Landlord / rental dwelling insurance

Who or what it is designed to protect

• The owner of a dwelling rented to others, for covered repairs or reconstruction of the dwelling and other structures on the same property [1]

• Specific property located at the rental dwelling, including furniture and other personal property rented with or used to maintain the property [1]

• The owner's fair rental value when an insured loss causes the property to be uninhabitable [1]

• The owner against covered liability lawsuits, where the program includes liability coverage [1]

• It does not protect the tenant: tenant-owned personal property is not covered by that carrier's rental dwelling policy, and CDI and New York DFS both state that a landlord does not provide insurance for a tenant's personal property [1][3][4]

What it commonly covers

• The rental dwelling and other structures. One carrier's rental dwelling program describes dwelling coverage as helping pay for covered repairs or reconstruction of the dwelling and other structures on the same property [1]. Form caveat: that page is a carrier program description that names no policy form number or edition and states it is only a general description of coverage and not a statement of contract, with details of coverage or limits varying in some states [1]. On a different form the answer can be much narrower: the California FAIR Plan describes its Dwelling Fire Policy as a named peril policy providing coverage only for damage caused by the specific causes of loss listed in the policy, showing fire and lightning, internal explosion, and smoke [2]. Read your own policy.

• Owner-owned personal property at the location. That carrier describes personal property coverage as helping pay for covered losses to specific property located at the rental dwelling, including furniture and other personal property rented with or used to maintain the property [1]. Form caveat: this is a carrier program description with no policy form number or edition and an express statement that details of coverage or limits vary in some states [1]. No source in this cluster states how this limit compares with a homeowners contents limit, so no comparison is made. The covered property and the limit come from the issued form and declarations. Read your own policy.

• Loss of rents / fair rental value. That carrier describes loss of rents as helping reimburse the owner for loss of fair rental value if the rental dwelling is damaged by an insured loss that causes the property to be uninhabitable [1]. Form caveat: the uninhabitability trigger is that carrier's wording on a page that names no policy form number or edition and states that details of coverage or limits vary in some states and that it is only a general description of coverage and not a statement of contract [1]. The limit, how it is expressed, and the period it runs come from the issued form and declarations. Read your own policy.

• Premises liability, where the program includes it. That carrier describes liability coverage as helping protect the owner financially against costly covered liability lawsuits [1]. Form caveat: liability is not universal on dwelling forms. The California FAIR Plan's Dwelling Fire Policy page describes causes of loss and optional coverages and does not mention liability coverage at all [2]. Neither page names a policy form number or edition. Whether liability is included, optional, or written separately is answered by the issued form and declarations. Read your own policy.

• Optional perils added at additional cost on a named peril form. The California FAIR Plan states that optional coverages are available at an additional cost, such as coverage for vandalism and malicious mischief [2]. Form caveat: this describes the California FAIR Plan Dwelling Fire Policy, which the plan's page does not identify by policy form number or edition; no source in this cluster describes vacancy conditions or time limits on such an endorsement, so none is asserted. Which options exist, and on what conditions, come from the insurer's filed forms. Read your own policy.

• Fire damage caused by or following an earthquake, under a California residential policy (California requirement). CDI states that California law says both homeowners and renters insurance must cover fire damage that is caused by or follows an earthquake [10]. Form caveat: CDI states that requirement for homeowners and renters insurance and says nothing about landlord or rental dwelling forms, and no source in this cluster extends it to them. Whether it reaches a particular rental dwelling contract is a legal question for a lawyer. Read your own policy.

What it commonly excludes or limits

• The tenant's personal property. That carrier states that tenant-owned personal property is not covered by this policy and that tenants should explore getting their own insurance [1]. CDI states that the landlord does not provide insurance for the tenant's personal property [3], and New York DFS states the same and adds that an exception can occur if the landlord was aware of a prior hazardous condition, failed to correct it in a reasonable time frame, and as a result the tenant's property was damaged [4]. Form caveat: the carrier statement describes one program whose page names no policy form number or edition and states that details of coverage or limits vary in some states; the New York exception is New York regulator guidance. Read your own policy.

• Flood and underground water. That carrier lists flood or underground water damage among the exclusions on its rental dwelling program [1], and FEMA states that most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage and will not fulfill mortgage or federal disaster assistance requirements for flood insurance, with NFIP coverage available where the community participates in the NFIP's floodplain management requirements [5]. Form caveat: the carrier page names no policy form number or edition and states that details of coverage or limits vary in some states [1]. The operative water exclusion wording comes from the issued form. Read your own policy.

• Earth movement including earthquake and landslide. That carrier lists earth movement including earthquake and landslide among the exclusions on its rental dwelling program [1], and CDI states that homeowners, renters, and condominium policies do not cover damage from natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides [10]. California Insurance Code section 10081 provides that earthquake coverage may be provided by specific policy provision or endorsement in a residential property policy, or in a separate policy or certificate [7]. Form caveat: the carrier page names no policy form number or edition and states that details of coverage or limits vary in some states. Read your own policy.

• Continuous or repeated seepage or leakage of water or steam. That carrier lists damage from continuous or repeated seepage or leakage of water or steam among the exclusions on its rental dwelling program [1]. Form caveat: this is one carrier's program description, with no policy form number or edition and an express statement that details of coverage or limits vary in some states [1]. Read your own policy.

• Settling, deterioration, contamination, and nuclear hazard. That carrier lists settling, deterioration, contamination and nuclear hazard among the exclusions on its rental dwelling program [1]. Form caveat: this is one carrier's program description with no policy form number or edition, and it states that details of coverage or limits vary in some states [1]. No source in this cluster establishes that other dwelling forms follow the same pattern, so no such claim is made. Read your own policy.

• Damage from birds, rodents, insects or domestic animals. That carrier lists damage from birds, rodents, insects or domestic animals among the exclusions on its rental dwelling program [1]. Form caveat: this is one carrier's program description with no policy form number or edition, and it states that details of coverage or limits vary in some states [1]. Read your own policy.

