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STRAIGHT ANSWER

What does my landlord need from my insurance?

QUICK ANSWER

Most commercial leases require general liability at stated limits with the landlord (and often its lender and manager) as additional insured, property coverage on your improvements and contents, workers' compensation, and frequently a waiver of subrogation and primary and non-contributory wording. You prove it with a certificate of insurance that cites the endorsements — or with a live certificate link that the landlord can check at any time.

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Reviewed by Michael LaBarbera, Licensed property & casualty agent, Provident Financial Group · Reviewed Oct 11, 2026 Updated
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General LiabilityRenews in 47d
Workers' CompensationLive cert ✓
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Reading the clause in two minutes

Find the insurance clause and its exhibit. Note four things: the liability limits (per occurrence and aggregate), who must be named as additional insured, whether a waiver of subrogation and primary wording are required, and what property you must insure (improvements, contents, plate glass). Then compare those against your declarations pages and endorsement forms.

The usual gaps

The aggregate is lower than the lease asks; the additional insured endorsement is scheduled rather than blanket, or missing; there is no waiver; and the property policy values improvements at actual cash value when the lease wants replacement cost.

Proving it without a cycle of PDFs

Upload the lease to the wallet's contract checker and each requirement appears as a row with met, short or unmet against your policies. Add the landlord as a holder on your live certificate; their private link shows current status, their additional insured status, and a PDF, and it tells them when anything changes.

Questions people actually ask

Where in the lease are the requirements?

In the insurance clause and usually in an exhibit it references. The exhibit carries the limits and the additional insured wording.

My lease asks for higher limits than my policy has. What are my options?

Raise the limit on the policy or add an umbrella above it. Compare both; an umbrella often satisfies other contracts at the same time.

How often does the landlord need a new certificate?

Every renewal with a traditional certificate. A live certificate link is sent once and stays current.

MANAGE IT IN THE APP

Every policy, renewal and live certificate in one wallet.

Scan a dec page and the card appears. Share a live certificate link that updates itself. Get matched when a renewal comes around.

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Keep reading

ANSWERCan I cancel a business insurance policy early? ANSWERDoes general liability cover my employees? ANSWERDo I need commercial auto if I use my own car for work? ANSWERHow do I switch agents without changing my policy? ANSWERHow long is a certificate of insurance valid? ANSWERHow much general liability do I need? ANSWERIs a certificate holder the same as an additional insured? ANSWERWhat does primary and non-contributory mean?