Landlord Insurance in Washington: Costs, Requirements & Best Providers
Landlord insurance in Washington costs less than the national average. The homeowners benchmark is $1,880 a year, and a landlord (DP-3) policy typically runs about $2,150 to $2,350. West of the Cascades the big gap is earthquake, which needs separate coverage; east of them it's wildfire. Get a landlord insurance quote for your rental, then decide on earthquake and flood coverage separately.
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What landlords pay in Washington
- Homeowners benchmark
- $1,880 a yearAbout $157 a month; 24% below the $2,490 national average.
- Estimated landlord policy
- $2,150-$2,350 a yearLandlord (DP-3) cover typically runs 15-25% above homeowners cover on the same building. Your quote will differ.
- Main hazards
- Earthquake, Wildfire, Winter storm, Flood, Wind
- 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 Washington
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 Washington compares? We keep a table of landlord insurance rates by state, with the method behind every figure.
On this page
West of the Cascades: earthquake
Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Everett and Bellingham sit near three earthquake sources: the offshore Cascadia Subduction Zone, deep quakes like the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, and shallow faults such as the Seattle Fault running under the city. Landlord policies exclude earthquake damage.
Earthquake coverage comes through an endorsement or standalone policy. With a deductible often 10% or more of the dwelling limit, it protects against a major structural loss, not small cracks. For older wood-frame houses not bolted to their foundations and unreinforced brick buildings, it deserves a serious look. A retrofit reduces damage and may lower the earthquake premium.
East of the Cascades: wildfire
Spokane, Wenatchee, Yakima, Chelan and Okanogan counties face wildfire seasons that have grown worse. The 2020 Babb Road fire destroyed much of the town of Malden. Fire is a covered peril on a landlord policy, but insurers score addresses for wildfire risk, and properties near brush and forest can face surcharges, fewer carriers or non-renewal. Defensible space and ember-resistant vents help at underwriting.
Atmospheric rivers and flood
In November 2021, atmospheric river storms flooded Whatcom and Skagit counties, including Sumas and Everson. River flooding is the main Washington flood risk, with storm surge on some low coastal areas. Landlord policies exclude flood. Coverage comes through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private insurer, usually after a 30-day wait.
Winter storms
Windstorms knock trees onto roofs across western Washington most winters, and snow and ice storms bring frozen pipes and power outages. A standard landlord policy covers these, subject to your deductible.
What lenders require
Lenders require a landlord policy naming them as mortgagee, with dwelling coverage at least equal to the loan or rebuild cost. Flood insurance is mandatory on federally backed loans in a mapped high-risk zone. Earthquake coverage generally isn’t a lender requirement on one- to four-unit rentals. Investor lenders often require loss-of-rent coverage.
Ways to pay less
- Bolt and brace older homes before pricing earthquake coverage.
- Trim trees over roofs in western Washington, the most common winter claim.
- Create defensible space around rentals east of the Cascades.
- Raise your all-perils deductible to $2,500 if your reserves allow.
- Insure all your rentals with one carrier. Obie offers portfolio policies, and Steadily writes small multifamily.
Washington deposit rules
Washington sets no cap on deposits, but you can’t collect one at all unless you give the tenant a written move-in condition checklist (Rev. Code Wash. §§ 59.18.260, 59.18.280). Within 30 days after the tenant leaves, you must return the deposit with a full and specific statement of why any amount was kept. A good checklist also helps document damage for an insurance claim.
Questions landlords ask
The questions we get most, each answered in a paragraph.
How much is landlord insurance in Washington?
Washington's homeowners benchmark is $1,880 a year for $400,000 of dwelling coverage (NerdWallet 2026). Landlord policies typically run 15% to 25% higher, about $2,150 to $2,350. A house in Spokane, a duplex in Tacoma and a condo in Seattle all price differently, and earthquake coverage costs extra, so quote the actual property.
Does landlord insurance cover earthquakes in Washington?
No. Standard landlord policies exclude earthquake damage. You can add an endorsement or buy a separate policy. Deductibles are usually a percentage of the dwelling limit, often 10% or more. The 2001 Nisqually earthquake damaged buildings across the Puget Sound region, and the Cascadia Subduction Zone and Seattle Fault carry the risk of much larger quakes.
Does loss-of-rent coverage help with Washington's just-cause rules?
No. Loss-of-rent coverage pays when a covered loss such as a fire makes a unit unlivable. It doesn't cover unpaid rent or the time it takes to end a tenancy. Washington requires a statutory just cause to terminate and caps annual rent increases, so screening and reserves do more for that risk than insurance.