Renters insurance is a precaution more than anything else, to both of us incase something happens. Say you accidentally leave the stove on and burn the place down, someone breaks into the place, or your fish tank leaks and causes damage, your insurance would cover your damages/loses (within reason of course)above and beyond my home owners insurance. Maybe requiring it is a bit excessive, and it should be rephrased to encouraged
Just to clarify, the area is not crime ridden by any means, just using that as an example.