Earthquake Insurance for Landlords: How It Differs from Primary Residence Coverage

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April 13, 2025

If you’re a landlord, protecting your rental property from earthquakes is just as important as protecting your own home. While many people are familiar with earthquake insurance for a primary residence, landlord policies have a few key differences you should understand—especially when it comes to rental income.

Does Earthquake Insurance Work the Same for Rentals?

In most ways, yes. Earthquake insurance for landlords functions very similarly to earthquake insurance for your primary residence. It includes essential protections like:

✔️ Dwelling coverage – Protects the physical structure of the rental property
✔️ Other structures – Covers garages, fences, and other detached buildings
✔️ Personal property – Covers appliances and other landlord-owned items on-site
✔️ Deductible options – Just like a primary residence, deductibles are a percentage of the dwelling coverage

But there is one important difference you won’t find on a policy for your primary residence…

Loss of Use vs. Loss of Rental Income

When you purchase earthquake insurance for your primary residence, the policy may include loss of use coverage—which helps pay for temporary housing if your home becomes uninhabitable.

For landlords, that same loss of use coverage is structured differently. Instead of paying for your housing, it provides loss of rental income coverage.

🔍 What Is Loss of Rental Income Coverage?

If an earthquake damages your rental property and your tenant can no longer live there—or simply stops paying rent due to the damage—loss of rental income coverage will reimburse you for the missed rent payments.

This ensures that even if your property is temporarily unoccupied, you’re not left covering the mortgage or losing income during the repair period.

Why Landlords Need Earthquake Insurance

🧱 Earthquakes can cause severe structural damage—sometimes enough to make the home uninhabitable.
💰 Without earthquake insurance, you could be left paying for repairs out-of-pocket AND missing rental income.
🕒 Earthquake policies don’t cover damage retroactively, and you won’t be able to purchase coverage immediately after a quake due to moratoriums.

So if you’re counting on steady cash flow from your rental property, this protection isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Let Earthquake Agent Help You Protect Your Investment

At EarthquakeAgent.com, we specialize in helping both homeowners and landlords find the right earthquake insurance policy—with no added fees for residential coverage.

✔️ Get a customized policy that includes loss of rental income
✔️ Compare quotes from specialized earthquake insurance carriers
✔️ Enjoy expert support and guidance every step of the way

📍 Start your free quote today at 👉 EarthquakeAgent.com

Final Thoughts

Whether you live in your property or rent it out, earthquake insurance gives you peace of mind. But as a landlord, it’s not just about the building—it’s about protecting your income. Make sure you have the right policy in place before the ground starts shaking.