By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO
Stratford has a lot of small rental property: two- and three-family homes near Main Street and the train station, single-family rentals, condos rented out by their owners and small apartment buildings. A homeowners policy is written for a home you live in. Once you rent all or part of a property, the coverage has to change. We help Stratford landlords insure everything from one rented condo to a multi-unit building, comparing 40+ carriers.
Many of our landlord clients also insure their own home with us, and that is where we start: your Stratford homeowners policy, then each rental, then an umbrella over all of it. We are New Hampshire’s highest-rated agency on Google, with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials. Call (603) 431-4020.
Stratford rentals: condos, 2- and 3-families and small buildings
Many Stratford investors own older multi-family homes whose heating, wiring and roofs may or may not have been updated. Others rent out newer condos or single-family homes, sometimes after moving and keeping their first house. Carriers price each of these differently. The age of the systems, occupancy, number of units and tenant type all matter.
What a landlord policy covers
A landlord or dwelling fire policy (often a DP-3) typically includes:
- The building, against fire, wind, hail, burst pipes and other covered losses
- Loss of rents, meaning lost rental income while a covered loss is repaired
- Premises liability if a tenant or guest is hurt on the property
- Other structures, such as detached garages and fences
Tenants’ belongings are not covered. Encourage or require renters insurance. Our landlord vs. homeowners insurance guide explains the differences.
Owner-occupied multi-family vs. fully rented
If you live in one unit of a two- to four-family home, many carriers will write a homeowners policy that accounts for the rented units. If you do not live there, you will generally need a landlord policy. Getting this right matters at claim time, so tell us exactly how the property is occupied.
5+ unit apartment buildings
Five or more units moves into commercial habitational coverage. In Connecticut, we place 5+ unit habitational risks with Vermont Mutual, Andover and Providence Mutual. These policies can combine property, liability, loss of rents and sometimes equipment breakdown. See our Connecticut apartment building insurance page for more.
Vacancy, turnover and renovation
Between tenants, during renovations or right after a purchase, a property may sit unoccupied. Many policies limit coverage after a set vacancy period. Tell us before a unit or building goes vacant so we can adjust coverage or add a vacancy endorsement. More in does homeowners insurance cover a vacant property.
Liability and umbrella for landlords
Slip-and-falls on icy walkways after a nor’easter, stair injuries and dog bites are typical landlord liability claims. Many Stratford landlords add an umbrella above their property liability. We will show you how a personal umbrella or a commercial umbrella fits with multiple rental properties.
Flood and coastal wind for shoreline rentals
Rentals in Lordship or near the Housatonic face the same flood and hurricane deductible questions as owner-occupied homes. Landlord policies exclude flood. We can quote NFIP through Selective or private flood for your rental; see flood insurance in Stratford, CT.
Getting a quote
Requesting a landlord or dwelling quote for your rentals doesn’t obligate you to buy anything.
Learn more on our landlord insurance and Stratford, CT insurance agency pages.
Common gaps we see on Stratford rentals
- A homeowners policy still on a house that is now fully rented
- No loss of rents coverage, or a limit too low to carry the mortgage through a long repair
- Liability limits on the rental that do not match the umbrella above them
- A condo rented out with no rental endorsement
- No flood policy on a shoreline rental in a high-risk zone
Each of these is fixable, and most come up the first time we review a landlord’s policies together.
What to send us for a Stratford landlord quote
- The address, number of units and whether you live in one of them
- Year built and the age of the roof, heating, wiring and plumbing, with any updates
- Lease terms (annual, month-to-month or short-term) and current vacancy
- Your current declarations pages for the rental, your home, auto and any umbrella
- Any recent claims on the property
With that, we compare the carriers that fit the property and lay out the options. If you own several rentals, we look at them together, so the liability limits line up and an umbrella sits correctly above all of them. When you buy, sell or renovate a property, call us and we will adjust the coverage.
Get a quote
Tell us about the property and we will compare carriers and follow up with options. Prefer to talk? Call (603) 431-4020.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need landlord insurance to rent out my Stratford condo?
Yes. Usually that is an HO-6 with a rental endorsement or a unit-owner landlord policy, depending on the carrier.
Does a landlord policy cover my tenant’s belongings?
No. Tenants need their own renters insurance.
I live in one unit of my two-family. What policy do I need?
Usually an owner-occupied homeowners policy that accounts for the rental unit. We confirm with the carrier.
What is different about a 5+ unit building?
It is written on commercial habitational coverage, which we place with Vermont Mutual, Andover and Providence Mutual in Connecticut.
Is lost rent covered after a fire?
Loss of rents coverage pays lost rental income during repairs from a covered loss, if it is on the policy.
Does a landlord insurance quote obligate me to buy?
No. A landlord or dwelling quote doesn’t obligate you to buy anything.