Renters cozy up to insurance in pandemic

Hunkering down at home during the pandemic no doubt caused some people to rethink their living space: new throw pillows, a better couch, a fresh coat of paint perhaps.

For some, however, renters insurance came to mind.

Google searches for “renters insurance” so far in 2021 are up by 265% compared with 2019 — indicating a considerable increase in demand as people shift to the new normal brought on by the pandemic. And that new normal is, according to Expertise.com, which conducted a survey of 1,000 American adults in September: a lot could go wrong.

Among the key findings: 49% of those with renters insurance took out a policy during the COVID-19 pandemic “due to being home more often.”

“Liability coverage becomes more important as the chance of someone getting injured on the property increases. If renters have a visitor fall and get injured at their home, such as a delivery man, for example, liability coverage can help protect them if the injured person pursues litigation,” Expertise.com found. “Taking out a renters insurance policy is a cheap way for renters to protect themselves from these dangers and it’s apparent that many decided to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic.”