Request to Include Landlord in Tenant's Liability Insurance Template

In plain language: Identifies the tenant sending the letter, their company name and address, and the insurance company or broker receiving the request.

Common mistake: Sending the letter to the wrong contact — addressing it to claims or billing instead of the policy services or endorsements department causes days of delay.

In plain language: A clear, specific subject line naming the policy number, the lease address, and the nature of the request so it is routed correctly without the insurer having to open the body.

Common mistake: Using a vague subject like 'Insurance Update' — without the policy number, the insurer cannot locate the account and the request is often misrouted or delayed.

In plain language: The opening paragraph that clearly states the tenant is requesting the landlord be added as an additional insured on their existing liability policy.

Common mistake: Opening with background context before stating the request — busy insurers and brokers need the action item in the first sentence to process efficiently.

In plain language: Cites the specific section of the lease agreement that obligates the tenant to name the landlord as an additional insured, establishing the legal basis for the request.

Common mistake: Omitting the lease section number and date — without this, the insurer has no documented basis for the endorsement and may require the tenant to submit the full lease.

In plain language: States the landlord's exact registered legal name and mailing address exactly as they should appear on the additional insured endorsement.

Common mistake: Using a trade name or abbreviated name rather than the landlord's registered legal entity name — a mismatch means the endorsement may not protect the correct party in a claim.

In plain language: Specifies the policy type, desired coverage limits if different from standard, and the date from which additional insured status should take effect.

Common mistake: Not specifying an effective date — the insurer may default to the endorsement processing date, which could leave a gap if the lease requires coverage from the move-in date.

In plain language: Asks the insurer or broker to issue an updated certificate of insurance reflecting the landlord's additional insured status so the tenant can provide proof to the landlord.

Common mistake: Forgetting to request the COI in the same letter — tenants often follow up separately, doubling the processing time and delaying the landlord's confirmation.

In plain language: States any deadline by which the endorsement must be processed, such as a lease commencement date or a landlord-imposed deadline, so the insurer can prioritize.

Common mistake: Omitting a deadline when one exists — without a stated timeline, routine processing queues may cause the endorsement to arrive after the lease start date.

In plain language: Provides the tenant's direct contact details for any questions, confirms authorization to make the change, and closes professionally.

Common mistake: Providing only a general company email rather than a direct contact — follow-up questions go unanswered and processing stalls waiting for a response.

Adding a landlord as an additional insured means the landlord is included on the tenant's commercial general liability policy and receives coverage protection for claims arising from the tenant's use of the premises. If a visitor is injured on the leased property and sues both the tenant and landlord, the tenant's policy will respond on the landlord's behalf as well. This is a standard requirement in most commercial leases.

Landlords require additional insured status to protect themselves from liability claims that arise from the tenant's activities on the premises. Without it, a landlord sued alongside a tenant would need to rely solely on their own property insurance, which may not cover third-party bodily injury or property damage caused by the tenant's operations. It is a standard risk-management provision in commercial leases.

No. This letter is a request sent to the tenant's insurer or broker asking them to add the landlord as an additional insured by way of an endorsement. A certificate of insurance is the summary document the insurer issues afterward, confirming the coverage details and naming the landlord as additional insured. This letter triggers the process; the COI is the proof document the landlord ultimately receives.

Most insurers and brokers process standard additional insured endorsements within one to three business days when all required information is provided correctly. If your lease start date is imminent, call your broker to request same-day or next-day processing and follow up the email with a phone call. Incomplete requests — missing policy numbers, incorrect entity names, or no effective date — can delay processing significantly.

In most cases, adding a landlord as an additional insured on a commercial general liability policy does not increase the premium — it is a standard endorsement included at no extra cost under most CGL policies. However, some umbrella policies or specialized policies may carry a nominal endorsement fee. Confirm with your broker before submitting the request if cost is a concern.

Residential renter's insurance policies generally do not offer additional insured endorsements in the same way commercial policies do. This request template is designed for commercial leases and commercial general liability policies. Residential landlords seeking coverage protection typically rely on their own landlord insurance policy rather than the tenant's renter's insurance.

An additional insured is added to a liability policy and receives protection against third-party claims. A loss payee is added to a property insurance policy and receives direct payment if insured property is damaged or destroyed — most commonly used by mortgage lenders. A landlord requesting additional insured status is seeking liability protection, not a share of property damage proceeds.

If your insurer declines to add the landlord as additional insured, contact your broker immediately to understand the reason — it may be a policy restriction that requires a policy upgrade or a different form of endorsement. Review your lease to confirm the exact coverage requirement and share that language with your broker. If the issue is not resolved quickly, notify your landlord in writing to avoid being found in breach of your lease's insurance obligations.