover the cost of replacing your TV—minus your deductible—on eligible claims, saving you from a stressful financial hit.
No, there aren’t any federal or state laws that make renters insurance mandatory for tenants, but landlords can require it as part of the rental agreement. So, getting renters insurance might be a condition for renting, just like paying a security deposit or meeting other lease terms such as a no-pets policy.
Be sure to read the terms of your lease agreement carefully to check if renters insurance is required.
Yes, your landlord may require renters insurance as part of the lease agreement. This condition is entirely legal and often included to protect both you and the landlord. Here’s why landlords value renters insurance:
Before signing a lease, check whether renters insurance is a requirement. Non-compliance could lead to penalties or even an eviction notice.
If your lease says you need renters insurance, don’t count on your roommate’s policy to cover you. Without your own coverage, you could end up facing some serious risks—including eviction.
Renters insurance is typically structured to cover only the policyholder’s personal property and liability, meaning each roommate will need to purchase their own renters insurance policy to make sure they’re covered. The best approach? Get your own renters insurance policy to make sure your personal belongings, liability, and legal interests are properly protected.
If you live with your family, aka anyone living in your home and related to you by marriage, blood, or adoption, they may be covered under your policy automatically for no extra fee.
Just remember, living with family members might mean you’ll need to bump up your coverage limits. What works to protect your stuff alone might not be enough to cover both you and others covered by your policy, so it’s a good idea to review your policy and make coverage adjustments as needed.
By default, your policy won’t cover your significant other if you aren’t married. However, you can easily add them as an “additional insured” for a small additional cost.
If you choose to share a policy, be sure your personal property coverage limit is high enough to protect both of your belongings. That said, it’s worth considering that it might be cheaper—and more convenient—for each of you to have separate renters insurance policies.
Skipping renters insurance can expose you to several financial risks, including:
Ultimately, renters insurance provides a safety net against life’s unexpected curveballs.
Landlords often ask to be added as an “interested party” or “additional interest” on your renters insurance. This just means they’ll get notified if you cancel or make big changes to your policy. It doesn’t cost anything to add them, and it keeps things clear between you and your landlord.
Adding an interested party to your renters insurance policy is usually pretty simple, but the process can depend on your insurance provider.
At Lemonade, you can add your interested party or parties in seconds on our mobile app. Just tap the “add interested party/landlord” icon on the homepage of your renters policy and fill in a few details, including:
Adding an interested party lets your landlord keep an eye on insurance compliance without getting involved in your policy.
Keep in mind: If your landlord requires that you buy a renters insurance policy, you’ll likely need to provide proof of insurance (such as a declaration page) before your move-in date. Without proof of insurance, your landlord may not let you move in.
Renters insurance helps protect tenants from unexpected events like theft, fire, or property damage. Some people think it’s only worth it if you have pricey stuff, but the truth is, it’s useful for anyone renting a home or apartment. Here’s why:
At the very least, it’s worth considering renters insurance if your lease mandates it—or if you want peace of mind that your belongings are protected.
For renters, securing renters insurance offers reliable protection for personal belongings, liability, and unexpected living expenses. And while renters insurance isn’t legally required, skipping it can lead to financial risks, and failure to comply with lease requirements could even result in eviction.
If you’re searching for affordable and comprehensive renters insurance, get a quote today—and take the first step toward peace of mind in your rental living experience.
No, your landlord typically cannot evict you for not having renters insurance if it wasn’t listed as a requirement in the lease you originally signed. Leases are legally-binding, and landlords can usually only enforce what’s explicitly included in the contract.However, they might add this requirement when it’s time to renew your lease, so be sure to review any updates carefully at renewal.
No, landlords usually cannot evict you on the spot—it’s a legal process that requires formal notice and time. The timeframe depends on local laws and your lease terms.Most landlords will give you written notice and the opportunity to get renters insurance before taking further steps. Acting quickly and communicating with your landlord can often resolve the issue without it escalating to penalties or evictions.
It depends on your lease. If the lease specifies that your landlord must be listed as an interested party on your renters insurance policy, you may face problems if you don’t comply.Listing them simply means they’ll be notified if your insurance lapses, which protects their interests too. If this wasn’t initially required but your landlord insists, check your lease and have an open discussion to avoid unnecessary conflict.
If your policy lapses, it could violate your lease agreement if it requires continuous coverage, potentially leading to fines or eviction notices. If your landlord is listed as an interested party on your renters insurance policy, they will also be notified of the lapse in coverage.If your coverage lapses, it’s best to contact your insurance provider right away to renew or reinstate your policy. Some landlords might offer you a brief grace period if you act quickly to fix the lapse.
It’s possible to resolve the issue and avoid eviction by purchasing renters insurance after receiving notice, depending on your landlord’s willingness to work with you.Communicate immediately, provide proof of insurance, and ask if this can settle the matter. Keep in mind that even during the eviction process, landlords often prefer resolving issues without legal action. Acting swiftly shows good faith on your part, which can make a big difference.
*This information is intended for general purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Landlord-tenant laws can differ significantly based on your location. For specific legal guidance regarding landlord-tenant disputes, it is best to consult a qualified attorney.
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.
Please note: Lemonade articles and other editorial content are meant for educational purposes only, and should not be relied upon instead of professional legal, insurance or financial advice. The content of these educational articles does not alter the terms, conditions, exclusions, or limitations of policies issued by Lemonade, which differ according to your state of residence. While we regularly review previously published content to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date, there may be instances in which legal conditions or policy details have changed since publication. Any hypothetical examples used in Lemonade editorial content are purely expositional. Hypothetical examples do not alter or bind Lemonade to any application of your insurance policy to the particular facts and circumstances of any actual claim.