Which of the following are covered by a homeowners policy?

Generally, a homeowners insurance policy includes at least six different coverage parts. The names of the parts may vary by insurance company, but they typically are referred to as Dwelling, Other Structures, Personal Property, Loss of Use, Personal Liability and Medical Payments coverages. They are usually presented as policy sections and are often labeled Coverages A through F.

Coverage Parts A, B, and C protect property.

Coverage A, Dwelling

The homeowner policy's first coverage section protects your house and any attached structures, such as garages, decks or fences. The typical policy covers your home when it is damaged by many perils (also known as causes of loss) including fires or storms. However, the following causes of loss are usually excluded from coverage under the homeowners policy:

• Earthquake
• Flood
• Faulty maintenance
• Damage from insects or vermin
• Wear and tear, gradual damage or deterioration

Coverage B, Other Structures

This coverage section protects structures that are not attached to the home, such as a detached (separate) garage, storage or utility shed playground equipment and swimming pools.

Coverage C, Personal Property

This covers your possessions, whether they are at your home or away with you on vacation. Personal property is often covered on a named peril basis. This means that only the causes of loss listed in the policy section are covered. The coverage is also subject to limitations and exclusions. Types of property having significant value, such as jewelry, fine arts, collectibles, etc., may require special protection. Talk to your agent about scheduling (adding) coverage on a floater which broadens and extends coverage for high-valued possessions.

Actual Cash Value vs. Replacement Cost

Commonly, protection under sections A and B is provided on either an actual cash value or a replacement cost basis. Actual cash value is defined as replacement cost minus depreciation. Replacement cost is the actual cost to replace the structure, regardless of depreciation. Check your policy to see which type of coverage you have. Coverage under section C is usually provided on an actual cash basis. However, your agent may be able to add replacement cost to your possessions just like that found in Coverage A.

Coverage D, Loss of Use

This coverage handles the cost of additional living expenses while your home is being repaired. The coverage also applies if the home is unusable. However, the loss or loss of access has to be the result of an event that is covered by the policy. For instance, if your home was damaged during a war and you had to abandon it, Coverage D would not be available because war is excluded. Additional expenses normally include food, housing, and transportation. However, the expenses must exceed what your family normally incurs.

Coverage Parts E and F address coverage for injuries to persons or damage to property that belongs to others.

Coverage E, Personal Liability

This Coverage Part responds if you are legally responsible for causing property damage or physical injury. Protection includes paying for your defense costs and any financial judgment for covered incidents. Naturally the coverage would not apply for excluded situations, such as intentional injuries. Example: Joe is sued by a guy he injured after tackling and repeatedly punching him during a pickup basketball game. The injuries from this incident are not accidental and would not be covered.

Coverage F, Medical Payments

This Part provides rapid reimbursement for minor injuries, such as a guest who trips and falls while visiting your home. This coverage does not apply to a family member. For example, if your child and your neighbor's child are both injured while playing and need to go to the emergency room, this coverage will pay for your neighbor's expenses but not for your own child.

This is a brief overview of homeowners insurance. All of the coverage provided by the homeowners policy is subject to limitations such as exclusions, policy limits, and deductibles. It's important that you discuss the details of coverage and any other insurance questions with your insurance agent.

Your home is more than just a roof over your head. It may be your most valuable asset — and one you likely can’t afford to replace out of pocket if disaster strikes. That’s why protecting your place with the right homeowners insurance is important.

What is homeowners insurance?

Homeowners insurance pays out if an event covered under your policy damages or destroys your home or belongings. It will also cover you in certain instances if you injure someone else or cause property damage. Homeowners insurance has four main functions:

• Pay to repair your house, landscaping and other structures.

• Pay to repair or replace your personal belongings.

• Pay for you to live elsewhere while your house is being repaired.

• Cover personal liability if you’re held legally responsible for damage or injury to someone else.

Note that homeowners insurance isn’t the same as mortgage insurance, which you may have to buy if you put less than 20% down on your home loan. (FHA and other federal loans may also require mortgage insurance, regardless of your down payment amount.) If you default on your loan, mortgage insurance will help reimburse your lender.

Mortgage insurance protects your lender, while homeowners insurance protects you.

Is homeowners insurance required?

Homeowners insurance isn’t required by law, but if you have a mortgage, your lender will likely require you to insure the home to protect its investment. Even if you don’t have a mortgage, home insurance is almost always a wise purchase. Because it gives you property and liability coverage, a homeowners policy is a financial safety net you may someday be glad to have.

