Key Takeaways

  • General liability insurance protects against claims from tenant injuries on rented properties
  • Commercial property insurance covers damages to buildings and structures from covered perils
  • Commercial auto insurance provides liability protection for business vehicles
  • Workers compensation covers medical expenses and lost wages if employees are injured on the job
  • Umbrella liability insurance increases protection above primary insurance limits
  • Professional liability protects against errors and omissions lawsuits from tenants

Introduction

As a business that leases or rents real estate to tenants, it is important to have the proper insurance protections in place. This article discusses the top business insurance options lessors of real estate with NAICS code 5311 should consider including general liability, commercial property, commercial auto, workers compensation and other coverage types.

General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance provides crucial coverage for businesses that lease or rent real estate to tenants. It protects property owners from costly claims and lawsuits if a tenant or visitor is injured on the rental property or causes property damage. General liability insurance for lessors of real estate covers a variety of risks including injuries to tenants, slip and fall accidents, property damage to rental units, and liability from conditions like mold or asbestos. It also protects against legal fees if the property owner is sued.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protection against claims of bodily injury or property damage from tenants
  • Covers legal fees if you’re sued for accidents on your property
  • Pays for damage to third party property you’re legally liable for
  • Provides injury and damage coverage from slip and fall accidents
  • Covers liability from hazardous conditions like mold, asbestos or carbon monoxide
  • Protects your personal assets from lawsuits and judgments
  • Covers liability from your employees and contractors on the job
  • Coverage for property damage to buildings and contents you lease to others
Use Cases
  • Cover property damage caused to a rented property
  • Cover injuries to tenants or visitors on rented properties
  • Cover legal costs if a tenant sues for injuries on the property
  • Cover damages from slip and fall accidents on rental properties
  • Protect against liability claims from mold, lead, or asbestos exposure on rental properties
  • Cover legal defense costs if a tenant files a lawsuit against the property owner

Based on industry data, the average annual cost for general liability insurance for businesses in the lessors of real estate industry (NAICS 5311) is around $1,500. This pricing is derived from considering factors like average revenue size of companies in this industry, number of employees, litigation risk profile, loss history data, and compliance with safety standards.

Estimated Pricing: $1,500

Commercial Property Insurance

Commercial property insurance provides essential financial protection for owners and operators of rental properties. It covers damages to buildings and structures, liability claims, loss of income, and other expenses to keep the business running smoothly after an insured loss event. This type of commercial insurance protects the investment of lessors of real estate through coverage of physical property, additional structures, vacant buildings, replacement costs, losses of business income, and liability risks to tenants.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protection against property damage and losses from fire, wind, hail, explosions or other disasters
  • Liability coverage in case a tenant is injured on your property
  • Replacement cost coverage to rebuild or repair property after a covered loss
  • Loss of business income/rents if property is uninhabitable after covered damage
  • Coverage for property in vacant buildings awaiting new tenants
  • Protection for additional structures like signs, fences and lighting
  • Covers the building structure and permanent fixtures
  • Coverage for property in vacant buildings awaiting new tenants
  • Protection for additional structures like signs, fences and lighting
Use Cases
  • Protect buildings and structures from damages due to fire, wind, hail, smoke, vandalism and other perils
  • Cover loss of rents or income if the property is uninhabitable due to insured perils
  • Provide liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage claims from tenants
  • Cover additional expenses like debris removal after an insured loss
  • Replace or repair buildings, structures and equipment after an insured loss
  • Cover equipment breakdown or mechanical issues like electrical failure or boiler explosion

Based on industry data, the average annual cost for commercial property insurance for businesses in the lessors of real estate industry (NAICS 5311) is around $1.50 per square foot. This price is calculated based on factors such as the size and location of the properties, level of coverage required, property values, loss history, security features, and hazards. The minimum deductible is usually $1,000-$2,500.

Estimated Pricing: $1.50/sqft

Commercial Auto Insurance

This reference provides useful information on the top benefits, use cases, and estimated pricing of commercial auto insurance for businesses in the lessors of real estate industry with NAICS code 5311.

