Landlord Insurance Quotes: Best Providers for Small Landlords

How we picked these providers

We looked for insurers that fit a landlord with 1 to 20 units: online quotes, coverage in every state, a standard landlord (DP-3) policy with loss of rent and liability, and options for the situations small investors run into, like a vacant unit between tenants or a renovation. We also read what policyholders say about claims, since that’s what you’re actually paying for.

Insurance isn’t scored on the software scorecard. Rankings here come from published coverage, states served and quote process, checked October 18, 2026, and never from referral fees. Neither company publishes prices, so we don’t print any.

1. Steadily: best for single-family and small multifamily rentals

Steadily writes landlord policies in all 50 states with an online quote form that it says takes about two minutes. The dwelling policy lists fire, water, storm and hail, wind and hurricane, vandalism and burglary, and riot as covered causes, with loss of rent and legal liability from $300,000 to $2 million per occurrence. Steadily says liability typically adds $200 to $400 a year to the premium. It also quotes short-term rentals, vacant properties, light-to-moderate renovations and, on request, builder’s risk. Flood needs a separate policy.

Watch for: mixed claims experiences in reviews, including denials judged as wear and tear. Policies are underwritten through a carrier (Fortegra) whose rating some lenders and umbrella insurers have objected to, so check with your lender before you bind.

2. Obie: best for investors with several properties

Obie is a broker, not a carrier, and places policies with partners including Markel and MSI. It’s licensed in all 50 states and DC. You enter an address, Obie pre-fills the property details, and it says you can get a bindable quote in under five minutes, with agents on hand by email and phone. Coverage includes a landlord DP-3 policy (dwelling, other structures, loss of rent and liability), short-term rentals, vacant and renovation properties, builder’s risk, 2-4 unit and 5+ unit multifamily, condo units, and a master policy that puts several properties under one set of limits.

Watch for: complaints about slow claims handled by third-party administrators, non-renewal after a claim, and renovation limits or cancellation fees that weren’t clear up front. Support is mostly by email.

What a landlord insurance quote is likely to cost

The only published premium data we use is for homeowners policies: NerdWallet’s 2026 sample rates for a $400,000 dwelling, which put the national average at $2,490 a year. Landlord policies typically run around 15-25% higher, which suggests roughly $2,860 to $3,110 for a comparable house. That’s a benchmark, not an offer.

State matters more than anything. The homeowners benchmark ranges from $900 in Hawaii to $7,255 in Oklahoma. In Ohio ($2,080), a landlord policy would land somewhere around $2,390 to $2,600 by that rule of thumb. In Texas ($4,915), it’s closer to $5,650 to $6,140. The table on this page shows the benchmark and estimated landlord range for every state, and each state page covers the local hazards behind it.

DP-1 vs DP-3: which landlord policy form you need

Landlord policies are written on dwelling forms, not homeowners forms.

	DP-1 (basic)	DP-3 (special)
Covered causes	Only the perils listed, usually fire, lightning and internal explosion, with others added by endorsement	Any cause not specifically excluded
Claims paid at	Usually actual cash value (minus depreciation)	Usually replacement cost
Loss of rent	Often not included or limited	Usually included
Price	Lower	Higher
Best for	A paid-off, low-value property you could afford to repair yourself	Most rentals, and almost any with a mortgage

There’s also a DP-2 (broad form) in between, which names more perils than DP-1. For most small landlords, DP-3 is the right choice, and it’s what both providers above sell as standard.

What a landlord policy covers

• Dwelling. The building itself, including built-in fixtures, against covered causes such as fire, wind and burst pipes.
• Other structures. Detached garages, sheds and fences on the property.
• Loss of rent (fair rental value). The rent you lose while the unit can’t be lived in after a covered loss.
• Liability. Legal costs and damages if someone is hurt on the property and you’re found responsible, such as a tenant who falls on a broken stair. Many policies add medical payments for small injury claims.
• Your own property on site. Appliances, a lawn mower or furniture in a furnished unit, up to a limit.

What it doesn’t cover

• Flood. Excluded from standard policies. You need a separate flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer.
• Earthquake. Excluded too, and sold as a separate policy or endorsement where it’s available.
• Your tenant’s belongings. That’s the tenant’s renters insurance.
• Wear, tear and maintenance. An old roof that leaks or a slow plumbing leak usually isn’t covered.
• Long vacancies. Many policies cut coverage if a unit sits empty longer than a set period, often 30 or 60 days. Read the vacancy clause and tell your insurer when a unit will be empty.

Liability limits and umbrella policies

Liability is the part of a landlord policy that protects everything else you own. If a tenant’s guest falls on an icy step and sues, the policy pays for your defense and any settlement up to its limit. Steadily offers $300,000 to $2 million per occurrence and says liability typically adds $200 to $400 a year, which is cheap next to the cost of a single lawsuit.

Once you own several rentals, or have savings and a home worth protecting, look at an umbrella policy. It sits on top of your landlord and auto policies and pays after their liability limits run out. Most umbrella insurers require a minimum liability limit on the underlying policies, so ask before you set your landlord policy’s limit. Ask too whether your umbrella insurer accepts your landlord policy’s carrier, since some have objected to certain carriers’ ratings.

If you own the rental through an LLC, the LLC should be the named insured, and you can usually be added as an additional insured.

How to get landlord insurance quotes

Have these ready before you start, so every quote is built on the same facts:

1. The address, year built, square footage and number of units.
2. Roof age and material, and the year plumbing, electrical and heating were last updated.
3. Whether you rent long-term, short-term or the property is vacant or under renovation.
4. Your claims history for the last five years.
5. Your lender’s name and its coverage requirements.

Then get at least three quotes: one from Steadily, one from Obie, and one from an independent agent or the company that insures your home if it writes dwelling policies. Compare them at the same dwelling limit, liability limit and deductible, and check whether each pays replacement cost or actual cash value.

What drives your premium

• Location. Hurricane, hail, wildfire and tornado risk drive most of the difference between states, and between ZIP codes in the same state.
• Rebuild cost. Insurers price the cost to rebuild, not the market value.
• Roof and systems. A newer roof and updated wiring and plumbing usually lower the price.
• Deductible. Raising it from $1,000 to $2,500 lowers the premium, as long as you can cover it.
• Liability limit. Higher limits add to the price, though usually less than the dwelling coverage.
• Claims history and credit. Past claims raise rates, and most states let insurers use a credit-based insurance score.
• How it’s rented. Short-term rentals, vacant units and renovations cost more to insure.

Buying checklist

• DP-3 form with replacement cost on the dwelling.
• Loss of rent coverage long enough to cover a major rebuild.
• Liability of at least $300,000, more if you have significant assets.
• A deductible you could pay tomorrow.
• A clear vacancy clause.
• Flood and earthquake coverage priced separately if you’re in a risk area.
• Your lender named correctly as mortgagee.
• A renters insurance requirement in your lease.