Requiring Renters Insurance......And Enforcing it.

[Nicholas Zeiler]

Hello folks.

I own only one duplex for now but plans to grow soon. 

I want to include language in my lease requiring my tenants to posses an active renters insurance policy as well as indemnify and hold harmless the landlord. My question is if I should actually enforce the requirement to have the renters policy. I ask this because:

1. It could become a headache always having to keep tabs on it.

2. If they let it lapse they are violating their contract and would not be able to pursue me for their damaged possessions. 

Which is the goal.

So basically can by requiring it but not enforcing it do I still achieve a level of protection against a claim holding me responsible for damaged/stolen personal property of the tenant?