Q: Can a landlord in CA require renter's insurance and use the policy for building repairs?

A: In California, landlords are legally permitted to require tenants to obtain and maintain renter's insurance while under the terms of the lease. Unlike some other states, California landlords are allowed to require tenants to obtain and maintain renters insurance while they are under the terms of the lease. This requirement must be clearly stated in your lease agreement to be enforceable.

However, what your landlord is doing raises significant concerns. Renter's insurance is designed to cover your personal property and provide liability protection for you as the tenant. The insurance a landlord carries typically covers only the building itself, while renter's insurance covers the tenant's personal belongings and provides liability coverage. Your landlord's actions of taking out a policy in your name without your direct involvement and using it to cover building repairs appears to be improper.

The correct arrangement would be for your landlord to maintain their own landlord insurance policy for the building structure and repairs, while you maintain a separate renter's insurance policy for your personal belongings. As Travelers Insurance notes, "Typically, as the property owner, you could be responsible for injuries sustained on your property," while a tenant's renter's insurance "can help cover your tenant in the event of an injury to your tenant's guests." You may want to speak with a tenant rights organization or legal counsel about this situation, as your landlord appears to be misusing insurance policies in a way that doesn't align with their intended purpose.