• Anything not listed, on a named peril form. The California FAIR Plan states that its Dwelling Fire Policy is a named peril policy which provides coverage only for damage caused by the specific causes of loss listed in the policy, and shows fire and lightning, internal explosion, and smoke as causes of loss [2]. Form caveat: that page describes the California FAIR Plan Dwelling Fire Policy and identifies no policy form number or edition, and the peril list in the policy actually issued is what governs. Read your own policy.

• Vacancy and rent loss not tied to physical damage. Loss of rents on that carrier's program is tied to loss of fair rental value where the rental dwelling is damaged by an insured loss that causes the property to be uninhabitable [1]. Form caveat: the trigger is that carrier's wording on a page with no policy form number or edition that states details of coverage or limits vary in some states [1]. Whether an interruption meets the trigger is decided by the insurer under the issued form and the facts of the claim. Read your own policy.

Limits, deductibles, and conditions

• Limits are set per coverage part on a rental dwelling program: dwelling and other structures, owner-owned personal property at the location, loss of rents, and liability, with that carrier stating that details of coverage or limits vary in some states and that its page is only a general description of coverage and not a statement of contract [1].

• Loss of rents is described as reimbursing loss of fair rental value where an insured loss causes the property to be uninhabitable [1]. No source in this cluster states a universal limit basis or time period for loss of rents, so none is stated here; the declarations carry the amount and any time cap.

• Valuation follows the form. NAIC describes replacement cost as the amount it would take to replace or rebuild or repair with materials of similar kind and quality without deducting for depreciation, and actual cash value as that amount after depreciation [11]. CDI states that a policy cannot be sold as a guaranteed replacement cost policy unless it will pay to completely rebuild the home regardless of the coverage limit, and that other types of replacement cost policies pay the policy limits plus a certain percentage above those limits [3]. Both pages describe residential policies generally, not rental dwelling forms specifically.

• In California, Insurance Code section 2051.5 provides that under an open policy requiring payment of replacement cost, the measure of indemnity is what it would cost the insured to repair, rebuild, or replace the thing lost or injured, without a deduction for physical depreciation, or the policy limit, whichever is less, and the section as displayed requires all policy forms issued or renewed on and after July 1, 2026 to comply with it in its entirety [9]. Whether the section reaches a particular rental dwelling contract is a legal question for a lawyer.

• CDI defines the deductible as the amount of loss the policyholder is responsible to pay up-front before covered benefits are payable, and states that a larger deductible may significantly reduce the premium; NAIC states that choosing a higher deductible will reduce the price [3][11]. Both statements are made about residential policies generally. No source in this cluster describes separate wind, hail, or wildfire deductibles, so none is described here.

• The same dollar limit buys different protection on different forms. The California FAIR Plan states that its Dwelling Fire Policy provides coverage only for damage caused by the specific causes of loss listed in the policy, and suggests considering Difference in Conditions, Flood, or Earthquake policies to supplement it by covering additional perils [2].

Endorsements and connected policies

• Vandalism and malicious mischief on a named peril dwelling policy. The California FAIR Plan states that optional coverages are available at an additional cost, such as coverage for vandalism and malicious mischief [2]. Form caveat: this describes the California FAIR Plan Dwelling Fire Policy, which the plan's page does not identify by policy form number or edition. No source in this cluster describes vacancy conditions or time limits attaching to such an endorsement, so none is asserted. Read your own policy.

• Loss of rents limit. Loss of rents on one carrier's rental dwelling program is described as reimbursing loss of fair rental value where an insured loss causes the property to be uninhabitable [1]. Form caveat: that page names no policy form number or edition, states that details of coverage or limits vary in some states, and does not describe options to increase the limit or extend the period, so no such options are asserted here. Read your own policy.

• Liability coverage where a form does not include it. One carrier's rental dwelling program describes liability coverage as protection against covered liability lawsuits [1], while the California FAIR Plan's Dwelling Fire Policy page does not mention liability coverage at all [2]. Form caveat: neither page names a policy form number or edition, and neither describes how liability would be added to a property-only form. Whether liability is included, added, or written separately is answered by the issued form and declarations. Read your own policy.

• Earthquake coverage by provision, endorsement, or separate policy. California Insurance Code section 10081 provides that earthquake coverage may be provided in a residential property policy by specific policy provision or endorsement, or in a separate policy or certificate covering earthquake alone or in combination with other perils [7]. Form caveat: the statute permits the structure; it does not describe any particular form, and no source in this cluster names a rental dwelling earthquake form or edition. Whether a specific rental dwelling policy falls within the earthquake chapter is a legal question for a lawyer. Read your own policy.

• Ordinance or law / building code upgrade. Rebuilding to current code can cost more than restoring what was there. The only code upgrade figures verified in this cluster come from the earthquake market, where CEA publishes coverage of $10,000 with purchasable options of $20,000 or $30,000, paid once covered dwelling damage exceeds the Coverage A and B deductible [12]. Form caveat: those figures describe CEA earthquake coverage, not a rental dwelling form. No source in this cluster describes code upgrade limits or wording on rental dwelling forms, so none is asserted. Read your own policy.

• Short-term or vacation rental use. One carrier's rental dwelling program page is an express general description that states details of coverage or limits vary in some states [1]. Form caveat: no source in this cluster describes how short-term rental activity is treated on rental dwelling forms, or what endorsements exist for it, so nothing is asserted on that point. How a policy responds to an occupancy the insurer was not told about is a legal and contractual question, not one this page decides. Read your own policy.

Commonly written alongside: Renter's insurance carried by the tenant, since CDI and New York DFS both state that a landlord does not provide insurance for a tenant's personal property and one carrier states plainly that tenant-owned personal property is not covered by its rental dwelling policy [3][4][1], Flood insurance through the NFIP where the community participates, since flood or underground water damage is excluded on that carrier's rental dwelling program and FEMA states most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage [1][5], Earthquake coverage by policy provision, endorsement, or separate policy or certificate, as permitted for residential property policies by Insurance Code section 10081 [7][10], Difference in Conditions coverage alongside a named peril dwelling policy, which the California FAIR Plan itself suggests considering along with Flood or Earthquake policies [2], Personal umbrella or excess liability written above the rental dwelling liability limit, Homeowners insurance on the owner's own residence, which CDI and NAIC describe as a different set of coverage parts for an occupied home [3][11], Commercial property or package coverage for buildings outside the scope of personal-lines residential programs; no source in this cluster sets the dividing line, and where a given building belongs is decided by the insurer's underwriting rules and filed forms.

