Do you require tenant's to buy renter's insurance?

[James Barnhart]

I have seen this requirement on some property mgmt. websites.  My insurance agent recommends that I require it.

I always have recommended it to new tenants, but none ever have bought it, to my knowledge.

What are your thoughts?

[JD Martin]

Unless you are prepared to take action if they don't get it, and/or cancel it, I wouldn't bother. Action means that you will take failure to ensure as grounds for eviction. Keeping up with who has and has not kept up their renters insurance and evicting those who failed to get it, or keep it, would be nothing short of aggravating. We recommend it and leave it at that, and maintain our own good insurance policies. If a place burns down or is hit by a meteorite, and they lose all their stuff because they didn't have renter's insurance, oh well.