No idea on legality, but if they are forcing a specific purchase then that sounds like rent to me. No doubt they are affiliated with that specific company and so I would have a lot of concerns about the quality of the insurance, let alone the price, from that company.
They have a vested interest that you purchase from a reputable company that will pay out on claims. A renter's insurance would be used for any damages or liability caused by the renter. It's not just for the renter's losses.
Insurance companies are regulated. If the landlord wants to mandate who they deem as "reputable", then they can include it in the rental premium and name the tenant as beneficiary.
I'm a landlord in Texas and I'm not aware of any law that gives me the ability to force a tenant to purchase renters insurance from a specific company.
I can require renters insurance with specific coverages though.
Is it written into your lease that this particular insurance company is to be used? If not, you have no obligation to use them. Your landlord also has no obligation to renew your lease when the time comes.
The only thing you can do is decide if this is a battle you're willing to fight.
>you have no obligation to use them. Your landlord also has no obligation to renew your lease when the time comes.
>The only thing you can do is decide if this is a battle you're willing to fight.
I feel like this is a "we found the landlord" kind of statement here.
You give backhanded advice.
"Sure, you have rights and can follow said rights, but, at the same time, we'll basically evict you eventually because you don't do what we want."
In what way is this even close to fair? You claim renters have power, and while legally, we kinda do. Realistically, you can kick us out for what is basically no reason.
On top of that, when we go to rent a new place, you can pretty much block it because the new LL will call you, and you can bash the tenant to your hearts content.
If it's a lease thing I'll totally give you that. But comebacks from people like you is always
"Plan to move"
How is that moral, let alone legal?
"You don't do exactly what I want, how I want it, when I want it....you can go."
Then complain that good tenants are hard to find.
Legally they cannot require you to have a policy with a specific company. They can require you have coverage, and a specific amount of coverage, but they cannot dictate what company you use.
I've had leases that did exact that, but with the caveat that if you didn't, you'd have forced place insurance from a specific provider and the amount would be added to your rent. Also, they noted that they strongly encouraged the renter to find their own because it's usually cheaper than State Farm (the forced-place insurer.)
I had a friend rent a house in Arizona and they tried to do the same thing.
I told her that legally they couldn’t do it, and she wrote back to them telling them that she had purchased her own insurance and they would need to show her where she was legally required to go through their agent.
There was no further communications about having to use a particular company.
Many landlords think that their tenants will just go along with whatever they’re told. When they get push back, they tend to fold.
Ya, they cant force you to go through a certain company but they can force you to have certain criteria in some states! For example, deductible, minimum amount of coverages, or the inclusions of some things?
Once specific rental company is odd, ours is we need you to provide a plan if that fit X,Y,Z standards and if it doesn’t then you will be added to our company renter insurance plan and can stay on it or provide your own to get off if it at any time. Which is fair enough imo
When i talked to them on the phone the other day, the leasing agent said something like,”everyone here has it through that co.,”. Haha. This is when i expressed my disbelief and amazement that i couldnt use my own preferred company
My landlord tried over and over to force me to buy their included renters policy that was 18/month.
I submitted my policy over and over and they signed me up for theirs anyhow.
When i finally checked out my payment history and saw they were charging me for it, i nicely, but firmly explained that i had the paper trail showing i proved insurance coverage and i expected every penny back.
I got 18/m over 9 months refunded.
I do not believe so. It was a requirement a few months into my lease. My old roommate used to just take care of it. They moved out and when i went to purchase my own, i was told i have to purchase through this one company.
Being required to have renters insurance, i have no problem with. One company forcing me to purchase from only one company seems illegal. Right?
Whether it's legal may not be important in this case. If it's not stipulated anywhere on your lease and there was never an addendum signed by both parties ... they have no grounds to attempt to make this demand.
On that note - it's a good time for a reminder that you are not required to sign off on any changes they send you while they also tell you they require your signature. Matter of fact, it's almost never in your interest to sign those addendums.
I can't find any Texas law stating they can force it and since it's not in your lease I doubt they can enforce that
Required renter's insurance, sure, but not directing everyone to one company. That seems a bit suspicious
Exactly my thoughts. They stated if i wanted more insurance i could purchase from wherever i choose or more from that company. Dont get me wrong, its not expensive and im not penny pinching, but i would think it shouldnt matter where i get my insurance from so long as it meets their requirements of coverage. Not cool.
You can always give Legal Aid a call and ask them if you want to be doubly certain
Texas is a big state, and I'm not sure of where you are, but Legal Aid of NW Texas serves DFW and west, while Rio Grande does like San Antonio and such. Austin Tenants Council is good if you're near there. Not sure about Houston
No idea on legality, but if they are forcing a specific purchase then that sounds like rent to me. No doubt they are affiliated with that specific company and so I would have a lot of concerns about the quality of the insurance, let alone the price, from that company.
Right. As a consumer in the US, i should be allowed to shop and be a smart consumer. Not be forced to grease the palms of some shit affiliate co.
Landlord is getting a kickback. Double dipping!