What actually goes wrong on this line

Exposures, as distinct from what the policy protects. This is the question an underwriter is asking, and the one to answer before judging a limit.

• Physical damage to the rented dwelling

  A rental dwelling policy is written on the dwelling rather than on an owner-occupied home, and what it covers is set by the form issued [1]. The regulator's residential guide addresses the difference in the residential market [3].

• Loss of rental income while the dwelling is untenantable

  Rental income is a time-element exposure distinct from the physical damage, and whether it is covered, and for how long, is read on the form actually issued [1].

• The tenant's own belongings, which the owner's policy does not cover

  A tenant's contents are addressed by renters insurance rather than by the owner's dwelling policy [4]. This is the exposure most often assumed to sit on the wrong policy.

• Flood and earthquake, each written separately

  Flood is written under the federal program with its own eligibility and forms [5], and earthquake is addressed separately with a statutory offer duty attaching to residential property [7].

• A limit that has not moved with rebuilding cost

  California law addresses the valuation basis for a residential structure [9], and consumer guidance treats replacement cost as the figure to revisit [11].

What reduces the frequency or the severity

Things a reader can do, each tied to a published source. None of these is a promise about price: whether an insurer credits any of them is an underwriting decision and is not stated here.

• Require renters insurance in the lease, and collect evidence of it

  A tenant's belongings are addressed by renters insurance rather than the owner's policy [4]. The lease is where that requirement is created; the certificate is what shows it was met.

• Read whether loss of rents is on the form, and for what period

  Rental income is a separate grant from physical damage and its terms are on the form issued [1]. The period matters more than the limit in a long rebuild.

• Keep a dated basis for the dwelling limit

  The statutory valuation basis for a residential structure is the reference point [9], and a dated estimate is what shows the limit was set deliberately rather than inherited.

• Establish the flood and earthquake position separately, in advance

  Flood eligibility sits with the federal program [5] and the earthquake offer duty carries its own timing [8]. Both have lead times that a renewal date does not.

Information an underwriter commonly requests

This is what is usually asked, not a legal requirement and not a promise that supplying it produces an offer.

• Full address of the rental property
• Number of dwelling units in the structure and whether the whole structure is rented
• Year built, construction type, square footage, and number of stories
• Roof material and roof age, and the condition of heating, plumbing, and wiring, which NAIC identifies as systems insurers may require to be updated on older homes [11]
• Occupancy and tenancy arrangement, including lease type, seasonal use, any short-term rental activity, and any vacancy
• Whether the owner or a property manager operates the property
• The loss of rents amount requested, supported by the actual or market rent, since loss of rents responds to loss of fair rental value where an insured loss makes the property uninhabitable [1]
• The requested dwelling limit and the basis for it
• Liability exposures at the premises, and whether the program being quoted includes liability at all, since one carrier's rental dwelling program describes liability coverage while the California FAIR Plan Dwelling Fire Policy page does not mention it [1][2]
• Prior loss history at the property and for the owner, and prior insurance history
• Whether flood and earthquake will be arranged separately, given that one carrier's rental dwelling program excludes flood or underground water and earth movement including earthquake and landslide [1][5]
• Note on scope: this cluster verified no source describing insurer catastrophe, wildfire, or crime scoring, or lease requirements for tenant renters insurance, so those are not listed here as underwriting inputs even though a producer may be asked about them.

State variations

• CA. California's earthquake offer requirement runs to a policy of residential property insurance as that term is defined for the earthquake chapter, which reaches individually owned residential structures of not more than four dwelling units, individually owned condominium units, or individually owned mobilehomes and their contents used exclusively for residential purposes, or a tenant's contents policy, and which expressly does not reach property used for commercial, industrial, or business purposes except a structure of not more than four dwelling units rented for individual residential purposes [6][7]. That definition is scoped to the earthquake chapter. Whether a particular rental dwelling policy falls inside it is a legal question for a lawyer, and this page does not answer it or assign the answer to anyone.

• CA. The California FAIR Plan writes a Dwelling Fire Policy that it describes as a named peril policy providing coverage only for damage caused by the specific causes of loss listed in the policy, showing fire and lightning, internal explosion, and smoke, with optional coverages such as vandalism and malicious mischief available at additional cost, and it suggests considering Difference in Conditions, Flood, or Earthquake policies to supplement the policy by covering additional perils [2]. Eligibility for the plan and placement of any risk are decided by the plan and by insurers, never by this page.

• CA. Insurance Code section 2051.5 sets a statutory replacement cost measure without a deduction for physical depreciation, capped at the policy limit, together with the 12-month, 36-month, six-month extension, and 100-day proof-of-loss provisions, and requires all policy forms issued or renewed on and after July 1, 2026 to comply with the section in its entirety [9]. Whether the section reaches a rental dwelling form is a legal question for a lawyer.

• NY. New York's Department of Financial Services states that a landlord does not provide insurance for a tenant's personal property, and that an exception can occur if the landlord was aware of a prior hazardous condition, failed to correct it in a reasonable time frame, and as a result the tenant's property was damaged [4]. That is New York regulator guidance and is not represented here as the law of any other state.

• US. Rental dwelling programs differ by insurer and by state. One national carrier's rental dwelling page states that details of coverage or limits vary in some states and that the page is only a general description of coverage and not a statement of contract [1]. FEMA states that most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage and that it will not fulfill mortgage or federal disaster assistance requirements for flood insurance [5].

Source ledger

12 sources. Every citation number above resolves to a record below. Nothing here sits behind an account.

