Landlord Insurance in Louisiana: Costs, Requirements & Best Providers
Louisiana's homeowners benchmark is $2,020 a year, but that median understates what most coastal landlords pay, and landlord policies usually run 15-25% higher than homeowners policies. Hurricanes, flood and a shaken private market set the real price. Get a landlord insurance quote for the exact parish and street, then compare it against Louisiana Citizens before you choose.
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What landlords pay in Louisiana
- Homeowners benchmark
- $2,020 a yearAbout $168 a month; 19% below the $2,490 national average.
- Estimated landlord policy
- $2,300-$2,550 a yearLandlord (DP-3) cover typically runs 15-25% above homeowners cover on the same building. Your quote will differ.
- Main hazards
- Hurricane, Flood/storm surge, Wind, Hail, Tornado
- Not included
- Flood and earthquakeBoth need separate policies (NFIP or private flood; earthquake endorsement or policy).
Source: NerdWallet, 2026 homeowners (HO-3) median, $400,000 dwelling cover
Landlord insurance providers in Louisiana
Both write landlord policies in all 50 states and quote online. Neither publishes prices, so the only way to know your premium is to get a quote for your address.
- 1
Steadily
Our pickSingle-family and 2-4 unit rentals, including vacant and short-term.
8.5/10 provisionalPrice
Quote-based
Pros, cons and who should skip itHide details
Good
- Covers all 50 states.
- Fast online quotes.
- Writes vacant and renovation properties too.
Watch out
- Mixed claim experiences, including wear-and-tear denials.
- Underwritten through a carrier some lenders have queried.
- Flood needs a separate policy.
Skip it if
Anyone who wants a local agent sitting across the desk.
- 2
Obie
Investors with several properties; portfolio policies available.
8.1/10 provisionalPrice
Quote-based
Pros, cons and who should skip itHide details
Good
- All 50 states plus DC.
- Portfolio (blanket) policies for several rentals.
- Covers short-term rentals and renovations.
Watch out
- Claims run through third-party administrators.
- Some reports of non-renewal after claims.
- Support is mostly email.
Skip it if
Landlords who want claims handled by the company they bought from.
Prices checked Oct 18, 2026. Scores are provisional until our account tests are done.
Want to see how Louisiana compares? We keep a table of landlord insurance rates by state, with the method behind every figure.
On this page
Why the Louisiana benchmark looks low
The $2,020 benchmark is a median across insurers for a $400,000 house, and it comes in under the national average of $2,490. Other studies put Louisiana far higher. A landlord (DP-3) policy on the benchmark house would start around $2,320 to $2,530 by the numbers, but a rental in Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson or Calcasieu Parish can cost several times that. Coastal wind pricing varies widely by parish, and flood is never included.
A market still recovering
Hurricane Laura hit Lake Charles in 2020, followed by Delta and Zeta, and Hurricane Ida struck southeast Louisiana in 2021. Around a dozen insurers writing in the state failed in the aftermath, and their unpaid claims went to the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association. Many owners were pushed onto Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the state-created insurer of last resort.
Private carriers have been returning, helped by state incentives, but the market is thinner than in most states. Expect fewer quotes, and expect each one to price your roof and your parish carefully.
Named-storm deductibles
Most Louisiana policies carry a separate deductible for named storms, set as a percentage of the dwelling limit, commonly 2% to 5%.
| Dwelling limit | 2% | 5% |
|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $4,000 | $10,000 |
| $300,000 | $6,000 | $15,000 |
A higher deductible lowers the premium a lot. Before you pick one, ask yourself whether you could pay it and cover lost rent at the same time.
Flood is the second bill
Flood is excluded from landlord policies, and storm surge counts as flood. Lenders require flood insurance in FEMA special flood hazard areas. FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0 pricing, introduced in 2021, raised flood premiums sharply for many Louisiana properties, and the state challenged it in court. Private flood insurers sometimes beat NFIP prices for homes raised on piers, so price both. An elevation certificate showing the building above the base flood elevation helps with either.
Humidity, termites and mold
Termite damage is excluded from landlord policies, and Formosan termites are common in New Orleans. Mold from long-term moisture is also excluded or capped. Sudden water damage is covered; slow leaks and the mold that follows usually aren’t. Fix roof and plumbing leaks fast.
What lenders require
Expect to show dwelling coverage at least equal to the loan or rebuild cost, wind coverage with a named-storm deductible the lender accepts, flood coverage in a mapped zone, and the lender named as mortgagee. Investment lenders often add loss-of-rent coverage.
Ways to pay less
- Re-roof to the IBHS FORTIFIED standard. Louisiana insurers offer discounts for FORTIFIED roofs, and the wind portion is the expensive part of a Louisiana premium.
- Get an elevation certificate before pricing flood.
- Raise the named-storm deductible only as far as your reserve allows.
- Shop at every renewal. With carriers entering and leaving, last year’s best price may not hold.
Louisiana deposit and notice rules
Louisiana sets no cap on deposits. You must return the deposit within one month after the lease ends, with an itemized statement of deductions, and willful failure can cost the greater of $300 or twice the amount wrongfully withheld (La. Rev. Stat. § 9:3251). A month-to-month lease ends with notice 10 days before the end of the month (La. Civ. Code art. 2728). After a hurricane, tenants sometimes leave on short notice, so keep that one-month deposit deadline on the calendar even while the storm claim is open.
Questions landlords ask
The questions we get most, each answered in a paragraph.
How much is landlord insurance in Louisiana?
NerdWallet's 2026 benchmark for a Louisiana homeowners policy on a $400,000 house is $2,020 a year, but its median-of-insurers method gives a lower figure than many other studies, and coastal pricing varies widely by parish. Landlord policies typically cost 15-25% more than homeowners policies. Flood is a separate bill. A quote for the address is the only real number.
What is Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance?
It's the state-created insurer of last resort for properties that can't get coverage from private insurers. It grew sharply after private carriers failed or left the state following the 2020 and 2021 hurricanes. Coverage is generally more limited and can cost more than a comparable private policy, so check private quotes first.
What is a named-storm deductible?
It's a separate deductible that applies when damage comes from a named tropical storm or hurricane, set as a percentage of the dwelling limit. Louisiana policies commonly use 2% to 5%. On a $250,000 dwelling limit, a 5% named-storm deductible means you pay the first $12,500 after a hurricane.
Do I need flood insurance for a rental in Louisiana?
If the property has a mortgage and sits in a FEMA special flood hazard area, yes. Much of south Louisiana does. Even outside those zones, heavy rain floods neighborhoods regularly. Landlord policies exclude flood, so coverage comes from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private flood insurer.