Best Cheap Renters Insurance In Texas 2024 (2024)

If you’re looking for cheap renters insurance in Texas, consider looking at quotes from AmGUARD, Republic Indemnity and Amica. In our evaluation, these companies offer the cheapest renters insurance in Texas for a typical coverage amount of $15,000, among the companies we analyzed.

Here are average Texas renters insurance costs for three levels of coverage.

Average Texas Renters Insurance Costs

Source: Quadrant Information Services. Rates include $100,000 in liability insurance.

*USAA auto insurance is available only to members of the military, veterans and their families.

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What Does Renters Insurance Cover?

Renters insurance covers damage to your belongings caused by specified events listed in your policy, for instance, if there’s a fire or your home is burglarized or vandalized. It also helps protect you if guests are accidentally injured while visiting you. Claims are paid out up to the limits listed in your policy. Here’s how the three main types of renters insurance coverage work together to protect you and what you own.

• Personal property covers your personal belongings, including items like your jewelry, clothes, laptop and bicycle.
• Liability insurance pays for property damage and injuries you accidentally cause to someone else, such as when a guest falls and strains an ankle. Liability insurance also helps to pay for legal fees and settlements if you are sued because of an accident.
• Additional living expenses (ALE) coverage will pay for hotel bills, restaurant meals and other expenses when you are unable to live in your apartment due to damages from a problem covered by your policy (like a house fire).

An umbrella insurance policy is a good option when you need more liability protection than your renters insurance offers. For example, if an injured guest’s medical bills exceed your renters insurance liability limits, your umbrella policy would kick in. It’s a good rule of thumb to have enough liability insurance to cover what could be taken from you in a lawsuit.

When Can You Be Evicted in Texas?

Landlords file eviction lawsuits to remove a tenant and their belongings from a rental property. A landlord may file an eviction lawsuit if you do not pay your rent or if you break another provision of the lease. For example, disturbing your neighbors and committing crimes on the property are other reasons a landlord may file an eviction lawsuit against a tenant.

A landlord must give you at least 72 hours written notice to vacate before an eviction lawsuit can be filed. If you do not move out by the deadline, your landlord can file a written complaint with the justice of the peace. If you do not appear for your trial date or the court rules against you, you will be issued a judgment. If you do not appeal the judgment within five days, a “writ of possession” can be issued to allow a constable or sheriff to physically evict you.

Rules on Security Deposits in Texas

A landlord must refund your security deposit within 30 days of you moving out of the apartment. If your landlord withholds all or a portion of your security deposit, they must provide you with a written itemization of security deposit deductions within 30 days. As a tenant you will need to provide a new forwarding address in writing to your landlord.

Your landlord can’t keep your security deposit for normal wear and tear, such as small nail holes, scratches on the sink or countertops, or fingerprints on the wall. But your landlord can hold your security deposit due to negligence, carelessness, accident or abuse, such as large permanent stains on carpets and pen marks on the walls.

If your landlord has your forwarding address and does not return your security deposit or written list of deductions within 30 days of you moving out, you can take legal action. You may sue the landlord for $100 plus three times the amount of the security deposit, plus attorney’s fees and court costs.

Rules on Rent Increases in Texas

In Texas, landlords may ask for any amount that they wish for rent. There are no limits to rent increases. If your lease is about to expire, you should receive notification of a rent increase from your landlord prior to the renewal date. If you have a month-to-month lease, your landlord should give you notice 30 days in advance of a proposed change.

Your landlord may be able to increase your rent during your lease if your lease has a provision allowing it. For example, your lease may have a provision allowing a rent increase to accommodate for higher costs such as utility taxes or insurance.

When Can a Landlord Enter Your Apartment?

Your lease may list the reasons why your landlord can enter your apartment. Common reasons include emergencies , routine maintenance and repairs. Your landlord must give you advance notice if it is required by the lease.

If your lease does not specify that your landlord must give advance notice prior to entry, you can request in writing that your landlord only enter after giving advance notice, such as 24 hours.