1. [1]

   Rental dwelling insurance(opens the original record on State Farm)

   State FarmCarrier officialSecondaryJurisdiction USLast checked August 31, 2026Updates: carrier marketing pages change without notice; re-verify each reviewID statefarm-rental-dwelling

   What this source supports (7)

   • Dwelling coverage is described as helping pay for covered repairs or reconstruction of the dwelling and other structures on the same property.
   • Personal property coverage is described as helping pay for covered losses to specific property located at the rental dwelling, including furniture and other personal property rented with or used to maintain the property.
   • Loss of rents coverage is described as helping reimburse the owner for loss of fair rental value if the rental dwelling is damaged by an insured loss that causes the property to be uninhabitable.
   • Liability coverage is described as helping protect the owner financially against costly covered liability lawsuits.
   • The page states that tenant-owned personal property is not covered by this policy.
   • The exclusions the page lists include damage from continuous or repeated seepage or leakage of water or steam; flood or underground water damage; earth movement including earthquake and landslide; settling, deterioration, contamination or nuclear hazard; and damage from birds, rodents, insects or domestic animals.
   • The page states that details of coverage or limits vary in some states and that it is only a general description of coverage and not a statement of contract.

   Effective: not stated on the page

   Active
2. [2]

   Dwelling - The California FAIR Plan (policy category listing)(opens the original record on California FAIR Plan Association)

   California FAIR Plan AssociationCarrier officialPrimaryJurisdiction CALast checked August 31, 2026Updates: changes with FAIR Plan form and program filingsID cfp-dwelling-policy

   What this source supports (19)

   • The California FAIR Plan Dwelling Fire Policy is a named peril policy, which provides coverage only for damage caused by the specific causes of loss listed in the policy.
   • The causes of loss shown on the page are fire and lightning, internal explosion, and smoke.
   • Optional coverages are available at an additional cost, such as coverage for vandalism and malicious mischief.
   • The FAIR Plan suggests that for more complete property coverage the reader consider purchasing Difference in Conditions, Flood, or Earthquake policies to supplement a California FAIR Plan policy by covering additional perils.
   • The page states that the California FAIR Plan Dwelling Fire Policy is a named peril policy, which provides coverage only for damage caused by the specific causes of loss listed in the policy.
   • The page lists Fire and Lightning, Internal Explosion, and Smoke as the covered perils shown.
   • The page states that optional coverages are available at an additional cost, such as coverage for vandalism and malicious mischief.
   • The page advises considering Difference in Conditions, Flood, or Earthquake policies to supplement a California FAIR Plan policy by covering additional perils.
   • The page describes the California FAIR Plan as an insurer of last resort, established by statute to provide basic property insurance to Californians statewide when no other option is reasonably available, and describes the dwelling policy as a temporary solution.
   • The California FAIR Plan's dwelling page lists a category labeled "Owner-Occupied", described as "1-4 unit dwellings in which the owner lives in one or more unit."
   • The same page lists a category labeled "Rentals", described as "1-4 unit dwellings that are rented to a tenant for at least one year."
   • The same page lists a category labeled "Seasonal Rental", described as "Dwellings that are rented (in whole or part) for less than one year."
   • The same page lists a category labeled "Condominium Unit Owners", described as "Personal property and improvements coverage for a condominium unit owner", separate from its owner-occupied and rental dwelling categories.
   • The same page lists a category labeled "Renters", described as "Personal property coverage for the tenant of an apartment or single/multi-unit dwelling."
   • The California FAIR Plan Dwelling page lists covered perils including Fire and Lightning, Internal Explosion, and Smoke.
   • The California FAIR Plan Dwelling page states that optional coverages are available at an additional cost, such as coverage for vandalism and malicious mischief.
   • The California FAIR Plan Dwelling page states that for more complete property coverage the reader should consider purchasing Difference in Conditions, Flood, or Earthquake policies to supplement a California FAIR Plan policy.
   • The California FAIR Plan Dwelling page states that if you are unable to purchase coverage with a traditional insurance company, the California FAIR Plan offers a temporary solution for the occupancy types it lists.
   • The California FAIR Plan Dwelling page does not list liability, theft, or water damage among the covered perils, and states no maximum dwelling limit.

   Effective: not stated on the page

   Active
3. [3]

   Residential Insurance: Homeowners and Renters (information guide, text version)(opens the original record on California Department of Insurance)

   California Department of InsuranceRegulatorPrimaryJurisdiction CALast checked August 31, 2026Updates: revised periodically by CDI; the current text version carries the revision line Form 401 Revised January 2026, so compare that line against the live page each review cycleID cdi-residential-insurance-guide

   What this source supports (49)

