An insurance review for a Texas rental asks five questions of the declarations page: is the property insured as a rental (not an owner-occupied home), what is the wind-and-hail deductible and is it a percentage, is flood covered at all (it usually is not), is loss of rents included, and does liability follow the property or the owner? Texas adds two structural facts. Flood is a separate policy — the statutory flood notice a landlord must give tenants says so in its own words: “Most tenant insurance policies do not cover damages or loss incurred in a flood” (Property Code §92.0135). And on the coast, wind may come only through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, which covers the fourteen first-tier coastal counties and parts of Harris County east of Highway 146 and requires a windstorm certificate for the structure (TWIA).
The review
| Question | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Occupancy | “Dwelling — rented to others,” landlord or DP-3 form | An owner-occupied policy may deny a rental claim |
| Wind and hail deductible | Flat amount or percentage of the dwelling limit | 2% of a $300,000 dwelling is $6,000 per event |
| Named storm / hurricane deductible | Separate, often higher percentage, on the coast | Hurricane season |
| Flood | Excluded from standard policies; NFIP or private flood policy needed | §92.0135 notice; FEMA zone |
| Loss of rents | Months covered after a covered loss | Vacancy during repairs |
| Liability | Limit; whether it covers injury to tenants and guests; umbrella | Claims |
| Vacancy clause | Days of vacancy after which coverage narrows | Long turnovers |
| Ordinance or law | Cost of code upgrades on rebuilding | Older housing under current codes |
| Tenant’s renters insurance | Required by the lease? Landlord named as interested party? | Contents and tenant liability |
When to review
- Before the first tenant, and at each renewal of the policy.
- Before June 1 on the coast; before spring hail season in North Texas and the Panhandle.
- After any change of use — a short-term rental, a room let, a home office.
- After a claim, to check the deductible and the premium change.
- When the appraisal district’s value moves far from the dwelling limit.
What insurance does not fix
A tenant’s belongings (their renters policy), the landlord’s duty to repair after a casualty (§92.054 starts the clock when the proceeds arrive, but the duty remains), and a flood zone the landlord failed to disclose — a violation of §92.0135 lets a tenant who suffers a flood loss terminate and recover. Ask a licensed agent the questions in the table and keep the answers with the policy.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Texas landlord policy cover flood?
Usually not; flood is a separate NFIP or private policy. The statutory flood notice to tenants states that most tenant policies do not cover flood either (Property Code §92.0135).
What is TWIA?
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, which writes wind and hail cover for eligible structures in the fourteen first-tier coastal counties and parts of Harris County east of Highway 146 when the private market declines, subject to a windstorm certificate (TWIA).
Should the lease require renters insurance?
It may; the landlord’s policy covers the building, not the tenant’s contents or the tenant’s liability, and the lease should say so.
Sources
Rules change and the right answer can depend on the home, the city, the lease and the timing. These are the official pages this guide relies on; check them before signing, charging a fee, sending a notice or making a legal decision.
- Texas Property Code, Chapter 92 — Residential Tenancies ↗
- Texas Windstorm Insurance Association — Coverage eligibility ↗
- FEMA Flood Map Service Center ↗
- FloodSmart — the National Flood Insurance Program ↗
General information for U.S. landlords, with a Texas focus. This guide is not legal, tax or accounting advice. Consult a qualified professional for your situation. Written by the rentalfreelease.com Editorial Team; last reviewed September 19, 2026.