What does homeowners insurance cover?

Standard homeowners insurance policies generally include six types of coverage:

Covers damage to the home and attached structures, such as a porch.

Enough to rebuild your home.

Covers stand-alone structures on your property, such as a fence or shed.

10% of dwelling coverage.

Pays to repair or replace stolen or damaged belongings.

50% to 70% of dwelling coverage.

Helps pay temporary living expenses while your home is being repaired.

20% of dwelling coverage.

Pays if you injure someone or cause property damage unintentionally or through neglect.

Pays to treat someone injured on your property, regardless of who’s at fault. It also pays if you, a family member or a pet injures someone away from your home.

Dwelling coverage covers the structure of your home, including the walls, floors, windows and roof. Built-in appliances, such as furnaces, are also typically included in your dwelling coverage. If your home has an attached garage, porch or deck, these would fall under your dwelling coverage, too.

Which events are covered: Most homeowners policies cover your dwelling for any cause of damage that isn’t specifically excluded. Some of the most common causes of homeowners insurance claims include wind, hail, freezing, fire and lightning, according to the Insurance Information Institute[0].

How it works: A severe thunderstorm uproots a tree that falls onto your home, crushing part of the roof and attic. You’d pay your share of the repair cost — known as the deductible — and then the insurer would pay the rest, up to the limit of your dwelling coverage.

Other structures coverage

Just like it sounds, other structures coverage provides insurance for structures on your property that aren’t attached to your house. That could include a shed, fence or detached garage.

Which events are covered: As with dwelling coverage, most homeowners insurance policies cover other structures for any event that isn’t specifically excluded. That means you'd likely have coverage for fire, wind, hail and snow, among other issues.

How it works: Part of your fence collapses under the weight of heavy snow. The insurance company would pay to repair it, minus your deductible.

Personal property coverage

Personal property refers to your personal belongings — like clothes, furniture, electronic devices and appliances that aren’t built in. Most homeowners policies cover these items anywhere in the world, not just inside your house. So if someone steals your bike from outside a store, it’ll likely be covered (minus your deductible).

Which events are covered: In most homeowners policies, personal property coverage works differently than dwelling and other structures coverage. Instead of covering your belongings for anything that isn’t specifically excluded, homeowners policies often cover only disasters that are listed.

These events, typically called “perils” in your policy, tend to include the following:

• Weight of ice, snow and sleet.

• Sudden damage from a power surge.

• Water overflow or discharge from household systems like plumbing, air conditioning and appliances.

• Freezing of those same household systems.

• Sudden tearing, cracking or bulging of a hot water system, steam system, air conditioning or fire protective system.

• Damage caused by vehicles.

How it works: A pipe bursts on a frigid winter night, sending water cascading into your kitchen and dining room. Although dwelling coverage would pay for damage to built-in items such as cabinets, personal property coverage would take care of damaged furniture, minus your deductible.

Sometimes called “additional living expenses,” the loss of use section of your homeowners policy can come in handy if your home is too damaged to live in. Loss of use coverage may pay for hotel stays, restaurant meals or other expenses associated with living somewhere else if your home is uninhabitable after a disaster your policy covers.

Which events are covered: As long as your home is undergoing repairs for a covered claim, you’ll likely be eligible for loss of use coverage. But if your home’s damage is due to a disaster that isn’t covered — such as a flood — your insurer won’t pay your additional living expenses, either.

How it works: After a kitchen fire spreads to your living room, your home is out of commission for a few months while contractors make repairs. Your insurance company would pay for you and your family to rent a similarly sized house nearby.

Personal liability coverage offers financial assistance if someone sues you for injuring them or damaging their property. Coverage generally extends to anyone in your household, including pets — so if your dog bites someone at the park, you may have coverage. (See Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Dog Bites? for more information.)

Which events are covered: Liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage to others, with some exceptions. For instance, your policy won't cover criminal acts or harm you cause on purpose. Nor will it pay for injuries or damage from a car accident (your liability car insurance would cover those).

How it works: A delivery person slips on your icy sidewalk before you can salt it. He breaks his wrist in the fall and sues you for medical bills and lost wages. Your liability coverage could pay your legal fees, plus any damages you’re responsible for in the lawsuit, up to your policy limit.

Medical payments coverage

Like liability coverage, medical payments coverage pays if you cause physical injury to someone outside your household. However, no lawsuit is required, and you don’t need to be found at fault for medical payments coverage to pay out.