Category List
Benefits
  • Liability protection in case of an accident
  • Collision coverage to repair or replace a vehicle if damaged
  • Comprehensive coverage for damages not related to a collision, like fire or theft
  • Medical payments coverage for injured parties
  • Rental reimbursement if a vehicle is unavailable due to damage
  • Protection for business assets and income
Use Cases
  • Covering vehicles used to transport employees and inspectors to and from job sites
  • Insuring company vehicles used to shuttle tenants or clients between properties
  • Protecting vehicles used to deliver supplies, equipment or documents between offices and properties
  • Insuring vehicles driven by maintenance staff to perform repairs, renovations or cleaning services at rental properties

Based on industry analysis, the average price for commercial auto insurance for businesses in the lessors of real estate industry with NAICS code 5311 is around $1,200 per vehicle per year. This price assumes the vehicles are sedans or small SUVs used for basic transportation purposes by employees and are not transporting goods. The price is calculated based on typical insurance rates in most states, average vehicle values and liabilities for this industry.

Estimated Pricing: $1,200

Workers Compensation Insurance

Workers compensation insurance provides vital protections and benefits for businesses in the real estate leasing industry. It ensures employees are cared for if injured on the job while also shielding the business from costly lawsuits. Estimates indicate businesses in this industry can expect to pay around $1.25 per $100 of payroll for workers compensation coverage, which offers protection for a range of workplace injury scenarios at a rate lower than potential costs of an accident.

Category List
Benefits
  • Covers medical expenses if an employee is injured on the job
  • Pays lost wages if an employee cannot work due to a job-related injury or illness
  • Protects the business from lawsuits if an employee is injured and tries to sue for damages
  • Provides rehabilitation services to help injured employees recover and return to suitable work
  • Complies with state workers compensation laws which require most businesses to carry this type of insurance
  • Affordable premiums compared to costs of an employee injury
Use Cases
  • Cover costs related to employee workplace injuries
  • Provide coverage for medical expenses if an employee is hurt on the job
  • Pay lost wages if an employee cannot work due to a job-related injury or illness
  • Protect the business from lawsuits if an employee is injured and tries to sue for damages

Based on industry data and averages, the estimated pricing for workers compensation insurance for businesses in the Lessors of Real Estate with NAICS Code 5311 industry would be around $1.25 per $100 of payroll. This rate is derived from analyzing workers compensation insurance rates for lessors and operators of nonresidential buildings across different states, with adjustments made based on factors like employee job roles, safety programs, and claims history. Businesses in this industry generally have office and administrative staff whose job roles carry lower risks of injury compared to other industries like manufacturing or construction.

Estimated Pricing: $1.25/100 of payroll

Directors And Officers Liability Insurance

Directors and officers liability insurance, also known as D&O insurance, is an important protection for real estate leasing companies. It protects the directors and officers from personal financial loss if they are sued for decisions made in their roles with the company. Common lawsuits faced by real estate companies include disputes over property management, rent collection, and tenant issues which may allege negligence, regulatory non-compliance, or misrepresentation by company directors and officers. D&O insurance helps cover legal defense costs and any settlements or judgments if the company or its leaders are named in a lawsuit. A reasonable estimate for annual D&O insurance premiums for real estate lessor companies is $5,000 – $10,000, with smaller companies paying closer to $5,000 and larger companies paying upwards of $10,000.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protection from legal costs and damages if a claim is made against you for wrongful acts
  • Protection for defense costs if you are investigated or sued
  • Reimbursement for expenses like legal fees even if the allegations are ultimately found to be groundless
  • Coverage for shareholder derivative claims alleging mismanagement or breach of fiduciary duty
  • Indemnification if you personally have to pay a settlement or damages
  • Coverage for claims arising from violations of employment, union or discrimination laws
  • Coverage remains effective even if the company declares bankruptcy
Use Cases
  • Protection against shareholder or third party lawsuits alleging breach of fiduciary duty or negligence
  • Protection against government investigations or enforcement actions alleging regulatory non-compliance or oversight
  • Defense and settlement costs for lawsuits alleging misrepresentations in corporate disclosures like financial reports or SEC filings
  • Reimbursement for legal fees and settlements if directors or officers are sued personally

Based on typical pricing models and factors such as company size, annual revenue, number of locations/properties managed, a reasonable estimate for the average annual premium would be around $5,000 – $10,000. Smaller real estate lessor companies with fewer than 10 properties and under $5M in annual revenue would likely be closer to $5,000 while larger real estate management companies with over 100 properties and over $50M in annual revenue could see pricing upwards of $10,000.

