Renting homes or commercial spaces is a common practice. However, there are certain responsibilities tied to renting spaces. If you, as a tenant, are responsible for damages (caused due to any reason), it can drain your financial resources. Thus, it is wise to get tenants legal liability insurance in such cases.  

Insurance becomes more important in the case of commercial spaces. They are more prone to accidental damages.

If you are looking for more information on this, visit this site to learn all the nuances of tenants liability insurance.

Why Do You Need Tenants Legal Liability Coverage

A renter is not financially shielded by the landlord liability insurance, which is solely meant to cover the landlord’s responsibilities.

However, the additional tenant liability can provide adequate coverage to protect against homeowners’ insurance.

Renters may be responsible for an accident that results in property damage, such as a fire. The property owners may hold the renter accountable for any accident-related damage and pursue legal action against them.

Legal liability coverage protects the renter from such lawsuits. This policy applies even if the renter was not at fault for the mishap (e.g., an employee of the rented office unwittingly causing a fire).

What Exactly Does Insurance Liability Include?

Legal fees and losses linked to the following categories are commonly covered by tenant legal liability insurance:

• Liability for bodily injury or property harm to a third party as a result of your company operations.
• Damage to a third party’s property, including damage to the landlord’s facilities and property, is referred to as third-party property damage.
• Personal and advertising injury liability including defamation, libel, slander, or false advertising claims brought against you due to your services.

What Is Not Covered In The Insurance?

 Renter’s liability insurance covers accidents and property damage to third parties.

 These are some examples of what would not be insured with this coverage.

• Bodily harm to you or your employees
• Contractual liability
• Deliberate or unlawful acts
• Errors and omissions (you would need professional indemnity insurance)
• Your personal property (see content protection or device failure protection)
• A product that you manufacture or sell (product liability would generally provide coverage)
• Damage to others or personal injury due to an alcohol-related incident. In these cases, alcohol liability insurance would be more appropriate

Suppose the landlord’s insurance subrogates to the negligent tenant and the tenant’s legal responsibility limit is insufficient. In that case, the tenant may be held personally liable for damages exceeding his legal liability limit. The tenant’s space square footage, the building’s construction cost, and other factors must be considered when determining an appropriate limit.

Do All Renters Need Insurance?

There is no legal obligation for a commercial tenant to purchase tenant liability insurance unless the rental agreement requires them to. However, more and more landlords are now including these provisions in their rental agreements.

Insurance becomes more important in the case of commercial property. If your employees end up damaging the property as a result of an accident, you could end up paying huge compensation to the landlord. Thus, it is always wise to opt for a tenants legal liability insurance.

You could also opt for adding bodily liability coverage to the policy. It will help pay for employees’ medical expenses in case of an accident.

Does Renter’s Liability Insurance Cover Personal Liability?

A renter’s liability insurance does save you from settlement costs and claims for damages if you are served with a lawsuit in the capacity of a tenant.

However, due to the policy limitation and potential gaps in coverage, you may still be personally liable depending on the legal form of your business, the circumstances of the case, and the relationship between those circumstances and the applicable land law.

For more information, contact a broker who can advise you of your potential liabilities based on what your business is doing, your location, the number of people you employ, and other factors.

Can The Landlord Be Liable For Personal Injuries Suffered By Tenants?

In principle, landlords can be held liable for personal injuries sustained by tenants. The case primarily depends on the rental agreement, who is responsible for repairs and maintenance, and which repairs and maintenance each party is responsible for.

Generally, the tenant is responsible for maintaining items that “wear out” and break down over time.

These can be flooring, lighting fixtures (usually not electrical ones), bathroom fixtures, kitchen fixtures, etc. If the tenant is injured by a cause for which the tenant is responsible, the landlord is unlikely to be liable.

How Much Does It Cost? 

Since every business is different, the following factors are often taken into account when determining the cost of insurance:

•  Business size and location
•  Gross annual and forecast sales
•  Number of employees
•  Past insurance claims

The line of business you are in plays a significant role in determining the cost of insurance.

• Business in sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, wholesale trade, or construction, you would have to shell out around $1000 per year as a premium.
• If you are in the real estate industry that doesn’t involve the use of heavy machinery, the premiums can be as low as $250 a year.
• If you are running a small business or a local shop, the cost would only be around $60-$100 a year.

However, keep in mind that the policy is owned and controlled by the landlord. He can make alterations to the coverages as he deems fit. Also, depending on the local laws, the tenant would ultimately bear the cost of the policy.

What Have You Learned About Tenants Legal Liability Insurance Canada?

Although it’s not required by law, getting tenants legal liability insurance is a necessity, as it not only safeguards you but also the people who are working with you. Moreover, it protects your finances in case of an unprecedented hazard.

If you cannot decide the extent of coverage you would require, you must talk to an insurance expert. They will guide you through the procedure of comparing potential plans and help you buy the right policy.