My landlord has insurance. Why do I need my own?
Because theirs covers their building and their liability, not your belongings and not yours. If the roof fails and your things are ruined, their policy repairs the roof. Yours is what replaces what was underneath it.
Is my stuff covered if I am a student and still on my parents' policy?
Sometimes, partially, and with conditions about enrollment and where you live. It is worth checking rather than assuming, because the limit that applies off-premises is usually a fraction of the household one and liability may not extend at all.
What does it cost?
Renters cover is one of the least expensive policies sold and it is usually a few dollars a month rather than a few tens. We will quote it honestly against more than one carrier, and we will not pretend the price is the interesting part. The limits are.
The building flooded from a burst pipe. Is that flood?
No, and the distinction is good news. Water escaping from a plumbing system inside the building is not flood; flood means water that rose from outside. A burst pipe upstairs is normally a covered peril on a renters policy, including the cost of staying elsewhere while the unit dries.