Estimated Pricing: $5,000 – $10,000

Commercial Umbrella Insurance

Commercial umbrella insurance provides an additional layer of liability protection above and beyond standard business insurance policies like general liability and auto insurance. It helps protect assets from costly legal claims and lawsuits for businesses in industries like real estate leasing that face higher risks. Some key benefits of commercial umbrella insurance for lessors of real estate include increasing liability limits, covering incidents not included in other policies, protecting against costly legal fees and damage awards, and providing coverage for pollution and environmental exposures related to properties. Common use cases where umbrella insurance provides protection include lawsuits exceeding general liability limits, injuries to tenants, transportation of equipment, negligence claims, and pollution incidents. Estimated pricing for businesses in the lessors of real estate industry is around $1,500-2,500 annually assuming at least $1M in underlying commercial general liability coverage.

Category List
Benefits
  • Increase in liability protection beyond the limits of underlying commercial policies
  • Coverage for incidents not covered under commercial general liability, auto or other liability policies
  • Protection against costly legal fees and potential damage awards in civil lawsuits
  • Peace of mind knowing higher levels of liability protection are in place
  • Coverage for claims involving pollution, mold or other environmental exposures
  • Coverage for incidents involving owned or non-owned watercraft
  • Ability to increase coverage amounts to keep pace with rising liability claims costs
  • Automatic reinstatement of limits if underlying limits are exhausted by claims
Use Cases
  • Protection from lawsuits exceeding general liability limits
  • Protection from lawsuits involving multiple parties
  • Protection from costly lawsuits involving tenant injuries on leased property
  • Coverage for losses occurring off premises like during transportation of equipment
  • Coverage for lawsuits alleging negligence or poor maintenance of leased properties
  • Protection against pollution or environmental damage claims related to properties

Based on typical factors used to price commercial umbrella insurance such as number of employees, annual revenue, claims history, and business operations, an estimated average pricing for businesses in the lessors of real estate NAICS code 5311 industry would be around $1,500-2,500 annually. This pricing assumes the business carries at least $1,000,000 in underlying commercial general liability insurance.

Estimated Pricing: $1,500-2,500 annually

Professional Liability Insurance

Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions insurance, provides important protection for businesses in the real estate leasing industry. It helps protect against lawsuits arising from typical operations such as tenant issues, property management mistakes, and other professional errors or omissions. Key benefits include protecting personal assets, maintaining positive cash flow to cover legal costs, and covering a variety of liability claims related to tenant interactions, property maintenance, and contractor oversight. Pricing is estimated around $1,500-$2,000 annually based on common coverage amounts and deductibles for businesses in this industry.

Category List
Benefits
  • Protects your business from negligent acts, errors and omissions
  • Covers legal fees and costs if sued by a tenant
  • Pays claims/settlements if found legally liable for damages
  • Covers defense costs even if allegations are groundless
  • Covers liability claims from faulty workmanship or materials on tenant improvements
  • Protects personal assets like your home and savings from being lost in a lawsuit
  • Maintains positive cash flow by covering defense/settlement costs
  • Covers liability issues and claims that arise from property management services
Use Cases
  • Claims from tenants for damages or injuries at rented properties
  • Lawsuits from tenants alleging unfair rental practices or improper handling of security deposits
  • Claims regarding the actual leasing or management of rental properties
  • Disputes with contractors, vendors or other third parties involved in maintaining rental properties
  • Allegations of improper screening or selection of tenants

After analyzing industry data and risk factors, the estimated average annual pricing for professional liability insurance for businesses in the Lessors of Real Estate with NAICS Code 5311 industry would be around $1,500-$2,000 per year. This pricing was derived based on typical coverage amounts of $1-2 million and standard deductibles of $5,000-$10,000 given the moderate litigation risk level in this industry.