   • The guide describes a homeowners policy in coverage parts: Coverage A Dwelling, Coverage B Other Structures, Coverage C Personal Property, Coverage D Loss of Use, Coverage E Personal Liability, and Coverage F Medical Payments to Others.
   • Coverage B Other Structures is normally limited to 10 percent of the Coverage A limit.
   • Coverage C provides protection for the contents of the home and other personal belongings owned by the insured and other family members who live with the insured, and additional amounts of insurance may be purchased.
   • The contents limit is generally around 50 percent of the dwelling amount, and the guide states that this is a guideline only.
   • Coverage D Loss of Use is normally limited to 20 percent of Coverage A.
   • Under the heading for what is typically covered by a homeowners policy if damage is caused by, the guide lists fourteen causes of loss: fire or lightning; windstorm or hail; explosion; riot or civil commotion; aircraft; vehicles; smoke; vandalism and malicious mischief; theft; volcanic eruption; falling objects; weight of ice, snow, sleet; sudden and accidental water damage; and breakage of glass.
   • The guide lists typical exclusions: flood; earthquake; earth movement; termites; insects, rats or mice; water damage caused by seepage or leaks; losses to a house vacant for 60 days or more; mold; wear and tear or maintenance; war; insurrection; tidal wave; neglect; and nuclear hazard.
   • The guide carries the instruction to read the exclusions in the insurance contract.
   • Coverage on certain types of property especially susceptible to loss is limited: jewelry, antiques, furs, collectibles, fine arts, firearms, silverware, and money.
   • The limited coverage amounts for specific types of personal property are not separate limits in addition to the contents limit; they are included in the overall contents limit and represent the maximum paid out for that specific type of personal property.
   • The guide defines the deductible as the amount of loss that the policyholder is responsible to pay up-front before covered benefits from the insurance company are payable.
   • The guide states that if the insured can afford to take a bit more of the risk, a larger deductible may significantly reduce the premium.
   • The guide states that an actual cash value policy will not completely replace the home, that a replacement cost policy improves the chances of being able to completely rebuild, that a policy cannot be sold as a guaranteed replacement cost policy unless it will pay to completely rebuild the home regardless of the coverage limit, and that other types of replacement cost policies will pay the policy limits plus a certain percentage above those limits.
   • For renters policies, the guide states that Coverage E Personal Liability is generally subject to a minimum of $100,000 and Coverage F Medical Payments to Others is generally subject to a minimum of $1,000.
   • The guide states that the landlord does not provide insurance for the tenant's personal property.
   • The guide identifies itself on the page as Form 401, Revised January 2026.
   • The guide lists the coverages of a homeowners policy as "Coverage A - Dwelling, Coverage B - Other Structures, Coverage C - Personal Property, Coverage D - Loss of Use, Coverage E - Personal Liability, Coverage F - Medical Payments to Others."
   • The guide describes Coverage D as follows: "This coverage will help with additional living expenses if your home is damaged by a peril insured against to the extent that you cannot live in your home. These expenses include, but are not limited to, housing, meals and warehouse storage. Coverage D is normally limited to 20 percent of Coverage A."
   • The guide states: "After a residential policy has been in effect for sixty days, the insurance company can only cancel a policy for reasons specified by law, which include; nonpayment of premium, fraud, material misrepresentation, or physical changes in the insured property that increase any hazard insured against."
   • The guide defines material misrepresentation as "A false statement given by an applicant of any important fact that had the insurance company known the truth, it would not have insured the risk."
   • The guide states: "The condominium association generally purchases insurance for the building structure and common areas, such as corridors and walls."
   • The guide states: "Like renters insurance, condominium unit-owners insurance provides coverage for personal property, loss of use, personal liability and medical payments to others. However, it also includes coverage for damages to the interior of the unit and improvements for which the unit owner is responsible to maintain in accordance with the governing rules of the condominium association."
   • The guide states: "Loss assessment may be an important coverage for you to consider, because it covers you for certain assessments that the condominium association makes as a result of a loss."
   • The dwelling limit should be the amount it would cost to replace your home, which may have nothing to do with the purchase price or the current market value.
   • Homeowners should base the limit on the cost of labor and materials necessary to rebuild the dwelling, not fluctuations in the real estate market.
   • Under an actual cash value settlement the recovery is reduced by a fair and reasonable deduction for physical depreciation, and with a replacement cost policy the chances that you will be able to completely rebuild your home are better.
   • Insurance coverage for losses resulting from floods is generally not provided in a homeowners or renters policy.
   • When an insurer writes your homeowners coverage in California, the insurer is legally obligated to offer you earthquake coverage for an additional premium.
   • What was previously called Extended Replacement Cost Coverage is now called Limited Replacement Cost Coverage.
   • The dwelling limit should be the amount it would cost to replace the home, and this may have nothing to do with the purchase price or the current market value of the home, as homeowners insurance does not generally cover the value of the land upon which the dwelling sits.
   • When determining the amount of coverage to purchase, consumers should consider the cost of labor and materials necessary to rebuild the dwelling, not fluctuations in the real estate market.
   • Insurance companies have their own formulas for evaluating replacement cost, and because those formulas are unique to each company, different insurers may suggest or require different limits of coverage for the same dwelling.
   • In a section summarizing key legislation, this guide describes Senate Bill 1855 (2004) as changing the use of the words Extended Replacement Cost Coverage in the California Residential Property Insurance Disclosure to Limited Replacement Cost Coverage. The page states this only as a description of that 2004 bill's effect on the wording of that disclosure; it does not state that Extended Replacement Cost Coverage is generally now called Limited Replacement Cost Coverage, and it gives no rationale specific to the change of words.
   • A policy cannot be sold as a guaranteed replacement cost policy unless it will pay to completely rebuild the home regardless of the coverage limit.
   • Unless the policy has building code upgrade coverage, the insurance company may not pay for changes needed to bring the structure up to current building codes.
   • CDI advises consumers to ask their agent, broker, or insurer whether they automatically review or increase limits on a regular basis, or whether they offer an automatic inflation guard option.
   • In its actual cash value discussion this guide uses the formulation the policy limit or the fair market value of the structure, whichever is less.
   • CDI describes a homeowners policy as divided into a property section with Coverage A dwelling, Coverage B other structures, Coverage C personal property and Coverage D loss of use, and a liability section with Coverage E personal liability and Coverage F medical payments to others.
   • CDI states that Coverage A provides major property coverage protecting the house and attached structures if damaged by a covered peril.
   • CDI states that Coverage B other structures is normally limited to 10 percent of the Coverage A limit, and that Coverage D loss of use is normally limited to 20 percent of Coverage A.
   • CDI states that certain personal property categories such as jewelry and firearms are subject to special limits that cap the amount paid.
   • CDI states that an actual cash value policy will not fully replace a destroyed home because it subtracts depreciation and pays either the repair cost less wear and tear or the policy limit, whichever is less.
   • CDI states that a policy cannot be sold as a guaranteed replacement cost policy unless it will pay to completely rebuild the home regardless of the coverage limit, and that other replacement cost variants pay the policy limits plus a certain percentage above those limits.
   • CDI warns that unless the policy has building code upgrade coverage, the insurance company may not pay for changes needed to bring the structure of the home up to current building codes.
   • CDI advises reviewing the dwelling limit initially and upon renewal, discussing any modifications to the home in writing with the agent, broker, or insurer, and contacting local general contractors to ask the current price per square foot for a home similar to your own.
   • CDI advises keeping an inventory of personal property listing all items owned, the dates purchased, and the price, and offers a free Home Inventory Guide.
   • CDI states that Coverage D reimburses housing, meals and warehouse storage when a covered loss makes the home uninhabitable, and advises keeping receipts for all additional living expenses and submitting them to the company for reimbursement consideration.
   • CDI warns that if you shop by comparing prices only and not by comparing coverage, you are doing yourself a disservice.
   • CDI notes that SB 1855 (2004) requires insurers to disclose, in the California Residential Property Insurance Disclosure and on the declarations page, that the cost to rebuild your home may be different from your homeowners policy limits, and that insurers must distribute the California Residential Property Insurance Bill of Rights every other year.

