A renters insurance policy is a group of insurance coverages designed to help protect residential or home renters and their belongings against certain risks.

A typical renters insurance policy includes four types of coverage that help protect renters and their belongings after a covered loss:

• Personal property coverage helps pay to replace belongings you keep in your rented home if they are stolen or damaged in certain situations, such as a fire.

• Liability coverage can help prevent you from paying out of pocket if you are found legally responsible for another person's medical bills after they are injured in your home.

• Guest medical coverage helps pay for reasonable and necessary medical expenses—such as the cost of X-rays, medical treatment, or an ambulance—if a guest is injured at your home—even if you're not at fault.

• Additional living expense coverage may help pay for additional costs you incur, such as temporary housing, if your rented home is left uninhabitable by a covered risk, such as a fire.

Renters insurance helps pay to replace stolen belongings, up to the coverage limit stated in your policy. Reimbursement for stolen items may be based on their depreciated value or replacement cost, depending on what type of coverage you select.

Certain valuables, such as expensive jewelry, may have more limited coverage under a standard renters insurance policy. If you have expensive jewelry or valuable artwork or collectibles in your rented home, you may want to add an endorsement or rider to you renters policy to increase the coverage for those personal property items. You may have to get an appraisal of their value to schedule such items for additional coverage on your renters policy.

In South Carolina, renters insurance policies are designed to provide financial protection for individuals renting a home or apartment and their personal property. These policies typically include personal property coverage for damage or loss due to events like theft or fire, liability coverage in case the renter is found responsible for another person's injuries on the premises, guest medical coverage for medical expenses if a guest is injured, and additional living expenses if the rental is uninhabitable after a covered event. Renters should be aware that reimbursement for stolen or damaged items may be based on actual cash value or replacement cost, depending on the policy. High-value items such as jewelry or art may require additional coverage through an endorsement or rider, which might necessitate an appraisal. While renters insurance is not mandated by South Carolina state law, landlords may require tenants to carry it as part of the lease agreement.