[TowerTalk] Renter tower insurance

[Douglas K. Smith]

K7LXC's reply to this post erroneously has confused homeowner's insurance (for the occupying owner of the property) and renter's insurance (which most renters don't even carry).  Most homeowner's policies do cover accessory structures and the policy definition of such structures usually includes towers and antennas on them.  This is something that one's insurance agent can answer.  If the agent does not know the answer, he/she can posit the question to the company for an unequivocal response.  For the owner occupier of the house, the typical homeowner's policy covers both liability and loss due to covered perils such as windstorm.  Questions may nevertheless arise if the tower was not installed with a permit and/or pursuant to code.  Again, I defer such questions to the insurance agent.

However, renters are an entirely different matter.  Most landlord policies are much more restrictive.  They virtually never cover tenant personal property and would rarely, if ever, cover "structures" attached to the realty by the tenant such as a tower even if it would have been an accessory structure were the policy a homeowner's policy.  Often, landlord policies are little more than fire policies.  Such policies would certainly not cover the tenant's potential liability (even if they might cover the landlord's potential liabilty) were a tower to fall.  The ARRL endorsed policy covers loss to the ham equipment only; it does not provide liability coverage. 

I would advise anyone renting who intends to put up a tower to do the following:  (1) secure the landlord's written permission; (2) consult an insurance agent to determine what coverage can be purchased that would protect both the tenant and the landlord -- there may be policies that mimic homeowner's coverage for renters of entire houses or condos (I doubt such coverage exists for apartment renters); (3) make sure all applicable permits and building codes are followed.

As a general proposition, I would presume that, as a renter, you are probably not going to get any tower or large antenna up in the air other than perhaps a back yard multiband vertical and wires in the trees.

73
W7ZZ