Apartment building insurance for five units and up.
Commercial property, liability, loss of rents and umbrella coverage for California apartment buildings, placed with carriers that want habitational risks.
By Sam Alishahi · CA Insurance License #4348151 · Reviewed October 2026 · How this page is researched
Carriers look closely at older buildings
Buildings with five or more units are insured on commercial policies. Carriers weigh year built, construction, roof, electrical and plumbing updates, and seismic retrofits before they quote.
I present your building with the details underwriters ask for, so more carriers will look at it, then compare coverage and price side by side.
- BuildingThe structure insured to its replacement cost.
- Loss of rentsRental income lost while a covered loss is repaired.
- General liabilityInjuries to tenants and visitors in common areas.
- UmbrellaHigher liability limits above the building's policy.
What underwriters will ask
Having these ready means I can go to market on the first call. The quote form asks for the same things, and anything you don’t know yet can wait.
- The building: address, units, stories and year built.
- Construction: wood frame, masonry or concrete.
- Updates: roof, electrical, plumbing and retrofit years.
- Rents: annual gross rental income.
- Current policy: declarations page and loss runs.
- Ownership: personally, trust or LLC.
Apartment building insurance, answered
Is a 5-unit building insured differently than a 4-unit?
Usually, yes. Properties with one to four units can often be written on dwelling policies, while five or more units are generally written on commercial property and liability policies.
What is loss of rents coverage?
It pays rental income you lose while a covered loss is repaired, based on the policy's limit and terms.
Does a seismic retrofit help with insurance?
Completed retrofit work can matter to underwriters and to earthquake coverage options. Have the permits and completion documents ready.
Does my building policy cover tenants' belongings?
No. Tenants need their own renters insurance for their belongings and liability.
Do you offer apartment building insurance outside California?
Yes. Clients across the country send the same quote form. California policies are placed directly; outside California the request is handled together with a partner agency in your state, and the shopping across carriers works the same way. Rules, minimums and markets differ by state — see insurance requirements by state.
Send the building details. I'll shop it.
The address, unit count and your current declarations page are enough to start.
Alishahi Insurance · Saman Alishahi, independent insurance broker, California License #4348151. General information, not a quote or a promise of coverage; coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.
Tell me how to reach you. I’ll take it from there.
Takes about 30 seconds. I review every request personally and call you back, usually the same day.
(424) 552-4545Answered 24/7 · CA License #4348151
Get a reminder before your renewal.
Tell me when your policy renews and I’ll email you about six weeks before, when it’s worth comparing. One email, no calls.