House Hacking Home/Landlord Insurance

Hartford, Connecticut
House Hacking
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House Hacking Home/Landlord Insurance

Krishna Ganne
Member since 2026 · 1 post · 1 vote

Hi to awesome community of RE investors and (under appreciated) support systems! Need your help with the advice. I own a paid off single family house in the suburbs of Hartford, CT and I have been house hacking for over 2 years. 

A few months ago I gave my home insurance policy document to an AI model to see if there are any gaps that I should be aware of and the response opened my eyes. I paid for home insurance for 2 years without knowing that it does not cover any claims when I am house hacking. Immediately switched to a different home insurance company explaining them what I do only to realize a month later that the agent lied about it and their policy document does not cover house hacking. I had to cancel their home insurance as well. Upon someone's recommendation, I was told that I should go with landlord insurance instead but landlord insurance does not cover when I am living in the same house it seems. I did not file a single claim in the past 2 years as I fixed it on my own and I have enough reserved funds to take care of major issues like roof or HVAC so I have been living with no home or landlord insurance for a few months now. My biggest concern is when fire breaks out and burns down the house. Fire station is under a mile away but still. What do you recommend for:

 1. someone house hacking living in the same house.

2. someone moving out of the house and living somewhere else

Oh I didn't tell but it's obvious, my roommates/tenants are super awesome! Do not cause any issues even when I am away for months. 

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  • Divin KanyamaBusiness Member
    Accountant · Seattle, WA · Member since 2025 · 254 posts · 85 votes
    2w

    You were smart to check the policy, but I wouldn’t stay uninsured, @Krishna Ganne . A fire, injury claim, or total loss could put the full value of the property at risk, regardless of how close the fire station is.

    While you live there: Find an independent Connecticut broker who understands owner-occupied homes with long-term room rentals. Fully disclose the number of tenants and how often you are away, then get written confirmation from the carrier that the policy covers the dwelling, fire, liability, and rental exposure. Renters insurance for each tenant and an umbrella policy are also worth discussing.

    After you move out: Switch to a landlord or dwelling policy before the occupancy changes. Review replacement cost, landlord liability, loss of rent, water backup, and vacancy limits. Most importantly, rely on the full policy and endorsements—not a verbal promise. Coverage varies, so confirm the right setup with a licensed Connecticut broker or the Connecticut Insurance Department.

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    • Xavier Milsoni
      Member since 2026 · 26 posts · 3 votes
      2w

      Make sure you tell the insurer it is a house hack with owner occupancy. A standard landlord policy may not be the right fit if you are living there yourself. I would get quotes from a few insurers and compare the coverage, not just the premium.

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  • Samuel Eddinger
    Meriden, CT · Member since 2018 · 698 posts · 500 votes
    2w

    I recommend Tom Polowy from Insure CT ( )

    He specializes in insuring investment properties of all sizes. DM me and I can give you his phone number and email address. If you cannot find it from his website. Let him know that Sam Eddinger sent you and he will take good care of you.

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  • Dan NelsonBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Chicago and Kansas City · Member since 2016 · 80 posts · 62 votes
    1w

    Get a policy in place this week, before you optimize anything. The house burning down is actually not the biggest risk of going bare. The bigger one is liability. A tenant or a guest slips on the stairs and the lawsuit comes after everything you own, including the paid-off house. Reserves can rebuild a roof. They do not cap a judgment.

    For your two situations, from an owner who has insured these buildings for years:

    1. Living there with roommates: you want the policy written as owner-occupied with rental activity. Depending on the carrier that is either a homeowner's policy with a rental or roomer endorsement, or a dwelling policy set up for an owner-occupied rental. The name matters less than the application being honest. Put in writing exactly what you told us: you live there and you rent rooms. You already learned the expensive lesson that a verbal promise from an agent is worth nothing. Make them show you the language in the policy, and if a carrier will not put it in writing, that is your answer about that carrier.

    2. After you move out: that flips to a straight landlord policy, often called a DP3. Your tenants' belongings are never covered by your policy either way, so require renters insurance in every lease. It costs them maybe 15 a month and it keeps their problem from becoming your claim.

    Two more things worth doing. Use an independent broker who works with investors, they can shop carriers that actually write this instead of guessing one at a time. And once you have the base policy, ask about an umbrella policy on top. A million dollars of extra liability coverage is usually a few hundred a year, and for someone with a paid-off house it is the cheapest peace of mind in this whole business.

    You caught the gap before anything went wrong. That puts you ahead of most people. Just close it fast.

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