Houston, TX
Houston, TX landlord and rental property insurance
Local rental data and insurance guidance for Houston property owners. A quote is not a binder.
Houston is home to roughly 2,310,000 people in Harris County, and about 58% of its 930,404 occupied homes are rented rather than owner-occupied, above the Texas rate of 37%. That mix shapes who is buying landlord coverage here and what underwriters expect to see.
Key housing figures for Houston, TX
| Measure | Houston | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Renter-occupied homes | 58% (538,885) | 37% |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $277,800 | $283,800 |
| Median gross rent | $1,361/mo | $1,403/mo |
| Median year structure built | 1982 | 1992 |
| Homes in 2–4 unit buildings | 7% | 5% |
| Single-family homes (detached or attached) | 48% | 67% |
Figures from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates; 2024 population estimates).
Setting coverage on a Houston rental
At a median home value of $277,800, Houston is in line with Texas overall ($283,800). Underwriters care about replacement cost rather than sale price, so bring square footage, construction type, and update history to the conversation.
For context, the NAIC reported that Texas dwelling-fire policies insuring $275,000 to $299,999 averaged $1,804 a year in 2023, against a statewide dwelling-fire average of $1,226. Those are owner-occupied dwelling-form figures, not landlord quotes.
Loss-of-rents planning in Houston
The Census median gross rent for Houston, $1,361 per month, is a reasonable starting point for fair rental value. At that rate, 12 months is about $16,332 per unit.
Older vs. newer rentals in Houston
Half of Houston's homes were built before 1982 and half after. Polybutylene supply lines were installed in some homes from the late 1970s to mid-1990s, and insurers may ask whether they have been replaced.
What Houston landlords typically own
Roughly 48% of Houston homes are single-family, 7% sit in small 2–4 unit buildings, and 44% are in larger apartment buildings. Owners of up to four units can generally use a dwelling fire policy.
Houston versus other large Texas communities
Pasadena has a renter share of 46% with homes valued around $209,600 at the median. In San Antonio, 48% of occupied homes are rented and the median value is $235,700. Dallas has a renter share of 58% with homes valued around $320,700 at the median. Houston places 3 of 30 profiled Texas cities by share of rented homes. Buildings with five or more units hold about 44% of Houston's homes; those generally need commercial apartment coverage rather than dwelling forms.
Weather and property risks for Houston rentals
For rentals in Houston, the hazards that most often shape Texas landlord coverage include Gulf hurricanes, tropical storms, and named-storm or windstorm deductibles and hail, especially across North and Central Texas. Ask how your policy handles each, and whether any separate deductible applies.
Hazard themes reflect FEMA’s National Risk Index and NOAA’s Storm Events Database; check the index for your specific county.
Requesting coverage for a Houston rental
- When the building went up and when the roof was last replaced
- Occupancy: long-term lease, month-to-month, short-term, or vacant
- Any system updates, with years
- Your existing policy and recent claims
- Who holds the loan, for the mortgagee clause
- How much liability and lost rent you want covered
- Property location in Houston and unit count
Request a Houston landlord quote
Questions from Houston rental owners
How many renters live in Houston?
About 58% of occupied homes in Houston, roughly 538,885 households, are renter-occupied according to the 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
Do Houston landlords have to carry insurance?
Texas law does not require landlord insurance, but lenders usually require property coverage, and many leases, HOAs, and property managers require liability coverage.
What is a typical landlord premium in Houston?
It depends on the building, coverage, and deductible. For background, the NAIC reported a 2023 Texas dwelling-fire average of $1,226; see our Texas page for the full table.
Other Texas cities
Landlord insurance in Texas · Cost by state
Last updated October 15, 2026. Sources and method: how we research.