   Published: 2026-01 (the page carries the line Form 401 Revised January 2026) Effective: not stated on the page

   Active
4. [4]

   Renter's Insurance (consumer guidance)(opens the original record on New York State Department of Financial Services)

   New York State Department of Financial ServicesRegulatorPrimaryJurisdiction NYLast checked August 31, 2026Updates: NY DFS revises consumer pages periodicallyID nydfs-renters-insurance

   What this source supports (5)

   • A landlord does not provide insurance for a tenant's personal property.
   • An exception to this can occur if the landlord was aware of a prior hazardous condition, failed to correct it in a reasonable time frame, and as a result the tenant's property was damaged.
   • Renter's insurance is described in coverage parts including personal property, loss of use, personal liability, and medical payments to others.
   • The covered causes of loss the page lists include fire, smoke, theft, vandalism, windstorm, hail, lightning, explosion, falling objects, weight of snow, ice and sleet, and water damage from plumbing or appliance failure.
   • Liability protection is described as covering injuries that others sustain while at the tenant's home, including medical expenses and any resulting lawsuits, and damage to other people's property.

   Effective: not stated on the page

   Active
5. [5]

   Eligibility | National Flood Insurance Program(opens the original record on FEMA, National Flood Insurance Program (FloodSmart))

   FEMA, National Flood Insurance Program (FloodSmart)RegulatorPrimaryJurisdiction USLast checked August 31, 2026Updates: FEMA updates NFIP program pages periodicallyID fema-nfip-eligibility

   What this source supports (5)

   • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, and it will not fulfill the mortgage or federal disaster assistance requirements for flood insurance.
   • You can get flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program if your city or town participates in the NFIP's floodplain management requirements.
   • You are required to have flood insurance if you own a home or business in a Special Flood Hazard Area and have a government-backed mortgage.
   • Some banks require flood insurance even if you do not live in a high-risk area, and the page tells readers to ask their mortgage lender about its flood insurance terms.
   • If a property has received federal disaster assistance before, flood insurance must be maintained to qualify for future disaster assistance, including FEMA disaster grants and Small Business Administration disaster loans.

   Effective: not stated on the page

   Active
6. [6]

   California Insurance Code section 10087 (chapter definition of a policy of residential property insurance)(opens the original record on California Legislative Information (official))

   California Legislative Information (official)Primary lawPrimaryJurisdiction CALast checked August 31, 2026Updates: amended only by legislation; re-check leginfo annuallyID ca-ins-code-10087

   What this source supports (6)

   • The definition in this section is scoped to the earthquake insurance chapter in which it sits and does not purport to define residential property insurance for any other purpose.
   • Within that chapter, a policy of residential property insurance means a policy insuring individually owned residential structures of not more than four dwelling units, individually owned condominium units, or individually owned mobilehomes, and their contents, located in this state and used exclusively for residential purposes, or a tenant's policy insuring personal contents of a residential unit located in this state.
   • The definition does not include insurance for real property or its contents used for any commercial, industrial, or business purpose, except a structure of not more than four dwelling units rented for individual residential purposes.
   • The definition does not include policies that do not provide the perils of a standard fire policy.
   • The definition excludes policies issued on or after January 1, 2022 providing coverage for fines, penalties, restitution, or losses arising from recovery residences or substance abuse treatment facilities, subject to a carve-out for certain not-for-profit resident-managed recovery residences.
   • Proof of first-class mailing creates a conclusive presumption of delivery, as does a signed receipt for hand delivery.

   Effective: not stated on the page as a single date; subdivision addressing recovery residences applies to policies issued on or after January 1, 2022

   Active
7. [7]

   California Insurance Code section 10081 (mandatory offer of earthquake coverage)(opens the original record on California Legislative Information (official))

   California Legislative Information (official)Primary lawPrimaryJurisdiction CALast checked August 31, 2026Updates: amended only by legislation; re-check leginfo annuallyID ca-ins-code-10081

   What this source supports (9)

   • No policy of residential property insurance may be issued or delivered or, with respect to policies in effect on the effective date of this chapter, initially renewed in this state by any insurer unless the named insured is offered coverage for loss or damage caused by the peril of earthquake as provided in this chapter.
   • The earthquake coverage may be provided in the residential property policy itself by specific policy provision or endorsement, or in a separate policy or certificate of insurance covering earthquake alone or in combination with other perils.
   • The section was added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 916, Sec. 1.
   • Section 10081 reads: 'No policy of residential property insurance may be issued or delivered or, with respect to policies in effect on the effective date of this chapter, initially renewed in this state by any insurer unless the named insured is offered coverage for loss or damage caused by the peril of earthquake as provided in this chapter.'
   • Section 10081 continues: 'That coverage may be provided in the policy of residential property insurance itself, either by specific policy provision or endorsement, or in a separate policy or certificate of insurance which specifically provides coverage for loss or damage caused by the peril of earthquake alone or in combination with other perils.'
   • The section sits in CHAPTER 8.5. Earthquake Insurance [10081 - 10089.4], added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 916, Sec. 1.
   • The 'initially renewed' clause in Section 10081 is qualified by the phrase 'with respect to policies in effect on the effective date of this chapter'; Section 10081 does not by its own terms impose an offer duty at every renewal.
   • California Insurance Code section 10081 provides that no policy of residential property insurance may be issued or delivered or, with respect to policies in effect on the effective date of the chapter, initially renewed in the state by any insurer unless the named insured is offered coverage for loss or damage caused by the peril of earthquake as provided in the chapter.
   • Section 10081 allows the earthquake offer to be satisfied by a provision or endorsement within the residential property insurance policy, or by a separate policy or certificate covering the peril of earthquake alone or together with other perils.

