5+ years writing insurance and personal finance topics
Auto, home, health, and life insurance expertise
Elizabeth has extensive insurance industry experience, having written for Insureon, Rate Retriever, and Insurify. She’s also finance and insurance editor for Car and Driver.
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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A renters insurance additional interest — or interested party — refers to a financially invested third party, like a landlord or property management company. Your policy doesn’t cover additional interests, but the insurance company may inform them of any changes to your policy. Often, a landlord will request to be listed as an additional interest to ensure that your renters policy doesn’t lapse.
Even if your landlord doesn’t require you to have a renters policy, having one can be beneficial. Standard renters insurance policies protect your personal belongings from covered perils, like a windstorm or break-in. It also covers your liabilities and loss of use.
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The difference between an additional interest and an additional insured
Additional interest and additional insured sound like similar terms, but they have very different meanings. If you’re purchasing a renters insurance policy, it’s important to understand each one and how they differ.
Additional interest
An additional interest is someone who doesn’t receive coverage under your renters insurance policy but has a financial interest in your apartment. You may include your landlord or a property management company as an additional interest because they own the building you live in.[1]
Your insurer will notify your additional interest of policy lapse or cancellation. But additional interests don’t have the ability to file claims under your policy or make changes. Your coverage also won’t provide any protection for their liabilities in the event of a lawsuit.
Adding your landlord or another party as an additional interest should have no effect on your renters insurance premium.[2]
Additional insured
An additional insured is someone your renters insurance policy covers. You and an additional insured receive the same coverage.[3] You can add people as additional insureds after you purchase the policy, but only you receive coverage initially.
Additional insureds are typically people who live in your household, like a spouse, adult child, or roommate. Unlike additional interests, an additional insured can also file claims and receive compensation from the insurance company following damage or loss.
Adding an additional insured may cause your renters insurance premium to increase slightly.
Why a landlord would want to be an additional interest
Your landlord might want to be an additional interest in your renters policy because they have a vested interest in the property. If your renters insurance policy lapses, the landlord will be financially responsible for any damage you cause. And if a guest incurs an accidental injury at your apartment, the injured party could hold your landlord liable for their medical expenses.
After you add your landlord as an additional interest, your insurance company will inform your landlord if your policy lapses or changes in a way that could put them at risk for lawsuits. This enables your landlord to make sure you have insurance if they require it in your lease agreement.
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How to add an additional interest to a renters insurance policy
If you need to add an additional interest to your renters insurance policy, follow these steps:
1. Contact your insurance company
Call your insurance company and request to add an additional interest to your policy. Depending on your insurer, you might be able to do this online through your customer account.
2. Provide your landlord’s information
You’ll need to submit your landlord’s name, primary address, and contact information (phone number and email address). If you’re adding a property management company, provide its contact information.
3. Submit new proof of coverage
Once you add your landlord to your policy, you’ll receive new insurance documents and proof of coverage. Give your landlord a copy of your new proof of insurance with their name on it to verify their status as an additional interest.
Can you remove an additional interest from your renters insurance policy?
You can remove an additional interest from your renters insurance policy. Here are a couple of situations when you might want to remove an additional interest from your renters policy:
Your landlord sells the apartment building. If your landlord sells the building where you live, they no longer have a vested interest in your apartment, and you can remove them as an additional interest.
You’re moving out of your apartment. When you move to a new apartment, you can keep your same renters insurance policy and update your information. You should remove your old landlord if they’re listed as an additional interest.
Renters insurance additional interest FAQs
If you have a renters insurance policy, it’s important to understand how additional interests work and when you might need to add one. Here’s some more information that can be helpful.
Can your landlord force you to add them as an additional interest to your renters insurance?
Yes. Your landlord can require you to add them as an additional interest on your renters policy if you’ve agreed to it in your lease agreement. In this case, you legally have to comply with the contract and add them to your policy.
If someone is an additional interest, can they make a claim on your renters insurance?
No. Additional interests can’t file claims on your renters insurance policy. An additional interest will receive notifications about changes to your policy — like policy lapse or cancellation — but they don’t receive any coverage. Only you or an additional insured can make claims on your policy.
Is there any risk to adding an additional interest to your renters insurance?
Adding an additional interest to your renters insurance policy usually isn’t risky. It won’t affect your coverage or your premium.
But keep in mind that additional interests will receive updates about your policy. For example, if you cancel your policy or make changes that go against your lease agreement, your landlord will likely find out.
Should you add your landlord to your renters insurance as an additional insured?
No. You shouldn’t add your landlord to your renters policy as an additional insured. Landlords and property managers don’t need to make claims on a tenant’s policy. They should have a separate landlord insurance policy to cover their belongings and liabilities.
Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer covering insurance and personal finance. She has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including property and casualty, health, and life insurance. Her byline has been featured in dozens of publications, including Investopedia, Forbes, Bankrate, NextAdvisor, and Insurance.com.
Elizabeth has been a contributor at Insurify since October 2022.
3+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
Katie uses her knowledge and expertise as a licensed property and casualty agent in Massachusetts to help readers understand the complexities of insurance shopping.
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