Homeowners insurance covers both the structure and contents of the home, as well as liability. Renters insurance covers only the personal belongings and liability of the tenant, not the physical structure.

Homeowners insurance covers the structure of the home, while renters insurance mainly covers personal belongings and liability for renters. Renters insurance does not cover the structure itself since renters do not own it.

A renter in an apartment complex needs renters insurance to cover their belongings, whereas the landlord would have a separate policy to cover the building structure.

Renters should always have renters insurance, even if their landlord has coverage. The landlord’s insurance only covers the building structure, not the renter's belongings.