Florida landlords and renters
Flood Insurance for Rental Property in Florida
A landlord's flood policy covers the building, not the tenant's things. Each side of the lease needs its own flood coverage.[1]
Type the rental's address to see its flood zone and whether a lender will require a policy.
Check my addressReviewed by a licensed, independent insurance agent.
Own an apartment building or a business too? Read the Florida commercial flood guide.
Does landlord insurance cover flood?
Usually not. Florida's insurance regulator says, "Most homeowners' and business insurance policies do not cover flooding."[2] Flood is its own policy, bought on its own.
What does a landlord's flood policy cover?
For a building with 1 to 4 homes in it, the NFIP policy can cover up to $250,000 on the building.[3] It can also cover up to $100,000 of the owner's own things, such as the appliances and furniture the owner provides.[1]
For a building with 5 or more homes, the limit is $500,000 on the building and still $100,000 on contents.[3]
The policy does not cover the tenant's belongings. It also does not pay lost rent, and it does not pay for loss of use while the building is repaired.[1]
Do short-term rentals rate differently?
Sometimes. A 2 to 4 unit or apartment building where guests normally stay less than 6 months is rated as a non-residential building.[4] A licensed, independent insurance agent will ask how long guests stay.
What does a rental cost that a home you live in does not?
Every NFIP policy carries a federal surcharge set in law. On a home that is not your main home, it is an extra $250 yearly federal surcharge. On your main home, it is $25.[5]
That surcharge is a fee in the law, not the price of the policy. The policy price depends on the building: how often the spot floods, how close it is to water and how high the first floor sits.[6]
Check my addressWill my lender require flood insurance on a rental?
Yes, if the rental is in a high-risk flood zone and the loan comes from a federally regulated lender. The rule covers any building that secures the loan, not just the home you live in.[7]
The lender asks for at least the loan balance or the NFIP maximum for the building, whichever is less.[8] Read what to do when a lender requires flood insurance.
Can renters buy flood insurance?
Yes. A renter can buy a contents-only flood policy for their own things, up to $100,000.[3] Contents limits are not per building, so each tenant in the same building can buy their own policy.[3]
A renter's policy also covers improvements the renter paid for, such as new cabinets, up to 10 percent of the contents limit.[1]
An NFIP policy usually starts 30 days after you buy it. If you buy it as part of getting, refinancing, extending or renewing a mortgage, it starts at closing with no wait. Most renters have no mortgage, so plan on the 30 days.[9] Read how the 30-day wait works.
What must a Florida landlord tell a renter?
Since October 1, 2025, a Florida landlord must give a flood disclosure to a new tenant at or before signing a lease of 1 year or longer.[10]
If the landlord skipped it and a flood destroys half or more of the value of the renter's things, the renter can end the lease. The renter must give written notice and move out within 30 days after the flood.[10]
What does your rental's address need?
The report shows the flood zone, whether a lender will require a policy, and the claims record near the building. Owners and renters can both use it. If you want options, a licensed, independent insurance agent compares them for you.
Questions about rental property flood insurance in Florida?
Does landlord insurance cover flood?
Usually not. Florida's insurance regulator says most homeowners' and business policies do not cover flooding. Flood is its own policy. [2]
Who insures the tenant's belongings?
The tenant does. A landlord's flood policy covers the building and the landlord's own things in it. A renter needs their own contents policy. [1][3]
Does flood insurance pay lost rent?
No. An NFIP policy does not pay lost rent or income, and it does not pay for loss of use while the building is repaired. [1]
Is flood insurance required on a rental property?
If the rental is in a high-risk flood zone and has a loan from a federally regulated lender, yes. The lender must require flood insurance on any building that secures the loan. [7][8]
How much does flood insurance cost for renters?
There is no single price. Under Risk Rating 2.0, FEMA prices each policy by the place and the building: how often the spot floods, how close it is to water and how high the first floor sits. Two renters in the same flood zone can pay very different prices. [6]
What should I do when my rental floods?
Report the flood to your insurer and send a signed proof of loss within 60 days after the flood. The 60 days start on the day of the flood. The landlord files for the building and the tenant files for their own things. [11]