Which events are covered: You could tap your medical payments coverage if someone suffers a minor injury on your property or if you cause harm to someone outside your home. Similar restrictions apply to liability and medical payments, with no coverage for intentional acts or car accidents, among other exclusions.

How it works: Your dog bites the hand of a visiting friend. There’s no serious harm, but your medical payments insurance covers the cost of their trip to urgent care for stitches.

What homeowners insurance won't cover

Even the broadest homeowners insurance policy won’t cover everything that could go wrong with your home. For example, you can’t intentionally damage your house and then expect your insurer to pay for it. Policies also typically exclude damage from other causes such as:

• Flooding from external sources such as heavy rainfall or storm surges.

• Water damage from drain and sewer backups.

• Earthquakes, landslides and sinkholes.

• Infestations by birds, vermin, fungus or mold.

• Wear and tear or neglect.

• Government action, including war.

However, you can buy separate coverage for some of these risks. Flood insurance and earthquake insurance are available separately, and in hurricane-prone states, you may need or want windstorm insurance.

Expand your coverage with endorsements

Talk to your insurer if you have concerns about damage and events your policy doesn’t cover. In many cases, you can add endorsements — which usually cost extra — that provide more coverage.

Below are a few of the most common home insurance endorsements. Note that availability may vary by state and company.

Scheduled personal property covers a specific valuable item such as a ring or musical instrument. You may need an appraisal — a document that states the value of the item — to get this coverage.

Ordinance or law coverage pays to bring your home up to building codes during repairs or rebuilding.

Water backup coverage pays for damage due to backed-up sewer lines, drains or sump pumps.

Equipment breakdown coverage pays for HVAC systems and large appliances if they stop working for reasons other than normal wear and tear.

Service line protection pays for damage to water, electric or other utility lines that you’re responsible for.

Identity fraud coverage pays expenses associated with identity theft such as lost wages and legal fees.

This table shows common problems and whether your homeowners insurance policy will cover them.

If a covered event such as a windstorm damages your heating or cooling system, your homeowners policy would likely pay to repair it. Adding an equipment breakdown endorsement to your policy could give you additional coverage for mechanical failures. However, homeowners insurance won't pay for normal wear and tear.

A standard homeowners insurance policy covers jewelry only for theft, fire or other named events, not for accidental loss. That’s why it’s a good idea to add broader coverage for valuable jewelry. Learn more about jewelry insurance.

It depends on the cause of the mold. Most insurers will cover mold only if it's caused by a covered problem such as a burst pipe. Learn more about homeowners insurance and mold.

Damage from sudden, accidental leaks may be covered, but slow leaks that develop over time generally won’t be. (The latter are considered a maintenance issue.) Your policy probably won’t pay for plumbing damage due to neglect, either.

It depends on why your roof is leaking. Insurance typically covers damage due to a sudden, accidental event such as hail or wind, but it won't cover simple wear and tear. Learn more about homeowners insurance and roof leaks.

Insurance companies generally consider dealing with infestations to be a part of regular home maintenance, which they don't cover.

It depends on the type of water damage. Most home insurance policies won’t cover floods, for example. They won't cover damage from a backed-up drain or sewer unless you've paid for that endorsement. But if a pipe freezes and bursts, your insurer will typically pay for the resulting damage. To learn more, see Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage?

Types of homeowners insurance policies

Homeowners insurance comes in several types, called “policy forms.” Some types provide more expansive coverage than others, so it’s worthwhile to know the difference. Note that different insurance companies may have different names for these policies.

Most popular: HO-3 insurance

HO-3 insurance policies, also called “special form,” are the most common. If you have a mortgage, your lender is likely to require at least this level of coverage.

HO-3 insurance policies generally cover damage to your home from any cause except those the policy specifically excludes, such as an earthquake or flood. However, where it concerns your belongings, HO-3 insurance typically covers only damage from the perils listed in your policy.

Broadest coverage: HO-5 insurance

An HO-5 insurance policy provides the most extensive homeowners coverage. It pays for damage to your home and belongings from all causes except those the policy excludes. It’s typically available only for well-maintained homes in low-risk areas, and not all insurers offer it.

HO-5 policies are sometimes called “comprehensive form” or “premier” coverage. However, an HO-3 policy may also be labeled “premier” in some cases, without offering the broader coverage of an HO-5 policy. If you want HO-5 insurance coverage, be sure to ask your agent or representative.

