NYC Renter? It’s Time to Think About Flood Insurance

As independent journalism outlet The City aptly put it, New York is really a “collection of islands”—with more than 520 miles of waterfront! Perhaps that’s easy enough to remember if you’re in a coastal neighborhood, but thanks to a combination of climate change and aging sewage infrastructure, even landlocked neighborhoods are under threat of flooding—especially if they are in the floodplain. And all that water means many New Yorkers are under an increasing chance of flooding.

Why It’s Time for Renters to Protect Themselves

As a building owner, your landlord likely carries flood insurance, but many renters may not have considered that they should protect themselves too. Your landlord’s insurance likely covers their structure but will do little to protect what you own—i.e., all your belongings—within it. And while a few unicorn landlords may carry insurance that protects your belongings too, they’re not required to (and you may not even know if they do).

Aside from doing your own research, tenants concerned about flooding damage will want to consult their lease. This will tell you whether your building is located in the floodplain or if the building has suffered flooding damage in the past—all thanks to a 2023 law requiring property owners to disclose these issues.

What to Do If Your Lease Doesn’t Offer You a Clue

If you’ve signed a multi-year lease that went into effect before the passage of the law or if you just want to be extra certain, you have a few tools at your disposal that can help you understand your flooding risk.

A quick visit to FloodHelpNY.org, can tell you (based on entering your address) your flooding risk—from minimal to highest probability. Highest risk areas are even under threat of incurring damage from storm surge and waves. Even if that doesn’t describe your situation, however, as the site puts it, “if it can rain, it can flood.”

Those not in high-risk areas of the city who want to be extra cautious and secure flood insurance for their personal belongings may even find extra savings in preferential pricing. All in all, it’s worth a few minutes of your time (and a few dollars) for peace of mind in a changing climate.

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