LANDLORD & RENTAL PROPERTY INSURANCE — OHIO
Landlord insurance in Ohio.
Protect the properties
that protect your future.
Single family rentals, duplexes, multi-units, apartment buildings — every investment property needs landlord insurance, not homeowner's insurance. Myers Insurance Group has been insuring Ohio landlords and real estate investors since 2008.
WHY LANDLORD INSURANCE IS DIFFERENT
Your homeowner's policy doesn't cover a rental property. Not even close.
This is one of the most common and costly mistakes Ohio real estate investors make. When you rent out a property — even occasionally — your homeowner's policy excludes coverage for that property. Homeowner's policies are written for owner-occupied residences. The moment a tenant moves in, you need a landlord policy.
Landlord insurance (also called a dwelling fire policy or DP3) is specifically designed for rental properties. It covers the structure, your liability as a property owner, and — critically — lost rental income when a covered loss makes the property uninhabitable.
Myers Insurance Group builds landlord insurance programs for Ohio real estate investors at every scale — from one rental house to a portfolio of apartment buildings.
The landlord insurance mistakes we see constantly
Using a homeowner's policy on a rental. Your homeowner's insurer will deny any claim if they discover the property is tenant-occupied. This is the most common gap we find — and it's a total loss situation when it goes wrong.
No loss of rents coverage. If a fire makes your rental uninhabitable, you lose the rent while repairs happen. Loss of rents coverage replaces that income — but most landlords don't know to ask for it.
Insufficient liability limits. Tenant injury claims are the most common landlord liability exposure. A slip on an icy walkway or a stair collapse generates a premises liability claim directly against you as the property owner.
No umbrella coverage. Real estate investors with multiple properties face compounded liability exposure. An umbrella policy is one of the most cost-effective investments any Ohio landlord can make.
WHAT WE INSURE
Every type of Ohio rental property.
Single Family
- Single family rentals
- Vacation rentals
- Short-term rentals
- Section 8 properties
Small Multi-Unit
- Duplexes
- Triplexes
- Fourplexes
- Owner-occupied multi-unit
Apartment Buildings
- 5–20 unit buildings
- Large apartment complexes
- Mixed-use buildings
- Commercial/residential mix
Specialty Rentals
- Vacant properties
- Properties under renovation
- Student housing
- Corporate rentals
Commercial Real Estate
- Retail strip centers
- Office buildings
- Warehouse/industrial
- Mixed commercial
Investment Portfolios
- Multi-property portfolios
- Blanket policies
- Portfolio umbrella
- LLC-owned properties
WHAT WE COVER
Landlord and rental property coverage in Ohio.
A complete Ohio landlord insurance program protects your properties, your rental income, and your personal assets.
Dwelling Coverage (DP3)
Covers the rental property structure against fire, wind, hail, vandalism, and covered perils. Written on an open-perils form (DP3) for the broadest possible coverage — not the limited DP1 form many landlords end up with.
Landlord Liability
Covers tenant injury claims, slip-and-fall on your property, and third-party property damage claims. As a property owner, you're liable for the safety of your rental — this coverage is non-negotiable.
Loss of Rents
Covers lost rental income when a covered loss makes your property temporarily uninhabitable. If a fire forces your tenant out for 3 months, loss of rents coverage replaces the income you're not receiving during repairs.
Personal Umbrella / Landlord Umbrella
Adds $1M+ of liability protection above your primary landlord policy. For investors with multiple properties, an umbrella is one of the most cost-effective coverages available — strongly recommended for any Ohio real estate portfolio.
Vacant Property Coverage
Standard policies suspend coverage after 30-60 days of vacancy. Vacant property coverage specifically addresses the higher risk profile of unoccupied properties — during renovations, between tenants, or during prolonged vacancy.
Landlord Contents Coverage
Covers appliances, furnishings, and equipment you provide as part of the rental. Tenant belongings are their responsibility — but your washer, dryer, refrigerator, and other provided items need coverage.
Tenant Discrimination Liability
Covers claims from tenants or applicants alleging fair housing violations. Fair housing claims are increasingly common — this coverage protects Ohio landlords from allegations of discriminatory rental practices.
Portfolio / Blanket Coverage
For investors with multiple properties, a blanket policy or portfolio program can cover all properties under a single policy — simplifying management and often providing better pricing than individual policies.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Landlord insurance in Ohio — what you need to know.
I have a homeowner's policy on my rental — isn't that enough?
No — and this is a critical gap. Homeowner's policies are written for owner-occupied residences. If your insurer discovers the property is tenant-occupied, they can deny any claim and potentially cancel your policy. You need a landlord policy — also called a dwelling fire policy or DP3 — for any property you rent out, even if you only rent it occasionally.
My tenant damaged my property — does my landlord policy cover it?
Standard landlord policies typically do not cover tenant damage — that's considered a maintenance issue rather than an insured peril. Some policies offer optional tenant damage coverage as an endorsement. The primary protection against tenant damage is your security deposit and your lease agreement. We can review what options are available to you through specialty landlord programs.
My property is vacant while I renovate — am I still covered?
Not by a standard policy. Most landlord and homeowner's policies contain vacancy clauses that suspend or significantly reduce coverage after 30-60 days of vacancy. Vacant property insurance is a separate product specifically designed for unoccupied properties — during renovations, between tenants, or during extended vacancy periods. Without it, you could have no coverage during one of the highest-risk periods for your property.
I own my rental properties in an LLC — how does that affect my insurance?
LLC ownership affects how policies are written and who is named as the insured. Your landlord policy should be written in the name of the LLC, not your personal name, to properly align with your ownership structure and provide the liability protection your LLC was designed to create. We help Ohio real estate investors structure their insurance correctly around their entity structure.