76 C Lucas and T Young
Renters and homeowners have different experiences with insurance during
disaster recovery that leave renters disproportionately disadvantaged (Emrich
et al. 2020). In the United States, standard contents insurance does not cover
flood damage, nor does the property owner’s flood insurance cover a renter’s
belongings. The NFIP provides subsidised rental coverage, but renters are
rarely aware of this; nor do landlords or leasing agents readily disclose flood
history or status. While Karen (renter, 40s) escaped Harvey with minimal
property damage, her past experiences are common of many Houston renters:
[KAREN] You know that flood insurance doesn’t cover renters.
[INTERVIEWER] What do you mean?
[KAREN] I mean…we got flooded in 2015. The property owner had flood
insurance and got money for repairs, but I didn’t get any help…I thought
I would be covered under his policy.
[INTERVIEWER] What did you do?
[KAREN] I was lucky. Our lease was ending, so we weren’t on the hook for
any rent….But our neighbours ended up paying [or being charged] for
almost six months [without being able to inhabit].
As Karen described, a lack of knowledge about flood exposure and insurance can have repercussions beyond damage to personal property. In this
sense, a vulnerable situation is compounded when socioeconomic and
bureaucratic mechanisms further exacerbate disparities between renters
and property owners. While renters are scrambling for temporary accommodation, insured property owners can use their insurance to rebuild and
upgrade properties, pricing out previous renters. A flood event that damages the resilience of some renters can simultaneously increase the resilience
of some property owners. The benefits realised by landlords are passed on
to local governments in the form of tax revenue, and supported under the
banner of a more resilient community.
Resilience discourses at the community level often include broad messages of building-back-better to maximise economic benefits. However, in
practice, these benefits are realised by the few at the expense of the many.
One Houston community advocate described resilience messaging and its
associated development after a disaster:
It’s gentrification… instead of fancy stores and big houses pushing people out it’s a hurricane or a storm. After that, the city and the developers
see opportunity.
(Raymond)
These sweeping changes are particularly acute in lower-income areas with
older, long-term homeowners.
NFIP payouts amount to less and are fewer in number in lower-income
areas and in communities with a higher percentage of racial and ethnic
Renters and homeowners have different experiences with insurance during
disaster recovery that leave renters disproportionately disadvantaged (Emrich
et al. 2020). In the United States, standard contents insurance does not cover
flood damage, nor does the property owner’s flood insurance cover a renter’s
belongings. The NFIP provides subsidised rental coverage, but renters are
rarely aware of this; nor do landlords or leasing agents readily disclose flood
history or status. While Karen (renter, 40s) escaped Harvey with minimal
property damage, her past experiences are common of many Houston renters:
[KAREN] You know that flood insurance doesn’t cover renters.
[INTERVIEWER] What do you mean?
[KAREN] I mean…we got flooded in 2015. The property owner had flood
insurance and got money for repairs, but I didn’t get any help…I thought
I would be covered under his policy.
[INTERVIEWER] What did you do?
[KAREN] I was lucky. Our lease was ending, so we weren’t on the hook for
any rent….But our neighbours ended up paying [or being charged] for
almost six months [without being able to inhabit].
As Karen described, a lack of knowledge about flood exposure and insurance can have repercussions beyond damage to personal property. In this
sense, a vulnerable situation is compounded when socioeconomic and
bureaucratic mechanisms further exacerbate disparities between renters
and property owners. While renters are scrambling for temporary accommodation, insured property owners can use their insurance to rebuild and
upgrade properties, pricing out previous renters. A flood event that damages the resilience of some renters can simultaneously increase the resilience
of some property owners. The benefits realised by landlords are passed on
to local governments in the form of tax revenue, and supported under the
banner of a more resilient community.
Resilience discourses at the community level often include broad messages of building-back-better to maximise economic benefits. However, in
practice, these benefits are realised by the few at the expense of the many.
One Houston community advocate described resilience messaging and its
associated development after a disaster:
It’s gentrification… instead of fancy stores and big houses pushing people out it’s a hurricane or a storm. After that, the city and the developers
see opportunity.
(Raymond)
These sweeping changes are particularly acute in lower-income areas with
older, long-term homeowners.
NFIP payouts amount to less and are fewer in number in lower-income
areas and in communities with a higher percentage of racial and ethnic