Limited coverage: HO-1 and HO-2 insurance

Much less popular are HO-1 and HO-2 homeowners insurance, which pay out only for damage caused by events listed in the policy.

Other policy types include HO-4 insurance for renters, HO-6 for condo owners, HO-7 for mobile homes and HO-8 — a rarely used type that provides limited coverage for older homes.

How homeowners insurance works

If your home is destroyed, your homeowners insurance company isn’t likely to simply write you a check for the amount listed on your policy. First, you’ll have to file a claim, documenting the damage. And your payout could vary depending on your coverage and deductible options.

Replacement cost vs. actual cash value

One key factor in your payout is whether your coverage will pay whatever it takes to rebuild your home, even if that cost exceeds your policy limits. This situation may arise, for instance, if construction costs have increased in your area while your coverage limits haven't changed. Here’s a rundown of several options you may encounter.

Actual cash value coverage pays the cost to repair or replace your damaged property, minus a deduction for depreciation. Most policies don’t use this method for the house, but it’s common for personal belongings. For items that are several years old, this means you’ll probably get only a fraction of what it would cost to buy new ones.

Functional replacement cost value coverage pays to fix your home with materials that are similar but possibly cheaper. For example, your contractor could replace damaged plaster walls with less expensive drywall.

Replacement cost value coverage pays to repair your home with materials of “like kind and quality,” so plaster walls can be replaced with plaster. However, the payout won’t exceed your policy’s dwelling coverage limits.

Some policies offer replacement cost value coverage for personal items. This means the insurer would pay to replace your old belongings with new ones, with no deduction for depreciation. If this feature is important to you, check the policy details before you buy. It’s a common option, but you typically need to pay more for it.

Extended replacement cost value coverage will pay out more than the face value of your dwelling coverage, up to a specified limit, if that’s what it takes to fix your home. The limit can be a dollar amount or a percentage, such as 25% above your dwelling coverage amount. This gives you a cushion if rebuilding is more expensive than you expected.

Guaranteed replacement cost value coverage pays the full cost to repair or replace your home after a covered loss, even if it exceeds your policy limits. Not all insurance companies offer this level of coverage.

Homeowners insurance deductibles

Homeowners policies typically include a deductible — the amount you’re required to cover before your insurer starts paying. The deductible can be:

• A flat dollar amount, such as $500 or $1,000.

• A percentage, such as 1% or 2% of the home’s insured value.

When you receive a claim check, your insurer subtracts your deductible amount. Say you have a $1,000 deductible and your insurer approves a claim for $10,000 in repairs. The insurer would pay $9,000, and you would be responsible for $1,000.

Choosing a higher deductible will usually reduce your premium. However, you’ll shoulder more of the financial burden should you need to file a claim. A lower deductible, on the other hand, means you might have a higher premium but your insurer would pick up nearly the whole tab after an incident.

Be aware that some policies include separate — and often higher — deductibles for specific types of claims such as damage from wind, hail, hurricanes or earthquakes. For example, a policy might have a $1,000 deductible for most losses but a 10% deductible for optional earthquake coverage that you added to the policy. This means if an earthquake damages a home with $300,000 worth of dwelling coverage, the deductible would be $30,000.

Liability claims generally don’t have a deductible.

Frequently asked questions

How much does homeowners insurance cost?

The average cost of homeowners insurance is $1,784 a year, according to a NerdWallet analysis. But your rate could be much higher or lower, depending on your location and the amount of coverage you buy. In most states, your credit score can also be a factor.

How can I pay less for homeowners insurance?

If your premium seems too high, there are easy ways to save on homeowners insurance. For example, many insurers offer a discount for bundling home and auto insurance. You might also get a lower rate for having common safety features such as burglar alarms and deadbolt locks. And it’s always a good idea to shop around to compare homeowners insurance quotes to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

How much homeowners insurance do you need?

You need enough homeowners insurance to cover the cost of rebuilding your home if it’s destroyed. For your belongings, you’ll generally want personal property coverage limits that are at least 50% of your dwelling coverage amount. Finally, consider setting your liability limit at least high enough to cover all your assets. To learn more, see How Much Home Insurance Do You Need?

Is homeowners insurance tax-deductible?

If your home is your primary residence, your homeowners insurance premium is not tax-deductible. But if the house is a rental property, you may be able to deduct the premiums on your taxes.

Which of the following could be covered by a homeowners policy?

Which of the following is not eligible for a homeowners policy quizlet?

Which of these is not covered by homeowners?

What are the three most common homeowner policy coverage areas?