Landlord Insurance Readiness
Get your rental property insurance organized before you speak with a producer
Candor helps landlords and rental property owners gather the right documents and understand their coverage requirements, then connects them with a licensed insurance professional.
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Start with a quick intake
There is no cost or obligation. A Candor representative will follow up.
Landlord insurance is not one policy. It is a combination of property, liability and rental income coverage, and the right mix depends on the building: a single-family rental, a walk-up, a mixed-use building with a storefront, or a warehouse with commercial tenants.
Most problems come from a policy that no longer matches the property: a homeowners form on a home that is now rented, a building record that lists the wrong construction or occupancy, or commercial tenants who never sent certificates. Getting the documents organized first lets a licensed producer see the property as it actually is.
How we help
Readiness first - placement by licensed professionals
We help you organize what you have and understand what may be needed. Coverage advice and policy placement are handled by licensed insurance professionals.
Who we help
- Independent landlords and rental property owners
- Owners of single-family rentals, duplexes, and multi-family properties
- Apartment and high-rise building owners
- Owners of warehouse, mixed-use, and commercial-occupancy buildings
- New landlords who have never worked with a commercial lines producer
- Landlords managing their own properties without a property manager
Common situations
- Not sure whether current coverage matches the property's use
- Lender or lease requires proof of specific coverage
- Certificate or additional-insured requests you can't fill
- Renewal coming up and paperwork is scattered
- High-rise and elevator buildings where the property record no longer reflects current construction, protection class, or occupancy
- Warehouse or commercial tenants whose actual use differs from what is on file — storage vs. light manufacturing vs. distribution
- Mixed-use buildings with residential units above ground-floor commercial space
- Commercial tenants who never supplied certificates of insurance naming the owner as additional insured
Coverage
Coverages a producer commonly reviews
Every operation is different. These are the coverages typically discussed for this kind of risk; a licensed producer will recommend what fits yours.
Property (building) coverage
Covers the structure against covered causes of loss such as fire, wind or burst pipes. Small rentals are often written on a dwelling fire form; larger buildings on a commercial property form.
General liability
Covers claims from tenants, guests or the public injured on the property, such as a fall on stairs or a sidewalk.
Loss of rents
Replaces rent while a unit cannot be occupied after a covered loss.
Umbrella liability
Adds liability limits above the primary policy; often required by lenders, associations and larger leases.
Equipment breakdown
Boilers, HVAC, elevators and electrical systems, which standard property forms often do not fully cover.
Flood
Usually excluded from property policies and written separately through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier.
Before you call
What shapes your coverage
New York
Older multifamily and mixed-use buildings are common, and New York Labor Law §240, the Scaffold Law, can hold owners liable for certain contractor injuries. Collect certificates of insurance from every contractor and review your liability limits. In New York City, Local Law 1 sets lead-paint obligations for many pre-1960 rentals.
New Jersey
New Jersey requires lead-safe inspections for many rental units built before 1978, and shore and river properties often need separate flood coverage. Tell your producer exactly how the property is rented, including seasonal or short-term use.
Maryland
Maryland requires pre-1978 rental units to be registered with the Department of the Environment and to meet lead-risk reduction standards at each change in occupancy. Keep those records with your insurance file. Baltimore row homes with shared walls and older systems get close attention from underwriters.
Commercial tenants
Leases should require commercial tenants to carry their own liability insurance and to name you as additional insured. Collect their certificates every year; an expired tenant policy can push a claim back onto yours.
Get Ready
Documents we help you gather
How It Works
A clear path from inquiry to coverage
Tell us about your situation
Share the basics through the short intake form.
We organize the details
We help assemble the documents a licensed professional will need.
Connect with a producer
A licensed insurance professional reviews your needs and handles placement.
Ongoing support
We help keep certificates and renewals organized over time.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
Will my homeowners policy cover a rental property?
Usually not once the property is rented to tenants. Homeowners policies are written for owner-occupied homes. A rental generally needs a dwelling fire, landlord or commercial property policy written for that use.
Is landlord insurance required by law?
State law generally does not require it, but mortgage lenders almost always require property coverage, and many leases, associations, municipalities and housing programs require proof of liability coverage.
Does landlord insurance cover my tenants' belongings?
No. A landlord policy covers the building and your liability. Tenants need their own renters insurance for their belongings, and many landlords require it in the lease.
Should commercial tenants name me as additional insured?
Generally, yes. Leases with commercial tenants usually require them to carry liability insurance naming the owner as additional insured, and to provide a certificate every year.
What do I need to get a landlord insurance quote?
Typically the property address, year built, construction, number of units, occupancy, roof and systems update years, current declarations pages, loss runs, rental income, and any lender or lease insurance requirements.
Related programs
Other Candor programs
Guides
Related reading
Vacant Property and Renovation Insurance for Fix-and-Flip Investors in New York, New Jersey and Maryland
How fix-and-flip and BRRRR investors in New York, New Jersey and Maryland insure a property from closing through rehab to lease-up or sale: vacancy clauses, builder's risk, contractor insurance and state rules.
Read the guide →Landlord & Rental Property Insurance in New York, New Jersey and Maryland: A Practical Guide for Owners and Investors
A practical guide to landlord and rental property insurance in New York, New Jersey and Maryland: what policies include, state-specific risks, and what to have ready.
Read the guide →NY Landlord Insurance Renewal Checklist (2026)
A practical checklist of property details, policy documents, and carrier information NY landlords should have ready before an insurance renewal.
Read the guide →Talk It Through
Prefer to talk it through?
Speak with Candor Insurance Brokerage Inc today.