Regional spikes in crime are prompting insurers to exclude assault and battery (A&B) coverage from general liability (GL) policies. The cost of claims, sometimes jury awards that can reach millions of dollars, has underwriters re-evaluating their A&B provisions.

So, when real estate owners and operators try to get separate coverage for this particular risk, it’s often unaffordable or simply unavailable.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities to find coverage for assault and battery — especially for real estate operations that make an effort to limit risks in the first place.

Rising crime means assault and battery liability insurance comes at a price

Underwriters are pulling back on A&B insurance, sometimes excluding it from GL policies, raising deductibles or placing sublimits.1 In particular, crime is up at multi-family properties, resulting in high losses.2 Insurers are using analytics to identify high-crime areas and restricting coverage in those places.

Workplace violence has compounded the problem: Approximately 2 million people are victims of workplace violence annually, and it is the leading cause of fatal injuries at work.3 That doesn’t count the estimated 25% of incidents that go unreported each year.4

While the number of A&B claims is increasing, so is the dollar amount of these claims. GL carriers are not collecting enough premium to cover the larger amounts involved.

There are also other pressures involved. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines require employers to provide a safe environment for workers and customers. And lenders often require some degree of A&B coverage as well.

A solution starts with prevention

Strong risk management starts before a claim ever happens, with owners implementing policies and procedures to mitigate the risk of violence on their properties, such as the following:

  • A strong workplace violence policy with training for tenant employees or management for residential properties
  • Awareness training, a threat reporting process and an emergency action plan
  • Background screenings for employees and tenants to help reduce risk

Security measures and physical deterrents are critical. These measures, including a dedicated security team, robust surveillance, secured and well-lit parking facilities, and access control and visitor management, can help minimize the risk of violence. Owners and operators can reinforce these protections through periodic audits.

And as they minimize the threat of violence, documented protocols can help lower premiums and reduce retentions.

Creative insurance solutions for A&B coverage

Even when A&B coverage disappears from GL policies, real estate operations have options, and a creative, tailored approach can help find affordable coverage.

For instance, if a real estate owner has an active-shooter policy, it may help cover the loss that an A&B endorsement would cover under a general liability policy. In fact, many active-shooter insurers are adding A&B endorsements to policies, helping bridge the coverage gap when GL underwriters drop assault and battery on renewal.

Expensive standalone A&B policies can be modified to cover only an insured’s biggest concerns — property damage following an event or legal liability cost is one example — which can make a huge difference in premiums.

The key is to work with an experienced insurance broker who understands your concerns, budget and risk profile. Such a broker can help improve security, identify appropriate options and deliver coverage that serves as a strong backstop against A&B claims.

Contact HUB’s Real Estate experts to find strong A&B coverage at a price that you can afford.

1 Business Insurance, “Assault and battery coverage shrinks for real estate firms,” August 12, 2025.
2 Cloudastructure, “52% of Multi-family Property Managers Say Crime Went Up in 2024,” accessed March 3, 2026.
3 U.S. Department of Labor, “DOL Workplace Violence Program,” accessed February 18, 2026.
4 ALICE, “Workplace Violence Prevention: 10 Ways to Keep Your Workplace Safe,” accessed February 18, 2026.