Short answer
Lease insurance requirements such as additional insured status, primary and non-contributory wording and a waiver of subrogation often sit in endorsements, not on the declarations page. Many policies use a blanket endorsement that applies when a written contract requires it. A missing line item does not always mean the coverage is missing, so confirm it by endorsement title and exact wording before you sign.
Where lease insurance requirements often appear on a policy
On many business owners and general liability policies, these terms are handled by endorsement. Some policies use a blanket additional insured endorsement. Depending on the policy, that endorsement or a related one may also address primary and non-contributory wording and the waiver of subrogation.
Titles vary by insurer. Check the endorsement schedule, usually near the end of the quote or declarations, for titles that mention additional insured, primary, non-contributory or waiver.
The written-contract trigger
Blanket endorsements usually apply only when you have agreed in a written contract to provide that status. Your lease is that contract. Read the endorsement for its exact conditions, such as whether the contract must be signed before a loss happens.
If a blanket endorsement does not address a requirement, the insurer may be able to add the landlord by name with a separate endorsement.
What each requirement asks for
- Additional insured. Extends some protection under your policy to the landlord for claims arising from your use of the space, subject to the endorsement’s terms.
- Primary and non-contributory. Asks your policy to respond before the landlord’s own insurance, without seeking contribution from it.
- Waiver of subrogation. Asks your insurer to give up its right to recover from the landlord after paying a claim.
Example: the quote with no endorsement lines
A small architecture firm receives a lease that requires all three items. Its quote lists limits and premium, but none of those terms appear as line items. The owner assumes they are missing and delays signing.
The agent reviews the endorsement schedule and finds a blanket additional insured endorsement tied to written contracts. The agent confirms whether the primary and non-contributory and waiver wording are included, and requests a named endorsement for anything that is not.
This example is hypothetical. Coverage depends on the actual policy terms, conditions and the insurer’s underwriting.
A simple process before you sign
- Send your agent the full insurance section of the lease, not a summary.
- Ask which requirements the quote addresses and by which endorsement.
- Ask whether anything needs to be added by name.
- Confirm the certificate wording before it goes to the landlord.
What to check
- Does the endorsement schedule list additional insured, primary and non-contributory, or waiver wording?
- Does the blanket endorsement require a written contract, and does your lease qualify?
- Do the required limits match what the lease asks for?
- Does the lease ask for anything else, such as notice of cancellation or property coverage for improvements?
- Does the certificate wording match the lease before it goes out?
Related questions
Does a certificate make my landlord an additional insured?
No. The endorsement on the policy does that, and the certificate serves as evidence of it. Our article on [OCP vs. additional insured] explains how additional insured status works.
My quote doesn’t mention waiver of subrogation. Is it missing?
Not necessarily. Check the endorsement schedule and ask your agent to confirm in writing.
Do landlords usually ask for other things too?
Often, such as specific limits, notice of cancellation or property coverage for improvements. Review the full insurance section of the lease with your agent.