Landlord Insurance in Nassau and Suffolk County NY

The short answer

If you own a house or small building on Long Island and rent it to someone else, the building usually belongs on a landlord policy, not a homeowners policy. A landlord policy is written around the building, your liability as the owner, and the rent you would lose while covered damage is repaired. A broker can place it with an insurer that writes that type of building in your town.

Long Island rentals we place

Single-family houses rented to a tenant, in Nassau or Suffolk
Two-family and three-family homes, owner-occupied or not
Houses with a legal accessory apartment
Mixed-use buildings on a main street, with a store below and apartments above
Small apartment buildings and garden apartments
A few properties held in one LLC or in separate LLCs

What a Long Island landlord policy usually covers

The building. The structure against covered causes of loss, such as fire and wind.
Liability. Covered claims that you are legally responsible for an injury or damage at the property, such as a fall on the steps or the walk.
Loss of rents. Rent lost while covered damage is repaired. It does not pay when a tenant stops paying.
Other structures. A detached garage, fence or shed, when the form includes it.
Options to ask about. Water backup, ordinance or law, equipment breakdown, an umbrella, and flood as its own policy.

Things that come up on Long Island

Flood and wind near the water. The building policy usually excludes flood. South Shore and North Shore properties near the water may need flood placed on its own, and some insurers apply a separate windstorm deductible near the coast. Check the declarations page for both.

Accessory apartments. Town rules on accessory apartments differ across Nassau and Suffolk. Tell the insurer how the house is actually used and how many units are rented. A policy written for the wrong number of units can cause trouble at claim time.

Older houses. Many Long Island rentals are older homes. Insurers ask when the roof, heating, plumbing and electrical were last updated. Have those years ready.

Vacancy. Many property forms limit coverage when a building has been vacant for a set period. If a unit or the whole house will sit empty during a turnover or renovation, say so before it happens.

Short-term rentals. Renting by the night or the week is a different use from a yearly lease. Tell us if any unit is rented that way.

Towns we work in

We work with owners across Nassau County, including Hempstead, Garden City, Mineola, Freeport, Valley Stream, Long Beach, Hicksville and Westbury, and across Suffolk County, including Huntington, Babylon, Islip, Brookhaven and Riverhead. We are in Garden City, so most Nassau owners are a short drive away.

Common questions

Do I need landlord insurance for a rental house on Long Island?

New York law does not require every landlord to buy a policy. A mortgage lender usually does, and a homeowners policy is written for a home you live in. A house you rent to others is usually placed on a landlord policy. Send the address and a broker will look at it.

I live in one unit of my two-family home in Nassau. Which policy do I need?

An owner-occupied two-family can sometimes be written on a homeowners form that recognizes the rental unit, and sometimes on a landlord form. It depends on the insurer and the house. Send the current declarations page and we will tell you what we see.

Does a Long Island landlord policy cover flood?

Usually not. The standard building form excludes flood. Flood can be placed as its own policy when the building is eligible. A lender may require it in a flood zone.

What does landlord insurance cost in Nassau or Suffolk?

It depends on the building, its age and updates, the limits, the deductibles, the location and the loss history. We do not publish prices. Send the declarations page for a free review.

Can you insure several rental houses held in an LLC?

Often, yes. Several properties can sometimes be placed together, depending on the insurer. Send the list of addresses, the LLC names and the current policies.

What should I send for a quote?

The property address, the number of units, the year built, the years the roof, heating, plumbing and electrical were updated, the current declarations page, loss runs if you have them, and any lender requirements.

Talk to a broker

Get a free policy checkup Get a quote

Or call (516) 226-7969, Mon to Fri, 9 to 6 ET. SimpleINSURE Brokerage LLC, 900 Stewart Ave Ste 210, Garden City, NY 11530. NY DFS License BR-1984615.

Coverage descriptions are general summaries. The issued policy governs. Coverage is subject to the insurer's underwriting and the terms of the policy.

Landlord insurance in Nassau and Suffolk County