   Published: 1984 (added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 916, Sec. 1) Effective: not separately stated on the page beyond the 1984 enactment note

   Active
8. [8]

   California Insurance Code Section 10083 (timing and prescribed language of the earthquake offer; every-other-year re-offer)(opens the original record on California Legislative Information (official))

   California Legislative Information (official)Primary lawPrimaryJurisdiction CALast checked August 31, 2026Updates: amended only by legislation; re-check leginfo annuallyID ca-ins-code-10083

   What this source supports (14)

   • The offer of earthquake coverage may be made prior to, concurrent with, or within 60 days following the issuance or renewal of a residential property insurance policy.
   • If the offer is not accepted, the insurer must offer earthquake coverage on an every other year basis in connection with any continuation, renewal, reinstatement, or policy that extends or replaces the residential property insurance policy.
   • The prescribed offer includes the statement that if the insured does not accept the offer of earthquake insurance within 30 days of the mailing of the notice, the insurance company shall presume that the insured has not accepted the offer.
   • The prescribed disclosures must be set in at least 10-point boldface type.
   • The prescribed disclosure states that the residential property insurance policy does not cover earthquake damage to the home or its contents.
   • The prescribed disclosure states that the deductible represents the amount of damage the covered property must incur before the earthquake insurance coverage begins.
   • The section became operative on January 1, 2019.
   • Section 10083(a) reads: 'The offer of coverage required by Section 10081 may be made prior to, concurrent with, or within 60 days following the issuance or renewal of a residential property insurance policy.'
   • Section 10083(a) continues: 'If the offer of coverage is mailed to the named insured or applicant, it shall be mailed to the mailing address shown on the policy of residential property insurance or on the application.'
   • Section 10083(a)(1) and (a)(2) prescribe the offer language for nonparticipating insurers and for participating insurers respectively, each requiring that the offer 'shall contain all of the following language in at least 10-point boldface type', and the prescribed language begins: 'Your residential property insurance policy does not cover earthquake damage to your home or its contents.'
   • The prescribed offer language includes fill-in items labeled '(A) Amount of Dwelling/Building Coverage Limit', '(B) Deductible', '(C) Contents Coverage Limit', '(D) Additional Living Expenses Coverage Limit', and '(E) Estimated Annual Premium'.
   • The prescribed offer language states: 'If you do not accept the offer of earthquake insurance below within 30 days of the mailing of this notice, your insurance company shall presume that you have not accepted this offer of earthquake insurance.'
   • Section 10083(b) reads: 'If the offer of earthquake coverage made pursuant to Section 10081 is not accepted, the insurer or any affiliated insurer shall be required on an every other year basis to offer earthquake coverage in connection with any continuation, renewal, or reinstatement of the policy following any lapse thereof, or with respect to any other policy that extends, changes, supersedes, or replaces the policy of residential property insurance.'
   • Section 10083(g) reads: 'This section shall become operative on January 1, 2019.' The section note reads 'Amended (as amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 427, Sec. 2.5) by Stats. 2016, Ch. 549, Sec. 2. (AB 499) Effective January 1, 2017. Section operative January 1, 2019, by its own provisions.'

   Effective: 2019-01-01 (operative date stated on the page)

   Active
9. [9]

   California Insurance Code Section 2051.5 (replacement cost measure of indemnity, actual cash value holdback, and time to collect)(opens the original record on California Legislative Information (official))

   California Legislative Information (official)Primary lawPrimaryJurisdiction CALast checked August 31, 2026Updates: amended by legislation, including post-wildfire bills; re-check leginfo each sessionID ca-ins-code-2051-5

   What this source supports (11)

   • Under an open policy that requires payment of the replacement cost for a loss, the measure of indemnity is the amount that it would cost the insured to repair, rebuild, or replace the thing lost or injured, without a deduction for physical depreciation, or the policy limit, whichever is less.
   • A time limit of less than 12 months from the date that the first payment toward the actual cash value is made shall not be placed upon an insured to collect the full replacement cost.
   • For a loss relating to a state of emergency, a time limit of less than 36 months from the date that the first payment toward the actual cash value is made shall not be placed upon the insured.
   • An insurer shall provide to a policyholder one or more additional extensions of six months for good cause where delays are beyond the insured's control.
   • For a loss relating to a state of emergency, an insurer shall not require the insured to provide proof of loss less than 100 days after the loss.
   • On and after July 1, 2026, all policy forms issued or renewed by an insurer shall comply with this section in its entirety.
   • The section states its own scope: it applies 'Under an open policy that requires payment of the replacement cost for a loss'.
   • Within that scope, the measure of indemnity is the amount that it would cost the insured to repair, rebuild, or replace the thing lost or injured, without a deduction for physical depreciation, or the policy limit, whichever is less.
   • The insurer pays the actual cash value of the damaged property until the damaged property is repaired, rebuilt, or replaced, and once it is repaired, rebuilt, or replaced the insurer pays the difference.
   • A time limit of less than 12 months from the date that the first payment toward the actual cash value is made shall not be placed upon an insured, and a time limit of less than 36 months shall not be placed upon the insured for a loss relating to a state of emergency.
   • The insurer shall provide one or more additional extensions of six months for good cause, where the insured acting in good faith and with reasonable diligence encounters delays beyond the insured's control in approval for or reconstruction of the home or residence.

