Not rated
Not rated
ResidentShield offers some nice perks but has limited coverage for dog bite claims.
About ResidentShield
ResidentShield isn’t an insurance company. It’s an agency that works with third-party insurers to find you a renters policy. Its coverage has some useful features.
For example, ResidentShield’s application process doesn’t involve a credit check. That’s a plus for renters with poor credit, who tend to pay higher renters insurance rates in most states. ResidentShield also promises that your rates won’t go up if you file a claim. This is a rare perk in the renters insurance industry.
However, ResidentShield is less generous than other insurers when it comes to pet ownership. Most renters insurance covers dog bites and other animal liability claims up to your full personal liability limit (often $100,000). But unless you pay extra, ResidentShield offers just $10,000 of liability coverage in many states. More severe dog bite claims can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
ResidentShield partners with certain apartment communities across the U.S. If you live in one of them, the company may prefill certain parts of your application to save you time. But you don’t need to live in a partner complex to get ResidentShield renters insurance.
Best for: Renters who have poor credit or live in one of ResidentShield’s partner communities.
Not ideal for: Pet owners concerned about dog bite claims.
We make every effort to rate each company we review. However, we’re sometimes unable to provide a NerdWallet star rating for insurers that work with multiple third parties to underwrite their policies. That’s because the quality of the policy you get may vary depending on the coverage options, financial strength and other factors of each separate underwriting company.
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What ResidentShield renters insurance covers
ResidentShield policies include standard renters insurance coverage for your belongings. They can also pay for liability claims, such as a guest getting hurt in your apartment. And if you can’t live at home after a covered claim, they can pay for a hotel stay. Learn more about what renters insurance covers.
One nice feature of a ResidentShield policy is that it covers bedbug damage. Most renters policies don’t.
Optional ResidentShield renters insurance coverage
Depending on where you live, you may be able to add some or all of the following to your policy:
Water and sewer coverage. Pays for damage to your belongings if a water line or sump pump backs up into your home.
Replacement cost coverage for personal belongings. Pays enough after a claim to buy new replacements for damaged or stolen items. Without this coverage, you’d be paid only the actual cash value of lost items. Because things like furniture and electronics tend to lose value over time, your claim payout could come up well short of what you need to buy new items.
Pet damage coverage. Pays to repair things like carpet stains or scratch marks from your furry buddy.
Extra animal liability coverage. Raises your coverage limit in case your pet hurts someone or damages their property. Learn more about pet liability insurance.
Identity theft coverage. Pays for expenses related to recovering your identity.
Earthquake coverage. Pays to repair or replace your stuff after an earthquake (available in California only).
What’s not covered
ResidentShield policies generally won’t cover:
Flood damage. (Learn more about flood insurance for renters.)
Earthquake damage unless you buy extra coverage (California only).
Fashion accessories.
Oriental rugs and tapestries.
Where ResidentShield renters insurance is available
ResidentShield is licensed to sell renters insurance in all states and Washington, D.C.
Availability may change at any time. Coverage may not be available to all renters in a given state.
Discounts
ResidentShield offers a discount of up to 20% for renters in a senior living community. You may also be able to save by paying your premium in full, rather than in installments.
Consumer experience
Website: You can use the ResidentShield website to get a quote, file a claim or learn about the company’s policies.
Claims: You can file and track claims in your online account. According to the company, your premium won’t go up after you file a claim, which is unusual in the insurance industry.
Customer service: For support, email info@residentshield.com or call 800-566-1186. You can also use the company’s chat feature, which offers both automated and live assistance.
How we choose the best renters insurance companies
👋 I’m Sarah Schlichter, a senior writer and content strategist covering renters insurance. I built NerdWallet’s renters insurance rubric and did the research for this page to find the best companies. I gathered and analyzed data across four major categories:
Companies get better scores when they have consumer-friendly features and low rates of complaints.
Consumer complaints
We analyze the number of consumer complaints reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The higher the rate of complaints, the lower a company's score.
Digital tools
We look at how easy it is to interact with insurers by evaluating their digital tools, website and customer support methods. The best insurers have user-friendly features like online quotes and live chat.
Companies earn points based on how generous and customizable their policies are.
Coverage for personal property
Insurers that cover your belongings on a replacement cost basis by default get higher scores. Those with less generous actual cash value coverage score lower.
Optional coverage
For this category, we look at whether each company offers some of the most useful add-ons, such as extra coverage for valuables.
The more affordable a company's policies are, the better its score.
We evaluate the discounts a company offers and, when available, its median rates.
Companies score well when they have a healthy balance sheet.
We evaluate an insurer’s ability to pay future claims by using assessments from independent agencies such as AM Best and Demotech. The top renters insurance companies have financial strength ratings of A, A+ or A++.