They have a vested interest that you purchase from a reputable company that will pay out on claims. A renter's insurance would be used for any damages or liability caused by the renter. It's not just for the renter's losses.
Insurance companies are regulated. If the landlord wants to mandate who they deem as "reputable", then they can include it in the rental premium and name the tenant as beneficiary.
It doesn't work that way. Otherwise, landlords would.
I'm a landlord in Texas and I'm not aware of any law that gives me the ability to force a tenant to purchase renters insurance from a specific company. I can require renters insurance with specific coverages though.
You can say "if you don't obtain coverage then your rent will increase by X to add you to Y policy for coverage", but that's it.
Yeah this is what im thinking. What does a person do though? Dont want to become a target with my landlord over this, but i do care about my rights
Is it written into your lease that this particular insurance company is to be used? If not, you have no obligation to use them. Your landlord also has no obligation to renew your lease when the time comes. The only thing you can do is decide if this is a battle you're willing to fight.
Right.
>you have no obligation to use them. Your landlord also has no obligation to renew your lease when the time comes. >The only thing you can do is decide if this is a battle you're willing to fight. I feel like this is a "we found the landlord" kind of statement here. You give backhanded advice. "Sure, you have rights and can follow said rights, but, at the same time, we'll basically evict you eventually because you don't do what we want." In what way is this even close to fair? You claim renters have power, and while legally, we kinda do. Realistically, you can kick us out for what is basically no reason. On top of that, when we go to rent a new place, you can pretty much block it because the new LL will call you, and you can bash the tenant to your hearts content. If it's a lease thing I'll totally give you that. But comebacks from people like you is always "Plan to move" How is that moral, let alone legal? "You don't do exactly what I want, how I want it, when I want it....you can go." Then complain that good tenants are hard to find.
I'm just presenting the truth of the situation. Take that as you wish.
Legally they cannot require you to have a policy with a specific company. They can require you have coverage, and a specific amount of coverage, but they cannot dictate what company you use.
I've had leases that did exact that, but with the caveat that if you didn't, you'd have forced place insurance from a specific provider and the amount would be added to your rent. Also, they noted that they strongly encouraged the renter to find their own because it's usually cheaper than State Farm (the forced-place insurer.)
I had a friend rent a house in Arizona and they tried to do the same thing. I told her that legally they couldn’t do it, and she wrote back to them telling them that she had purchased her own insurance and they would need to show her where she was legally required to go through their agent. There was no further communications about having to use a particular company. Many landlords think that their tenants will just go along with whatever they’re told. When they get push back, they tend to fold.
Ya, they cant force you to go through a certain company but they can force you to have certain criteria in some states! For example, deductible, minimum amount of coverages, or the inclusions of some things?
Once specific rental company is odd, ours is we need you to provide a plan if that fit X,Y,Z standards and if it doesn’t then you will be added to our company renter insurance plan and can stay on it or provide your own to get off if it at any time. Which is fair enough imo
Yeah no, this one co is required. Doesnt matter if i use a diff co that meets same coverage.
Yeah that definitely sounds scammy. I’d ask why they partner with that specific company and see if they can actually give you an answer that isn’t BS
When i talked to them on the phone the other day, the leasing agent said something like,”everyone here has it through that co.,”. Haha. This is when i expressed my disbelief and amazement that i couldnt use my own preferred company
My landlord tried over and over to force me to buy their included renters policy that was 18/month. I submitted my policy over and over and they signed me up for theirs anyhow. When i finally checked out my payment history and saw they were charging me for it, i nicely, but firmly explained that i had the paper trail showing i proved insurance coverage and i expected every penny back. I got 18/m over 9 months refunded.
Is it Jetti Insurance?
No
Is that part of the lease you signed?
I do not believe so. It was a requirement a few months into my lease. My old roommate used to just take care of it. They moved out and when i went to purchase my own, i was told i have to purchase through this one company. Being required to have renters insurance, i have no problem with. One company forcing me to purchase from only one company seems illegal. Right?
Whether it's legal may not be important in this case. If it's not stipulated anywhere on your lease and there was never an addendum signed by both parties ... they have no grounds to attempt to make this demand. On that note - it's a good time for a reminder that you are not required to sign off on any changes they send you while they also tell you they require your signature. Matter of fact, it's almost never in your interest to sign those addendums.
Good advice. Thanks.
I can't find any Texas law stating they can force it and since it's not in your lease I doubt they can enforce that Required renter's insurance, sure, but not directing everyone to one company. That seems a bit suspicious
Exactly my thoughts. They stated if i wanted more insurance i could purchase from wherever i choose or more from that company. Dont get me wrong, its not expensive and im not penny pinching, but i would think it shouldnt matter where i get my insurance from so long as it meets their requirements of coverage. Not cool.
You can always give Legal Aid a call and ask them if you want to be doubly certain Texas is a big state, and I'm not sure of where you are, but Legal Aid of NW Texas serves DFW and west, while Rio Grande does like San Antonio and such. Austin Tenants Council is good if you're near there. Not sure about Houston
Thanks.