   Effective: 2026-07-01 for full policy-form compliance, per subdivision (e) as displayed

   Active
10. [10]

    Earthquake Insurance (information guide, text version)(opens the original record on California Department of Insurance)

    California Department of InsuranceRegulatorPrimaryJurisdiction CALast checked August 31, 2026Updates: CDI revises this guide periodically and CEA limit and deductible options change by filing; re-verify each review cycleID cdi-earthquake-insurance-guide

    What this source supports (14)

    • If you have homeowners insurance in California, your company must offer to sell you earthquake insurance, and it must offer this every other year.
    • The offer must be in writing and must tell you the amounts it covers (the limits), the deductible, and the premium.
    • You have 30 days to accept the offer, the 30-day period starts the date the company mails the offer to you, and if you do not reply you are rejecting the offer.
    • Homeowners, renters, and condominium insurance policies do not cover damage from natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides.
    • California law says that both homeowners and renters insurance must cover fire damage that is caused by or follows an earthquake.
    • You cannot buy earthquake insurance directly from CEA; you buy it from insurance companies that are members of CEA, you must have a residential property insurance policy in place in order to get a CEA earthquake policy, and you must purchase the CEA policy from the same insurance company that carries your residential policy.
    • CEA offers deductibles of 5 percent, 10 percent, 15 percent, 20 percent, and 25 percent, with two exceptions: if a home is valued at over $1 million dollars, and/or if the home was built before 1980 on a raised or other non-slab type foundation and is not verified to have been seismically retrofitted. In both these cases the lowest available deductible will be 15 percent.
    • For CEA Coverage A dwelling coverage, the limit on your earthquake insurance is the same as the limit on your homeowners insurance dwelling coverage.
    • For CEA Coverage C personal property, the limit starts at $5,000 and you can increase the limit to $25,000.
    • For CEA Coverage D additional living expenses, the limits range from $1,500 to $100,000, and this coverage never has a deductible under CEA.
    • CEA condo unit policies provide up to $100,000 for the unit owner's share of certain assessments if the association imposes an assessment for covered damage caused by an earthquake.
    • You may be able to buy building code upgrade coverage, now up to $30,000, and CEA homeowners policies include the first $1,500 for emergency repairs with no deductible.
    • As with most earthquake policies, CEA insurance does not cover landscaping, pools, fences, masonry, or separate buildings.
    • A few companies offer stand-alone policies that are not CEA policies and that can be bought without buying homeowners insurance from the same company.

    Published: 2024-04-25 Effective: not applicable; guidance page

    Active
11. [11]

    Homeowners Insurance (consumer information)(opens the original record on National Association of Insurance Commissioners)

    National Association of Insurance CommissionersStandards bodyPrimaryJurisdiction USLast checked August 31, 2026Updates: NAIC revises consumer pages periodicallyID naic-consumer-homeowners

    What this source supports (10)

    • Dwelling coverage covers damage to the house, and the face amount of the policy is the most the insured will receive if the house is totally destroyed.
    • Other structures coverage covers damage to other structures or buildings, such as a detached garage, work shed, or fencing.
    • Personal property coverage covers damage to or loss of personal property, which includes household contents and other personal belongings used, owned or worn by the insured and the insured's family.
    • Loss of use covers the necessary living expenses, up to the stated limit, incurred by the insured to continue as nearly as possible the normal standard of living when the house cannot be occupied due to a covered loss.
    • Personal liability protects the insured against claims arising from accidents to others on property the insured owns or rents.
    • Medical payments coverage is limited to an amount per person and per accident for injuries occurring on the insured's premises to persons other than an insured, or elsewhere if caused by the insured, a member of the insured's family, or the insured's pets.
    • The page lists as not covered by standard policies: flood, earthquakes, mold, infestations, home office, certain pets, jewelry and art and heirlooms, and detached buildings or pools.
    • The deductible is the amount the insured has to pay out of pocket on each claim and applies only to coverage on the house and personal property, and the insured's choice of a higher deductible will reduce the price for homeowners insurance.
    • Replacement cost is the amount it would take to replace or rebuild the home or repair damages with materials of similar kind and quality, without deducting for depreciation, while actual cash value is the amount it would take to repair or replace damage after depreciation.
    • Older homes may not qualify for preferred programs, and insurers may require older homes to have updated heating, plumbing, wiring and roofing.

    Effective: not stated on the page

    Active
12. [12]

    Homeowners Coverages and Deductibles (CEA homeowners policy)(opens the original record on California Earthquake Authority)

    California Earthquake AuthorityCarrier officialPrimaryJurisdiction CALast checked August 31, 2026Updates: changes with CEA rate and form filings; verify limit and deductible options each review cycleID cea-homeowners-coverages-deductibles

    What this source supports (11)

    • CEA offers a Standard Homeowners policy under which all coverages fall under one deductible, and a Homeowners Choice policy that provides separate deductibles for dwelling and for personal property and allows the purchase of dwelling coverage only.
    • The deductible options are 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 percent of the Coverage A and B limit.
    • The 5 percent and 10 percent deductible options are not available for homes with a Coverage A dwelling limit greater than $1,000,000, or for dwellings with frame construction built before 1980 that are not on a slab foundation and do not have a verified retrofit.
    • CEA Coverage A and B must be the same as the residential homeowners policy's Coverage A dwelling limit.
    • Coverage C personal property available limits are $5,000 or $25,000, with $500 included for damage to some breakable personal property.
    • Coverage D loss of use available limits are $1,500, $10,000, $15,000, $25,000, $50,000, $75,000, and $100,000, and loss of use carries no deductible under either policy type.
    • Building code upgrade coverage is $10,000 with purchasable options of $20,000 or $30,000, and is paid once the covered dwelling damage exceeds the Coverage A and B deductible.
    • There is no deductible on the first $1,500 of emergency repairs coverage, and amounts exceeding $1,500 require meeting the Coverage A and B or Coverage C deductible.
    • CEA states that exclusions and special limits apply and that all terms and conditions of CEA insurance coverage are found in the CEA insurance-policy form.
    • CEA lists the deductible choices for its homeowners policy as 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 percent, expressed as a percentage of the Coverage A and B limit.
    • The page states: 'The 5% and 10% deductible options are not available for homes with Coverage A dwelling limit greater than $1,000,000, or dwellings with frame construction built before 1980 that are not on a slab foundation and do not have a verified retrofit.'

    Effective: not stated on the page

    Active

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