Renters Insurance
Renter’s insurance in Florida usually covers the personal belongings of the tenant who resides in a rental home. Although the home you reside in is covered by homeowner’s insurance, your landlord’s homeowner’s insurance policy does not cover your personal property that is damaged. The same is vice versa; your renter’s insurance policy does not cover any of your landlord’s personal property.
Renter’s insurance policies typically cover damage to furniture, appliances, electronics, clothing, jewelry, personal belongings and any personal liability protection from any injuries sustained inside the rental home. Additionally, some renter’s policies will cover living expenses if the rental home becomes uninhabitable. However, renter’s policies will not usually cover any damage caused by intentional or negligent acts of the tenant.
If a claim under your renter’s insurance policy has been denied or disputed in bad faith by your insurance carrier, it is important to hire a Tampa property insurance lawyer.
Tampa Renters Insurance Lawyer
Contact the Germain Law Group at (813) 835-8888 for a consultation about your renter’s insurance claim denial in Tampa, Florida. Attorney Michael B. Germain is passionate about all areas of Florida’s insurance laws and is experienced in all aspects of renter’s insurance disputes. Call the Germain Law Group today about your property insurance claim denial throughout the areas in Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Brevard County and Manatee County, Florida.
Renter’s Insurance Coverage in Florida
Florida Statutes § 624.604 provides for property insurance to cover all real and personal property, regardless if the property is on land, in the water or in the air. Property insurance also includes renter’s insurance, and not only does it cover personal belongings inside the renter’s home, insurance policies also insure against personal injuries that occur inside the rental home.
An insurance company typically provides a tenant’s/cooperative owner’s (HO-4) policy to individuals who want renter’s insurance. This type of policy covers damage to any contents inside the tenant’s home and provides personal liability insurance to the policyholder for any injuries that incur in the rental home.
Most renter insurance policyholders are required to pay a deductible on their policy for any damages to their property before their insurer will cover payment of the damages. It is important to examine your policy to determine what is covered, and if there are any provisions excluding types of property, or if you have specific coverage on unique or valuable items.
Filing a Renter’s Insurance Claim in Florida
If your property has become damaged from some natural disaster or your property was stolen, it is important to first contact your property insurance lawyer to make sure you only give required and necessary information to your insurance carrier. Your attorney will then file a claim with your insurance company for you, or will inform your insurance provider they are representing you if you already filed a claim. It is important to timely file your claim because any delay could ultimately result in a denial of your claim by your provider. If you delay filing your claim and file outside the statute of limitations, your claim for damages could also be denied. A statute of limitations (SOL) is the maximum amount of time allowed within which an individual can file a claim. If an individual files outside of the SOL, they will not be able to recover for any damages.
When filing a claim, it is also important to request all correspondence with your insurer is in writing. You should also record every time you talk to your insurance provider, and keep any receipts for purchases arising from your claim for damages. This information can be used in any litigation against your insurance provider.
Renter’s Insurance Disputes in Tampa
Your insurer will attempt to deny your claim for damages under your renter’s policy for any of the following reasons:
- The item was specifically excluded from your policy,
- The cause of damage was not covered by your policy,
- The item was covered by your landlord’s policy and not your,
- Your policy was canceled because your premium was not timely paid, and/or
- Your claim was fraudulently made.
If your insurance provider denies your claim, they must give you the specific reason for the denial and show you the specific portion of your insurance coverage that gave rise to the denial. If your provider fails to do this, they may be acting in bad faith.
If your insurance provider breaches their insurance contract with you in bad faith, a new Florida law only permits these types of claims to be filed within five years. The SOL begins to run from the time your property was damaged and not from when your insurer breached their contract with you. Common insurance contract breaches can include your insurance payment was not timely paid to you, the processing of your claim was unnecessarily delayed, and your insurer paid you less than you should have received for your damages.
Renter’s insurance claim disputes can be time-consuming, frustrating and costly. It is important to hire an experienced property insurance lawyer in Tampa to represent your interests and pursue any legal action that becomes necessary from your claim.
Germain Law Group, P.A. | Renter’s Insurance Attorney in Tampa
Contact the Germain Law Group today for a consultation about your renter’s insurance claim denial in Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Brevard County and Manatee County. Michael B. Germain is an experienced property insurance lawyer in Tampa who will listen to your side of the situation and help you determine the best recourse in pursuing your renter’s insurance claim. Contact the Germain Law Group at (813) 835-8888 for a consultation about your property insurance issues throughout Central Florida, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Titusville, Palm Bay, Melbourne, Bradenton, and Palmetto.