Storage Facility Requiring Me to Carry $1M Liability Coverage

[mmstump]

We store our motorhome in a heated indoor storage facility. I got a call that they were reviewing tenant insurance policies and now require anyone who plugs into electrical to keep batteries charged to carry $1M insurance liability coverage.

We have stored at other places in the past and never been given limits of liability coverage that were required. Our contract also did not specify this. We of course carry full coverage (as do all tenants) but not to those amounts. They said the coverage was to protect their property should something happen like a fire. At nearly $400/mo rental I would expect the facility to carry sufficient liability insurance for their property.

Is this common or are they trying to pass their insurance burden on to renters?

[stew1]

We keep our motor home at or house but we have a boat at a marina it requires 1mill

[Winemaker2]

Originally Posted by mmstump

We store our motorhome in a heated indoor storage facility. I got a call that they were reviewing tenant insurance policies and now require anyone who plugs into electrical to keep batteries charged to carry $1M insurance liability coverage.

I haven't ran into that with MH storage but I have seen some MH fires attributed to inverters or fridges that may be the driving force.
I wonder if you only plugged in a 2A batty maintainer whether the requirement would still apply?
I don't "plug the MH in" but have permanently mounted and wired 2 maintainers that are powered by one extension cord.

[LETMGROW]

I'm not sure how many units are stored in the facility you are using but if you think about it one million dollars wouldn't go too far if there was a few higher end RV's stored there.
Check with your insurance company for a rate quote. The facility would probably have to be listed as an additional insured.
This is one reason I remove my batteries and take them home after I park my MH where I store it. The owner requires all batteries be disconnected and nothing is plugged in. At home I can charge them and I can use them in my enclosed race trailer if I need to.
Lynn

[arcaguy]

Originally Posted by mmstump

Is this common or are they trying to pass their insurance burden on to renters?

It is both. I'm a landlord and although I don't require my tenants to carry liability insurance I have thought about it and many landlords do require it. If they overflow the bathtub or start the place on fire it's my insurance that takes the hit right now, and the attendant increases in my premiums for who knows how long. If they have insurance it's there insurance that takes the hit. Looking at it from the landlords point of view why should they pay for your potential negligence?

[lockinload]

Have you checked with your insurance carrier to see how much extra that would cost? I doubt it is that much money in relation to your monthly cost to store your vehicle.

[LETMGROW]

If it was your RV that had a short and started a fire you would have some liability involved. The fellow next to you with a high dollar RV might be in line to sue you for the value of his RV. Chances are it wouldn't be just one either. Then there is the value of the building, loss of business for the building's owner etc.
It's a sue happy world out there. Better to be protected than not.
Lynn

[Ivylog]

I carry a $2M umbrella policy...not that expensive and covers a lot more than just our house or MH. If your rig started the fire that totaled the facility, $2M is probably not enough.

[txcpl]

An umbrella policy is probably the best way to go here.

[Teamfoxy]

The added liability coverage is not very expensive. I'm surprized that you are not being required to list the storage facility as an additional named insured. Practically all marinas in FL require that and it does not add anything to insurance costs.

[Bigd9]

I got a 2 million dollar umbrella policy and it actually reduced my overall total yearly insurance cost for the house, motorhome, vehicles, barn etc. The umbrella covered things my other policies already covered, so when the agent reduced the duplicate coverage it brought down the overall cost.

[Ilvmygt]

Premier RV of Oregon had a fire in November 2017 at their indoor storage facility. Here is an article about the costs. I am not sure if the number includes the cost to the damaged and totaled RVs.


www.come2oregon.com/premier-rv-of-oregon-moves-past-fire/

[mmstump]

Once again the iRV2 community comes through! Many thanks for all of your input, and ideas. Your experience is very helpful. The facility would like us to add them as covered entities but is not requiring it. The good news is we have an umbrella policy that will cover us, but I wanted to confirm the appropriateness of their request before sharing that level of information with them. I feel more comfortable now.

The suggestions to remove the batteries are good ones. Unfortunately our coach’s systems require constant power. Proof that bells and whistles = complexity. I did used to remove the battery from our travel trailer to charge at home in winter.

Many thanks again for sharing your experience and perspectives. It is so nice to be reminded that we are not alone in this crazy RV adventure. ��

[Roadfrog]

How do they know if you got the insurance added? Photocopy? Seems an easy workaround, if you know what I mean....