Estimated Pricing: $1,500-$2,000

Cyber Liability Insurance

As a lessor of real estate, you handle sensitive tenant data like addresses, payment details, and more. Unfortunately, this information makes you a target for cyber attacks and data breaches which can be costly without proper protection and response plans in place. Your business also relies on online systems and network uptime to operate efficiently. A ransomware attack or outage could disrupt operations and cost lost revenue if not prepared. Cyber liability insurance provides essential financial protection and services to help respond in the event of such incidents, helping avoid costly lawsuits, fines, lost business, and reputational damage.

Category List
Benefits
  • Coverage for data breaches and cyber attacks
  • Reimbursement for costs related to a breach such as notification, credit monitoring, forensics investigation, legal services
  • Protection from lawsuits in the event of a data breach affecting customers’ private information
  • Coverage for business interruption losses if systems are offline due to an attack
  • Covers the costs of a public relations/reputational management firm to help rebuild trust after a breach
  • Pays for regulatory fines and penalties in the event of non-compliance with state/federal breach notice laws
  • Includes services like a dedicated breach response team to provide guidance on best practices for responding to an incident
Use Cases
  • Data breach or cyber attack leading to loss or theft of tenant data
  • Ransomware attack encrypting systems and demanding ransom to regain access
  • Loss of income or extra expenses due to network outage or cyber attack
  • Litigation expenses resulting from a data breach or privacy violation
  • Costs to notify affected individuals in case of a data breach

After reviewing average cyber liability insurance pricing for businesses in the real estate leasing industry (NAICS 5311), the estimated average annual premium would be around $1,500. This price was derived based on common factors like number of employees, annual revenue, and risk level. Businesses in this industry tend to have fewer employees and less data/systems compared to other sectors, resulting in a moderate risk level and corresponding moderate pricing. Additional cybersecurity practices and controls could help lower the premium further.

Estimated Pricing: $1,500

Business Owners Policy Insurance

A business owners policy (BOP) is a versatile insurance product that provides key property, liability and business interruption coverage tailored for real estate lessors (NAICS 5311). It consolidates protections into a single policy at an affordable price point of around $1,250 annually on average. The top benefits of a BOP for this industry include protecting the property from damage risks while also covering general liability, lost income, equipment issues, and other exposures. Common use cases where it applies include property damage coverage, liability if a tenant is injured, and business interruption if the building cannot be rented due to a covered peril.

Category List
Benefits
  • Property protection against risks like fire, wind damage, hail
  • General liability insurance to protect from claims of bodily injury or property damage to customers on premises
  • Business interruption insurance to cover lost income if building is uninhabitable due to covered peril
  • Equipment breakdown coverage to repair or replace HVAC, electrical components if they suffer mechanical issues
  • Identity theft expense coverage if a data breach exposes private tenant information
  • Employee dishonesty coverage to reimburse theft by staff members
Use Cases
  • Property coverage for buildings and equipment
  • Liability coverage if a tenant is injured on your property
  • Business interruption coverage if the building is damaged and can’t be rented

Based on industry data, the average pricing for a Business Owners Policy (BOP) insurance for lessors of real estate (NAICS code 5311) is around $1,250 per year. This pricing was derived by looking at average policy limits of $500,000 for property coverage and $1,000,000 for liability coverage, along with typical deductibles of $1,000. The pricing also factored in national insurance rates that are moderate for this industry category.

Estimated Pricing: $1,250 per year

Conclusion

Choosing the right combination of insurance policies tailored to your business needs is crucial for lessors of real estate. Having adequate coverage protects your assets, finances and operations from unforeseen costs and lawsuits. Consult with an experienced insurance agent to evaluate your insurance portfolio and ensure you have the right protections in place.

Frequently Asked Questions

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