Renters Insurance
Minnesota Renters Insurance: What Your Landlord's Policy Does NOT Cover
By Weston Nelson · 2026-03-30
Minnesota Renters Insurance: What Your Landlord's Policy Does NOT Cover
If you rent an apartment or house in Minnesota, your landlord almost certainly has insurance on the property. But here is the part most tenants don't realize until it's too late: that policy covers the landlord, not you.
Understanding this distinction is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself financially as a renter.
What a Landlord's Policy Covers
A standard landlord insurance policy (also called a "dwelling fire policy") protects the physical structure — the walls, roof, plumbing, electrical systems, and any appliances the landlord owns. It covers the building itself and the landlord's liability for injuries that happen due to property maintenance failures.
That's it.
What a Landlord's Policy Does NOT Cover
Here's what you're on your own for without a renters policy:
Your personal belongings. A fire burns through your apartment building. The landlord's insurance pays to rebuild the structure. Your furniture, electronics, clothing, and everything else you own? Not covered. You replace it out of pocket.
Your liability. Your guest slips on wet floor and breaks an arm. Your dog bites a neighbor. You accidentally leave a candle burning and it damages another unit. Your landlord's policy doesn't pay for your legal liability — you do.
Temporary housing costs. If your unit becomes uninhabitable after a covered loss (fire, burst pipe, storm damage), you need somewhere to live. Loss of use coverage on a renters policy pays for that hotel or short-term rental. The landlord's policy won't.
Theft. Your laptop gets stolen from your car or your bike is stolen from a locked storage room. Renters insurance typically covers personal property theft even away from home. Your landlord's policy does not.
Water backup. Sewer or drain backup is one of the most common and expensive claims in Minnesota. It's usually excluded from landlord policies and requires a separate endorsement even on renters policies — but at least renters insurance gives you the option.
How Much Does Renters Insurance Cost in Minnesota?
Most renters in Minnesota pay between $12 and $25 per month for solid coverage — often less when bundled with an auto policy. For the price of a streaming service, you protect everything you own.
What to Look for in a Minnesota Renters Policy
When shopping for coverage, make sure your policy includes:
- Personal property replacement cost (not actual cash value, which factors in depreciation)
- Liability coverage of at least $100,000 — many agents recommend $300,000
- Loss of use / additional living expenses coverage
- Water backup endorsement given Minnesota's aging housing stock
The Bottom Line
Your landlord's policy is their protection, not yours. If something happens — a fire, a theft, a lawsuit from a guest who gets hurt — you are responsible for your own losses and liability unless you have renters insurance.
The good news: renters insurance is one of the most affordable insurance products available, and it takes about ten minutes to set up.
Ready to get covered? Nelson & Associates offers renters insurance through American Family Insurance with same-day quotes and no call center runaround.
About the Author
Weston Nelson is the owner of Nelson & Associates, Inc., a remote-first American Family Insurance agency based in Fridley, MN, licensed in 12 states. Weston writes so families and businesses can make informed coverage decisions — and so producers can see how the model actually works.