Allentown is the third largest city in Pennsylvania and one of the oldest major cities in the United States. Allentown has buildings that date back to the 1700s, historical museums, an amusement park, and a lot of renters, as 55% of the city’s occupied housing units are rented rather than owned.^ If you’re a renter in Allentown, you should consider purchasing renters insurance.
Renters insurance ensures that your personal belongings are protected instances of burglary or weather-related damage. It also covers your liability if someone is injured in your home, and offers coverage for living expenses if you’re forced to live away from home in the event that the pipes burst and it becomes uninhabitable. There are countless other reasons you should consider renters insurance if you live in Allentown, from rate affordability to the mere uncertainty that comes with living in an urban area. Read on to learn more about why renters insurance makes sense for Allentown residents.
Best renters insurance in Allentown
Insurance Company | Monthly Cost - $500 Deductible | Monthly Cost - $1,000 Deductible |
|---|---|---|
State Farm | $14.25 | $13.50 |
Allstate | $15.00 | $15.00 |
Travelers | $13 | $12 |
Stillwater | $12.08 | $12.08 |
Lemonade | $12.67 | $11.09 |
Methodology: We pulled renters insurance quotes online from five of the most popular insurance companies: State Farm, Lemonade, Allstate, Travelers and Stillwater. Quotes were for policies with $500 and $1,000 deductibles for a 30-year-old female apartment renter. We deferred to the most comparable coverage amounts when identical policies were unavailable.
Understanding renters insurance quotes
Renters insurance is about far more than simply protecting your personal property. If someone is accidentally injured in your home and requires legal or medical expenses on your behalf, that financial burden is lifted off your shoulders with renters insurance.
If you’re forced to move out of your apartment because of hazards like fire or water damage, your renters insurance loss-of-use coverage provides you and your family with additional expenses to cope with this misfortune. Loss-of-use coverage, also called additional living expenses coverage, may also supply funds for hotel expenses and additional car mileage if the need arises.
Here’s a rundown of the components you should look for in a policy when comparing renters insurance quotes.
Property coverage: reimbursement for lost, stolen, or damaged property.
Liability coverage: covers legal expenses in the event someone is injured in your residence and they sue you.
Loss of use: covers temporary living expenses if your residence becomes uninhabitable.
Medical payments to others: covers medical costs in the event someone is injured in your residence and requires medical treatment.
We’ve got a full explainer of what renters insurance covers here.
Is renters insurance legally required in Allentown?
Renters insurance is not a legal requirement in Allentown or the state of Pennsylvania, but landlords and management companies may put a clause in the lease requiring tenants purchase a policy. In fact, considering Allentown’s habit of attracting some pretty harsh weather during the winter, a renters insurance provision might not be a bad idea.
Reasons to buy renters insurance in Allentown
Renters insurance is among some of the most affordable insurance types to buy, and considering your most cherished personal belongings are typically stored in your residence or storage units, it should be a no-brainer in any city.
Allentown doesn’t stand out as far as property crime goes, as levels of arson, burglary and theft are about on par with the national average, according to the FBI Crime Data Explorer.† But even in predominantly safe Allentown, renters insurance is a necessary safeguard to have, given the high theft and break-in potential of urban areas.
-- | Allentown incidents | Allentown rate* | Nationwide incidents | Nationwide rate* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Larceny | 2,387 | 1,968.12 | 5,638,455 | 1744.96 |
Burglary | 668 | 550.78 | 1,515,096 | 468.88 |
Arson | 18 | 14.84 | 43,119 | 13.34 |
-- | *per 100,000 people |
Did you know that renters insurance covers weight of snow damage? Yes, renters insurance will cover your personal belongings if that metric ton of snow on your roof causes it to fall through, or if the cold temperatures cause your pipes to freeze and burst. This is a big deal for Allentown residents, who receive an average of almost 33 inches of snow per year.‡
Helpful resources
Allentown residents looking for more information on renters rights and resources should check out the following:
Allentown Tenant Association: Educates residents on their rights as tenants and assists with tenant-landlord disputes.
Lehigh Valley Legal Services: Tenant Rights: Legal counsel for tenants facing eviction or unsuitable/unsafe rental conditions.
Allentown Housing Authority: Quality and affordable housing for lower income households, provide fair housing opportunities, and reinvigorate Allentown community.
† FBI CDE
‡ 3. U.S. Climate Data
