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THE ADULTFILES
Tool 02 · pairs with FILE 002
What’s a file?
Every topic is a file: one real problem, checked against the sources, with the fix and a free tool.

Renters insurance checkup

Find out how much coverage you need, and whether the policy you have actually covers you. Two minutes, US or Canada.

Your answers

Jordan’s list from FILE 002: $9,800 of stuff

Part A: What’s my stuff worth?

Part A: What’s my stuff worth?

Room by room, at what it would cost to replace today

Fastest way: walk through with your phone recording, then fill this in from the video. How (step 1)

Living room$0
Bedroom$0
Kitchen$0
Bathroom$0
Closet & clothes$0
Tech$0
Other$0
Your stuff$0

Add a few things to see your coverage number.

The average renter owns more than $20,000 in possessions (Oklahoma Insurance Department) (source, opens in a new tab)
Part B: Check my policy

Part B: Check my policy

The declarations page, usually page 1

Have your policy? Upload the declarations page (PDF or photo) and we’ll fill this in.

Your file is read once to fill in the answers, then deleted. We never store it or the numbers on it. How we handle uploads

PDF, JPG, PNG or HEIC · up to 3 pages

1. Personal property: is there a dollar amount?
Where do I find this?

It’s on your declarations page, usually page 1. Look for the “Personal property” line.

2. Loss of use (additional living expenses): is it listed with an amount?
Where do I find this?

It’s on your declarations page, usually page 1. Look for “Loss of use” or “Additional living expenses”.

3. Liability: how much, and who does it protect?
Where do I find this?

It’s on your declarations page, usually page 1. Look for the “Liability” line: $100,000 or more, protecting you.

4. Replacement cost or actual cash value?
Where do I find this?

It’s on your declarations page, usually page 1. It may say “replacement cost” or “actual cash value” (ACV) next to personal property.

5. Deductible
CAD
Typical: $500–$2,000. Could you pay this tomorrow?
Where do I find this?

It’s on your declarations page, usually page 1. Look for “Deductible”.

Part C: The water check

Part C: The water check

Inside water, sewer backup and floods
Where do you live?
Near a river, lake or coast?
Is sudden water damage from plumbing covered?
Where do I find this?

It’s on your declarations page, usually page 1. Or ask your insurer: “Is sudden water damage from plumbing covered?”

Is sewer backup covered, or added?
Where do I find this?

It’s on your declarations page, usually page 1. It’s often an add-on (an “endorsement”) listed further down.

Is overland water (flood) added?
Where do I find this?

It’s on your declarations page, usually page 1. Look for an “overland water” add-on.

The verdict

Updates as you answer

No verdict yet.

NO VERDICT YET

Answer Part B to see if your tenant insurance actually covers you.

Typical price: about $22 a month in Canada (APOLLO Insurance, insurer data).

How it works

The formula, in the open

It’s FILE 002 as a checklist with math: add up what it would cost to replace your stuff, check the lines that decide whether a policy actually pays, then the water question.

Nothing is saved unless you ask. If you upload your declarations page, it’s read once to fill in the answers, then deleted; you confirm every value before any verdict, and uploaded values never go in the link. Canada calls it tenant insurance: the checks are the same, the flood advice and the typical price change.

Your personal property coverage
= the total of every room, rounded up to the nearest $5,000
NOT COVERED
= no policy, or personal property is $0 or not listed
GAP: personal property
= the amount on your page is less than your total
GAP: loss of use
= no loss of use amount on the page
GAP: liability
= under $100,000 (bought through your lease = CHECK)
GAP: actual cash value
= pays what it’s worth today, not what it costs new
GAP: water
= plumbing water not covered · ground floor, basement or near water without sewer backup or flood
COVERED
= no gaps (flood is optional on an upper floor away from water)
The file behind the toolFILE 002 · What does renters insurance actually cover?Your landlord’s insurance doesn’t cover your stuff, and “water damage” doesn’t mean every kind of water. Here’s what a real policy covers, what it costs, and how to check yours in 10 seconds. 16 min.Open the file
Sources for the math
SOURCE 12Sept 23, 2026

NerdWallet · “How Much Is Renters Insurance?”

“The average renters insurance cost in the U.S. is $165 per year, or about $14 per month, according to NerdWallet’s rate analysis.” / “We based this estimate on a policy with $30,000 in personal property coverage, $100,000 in liability coverage and a $500 deductible.”

nerdwallet.com (opens in a new tab)
SOURCE 13July 21, 2026

APOLLO Insurance (insurer data) · “The Cost of Tenant Insurance in Canada in 2026”

“National Average (excluding Quebec & Yukon) $21.74 (per month)”

An insurer’s own data: the average tenant policy it issued between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.

apollocover.com (opens in a new tab)
SOURCE 14Accessed Oct 2026

Oklahoma Insurance Department · “Don’t underestimate the value of renters insurance”

“According to Bankrate, the average renter has more than $20,000 in possessions.”

oid.ok.gov (opens in a new tab)