Frequently used terms:
 Understand the main homeowners insurance terms
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Additional Living Expense
Fire damage or other covered loss could increase your living
costs—you may be paying for a hotel, restaurant meals or laundromat,
for example. In a standard homeowner policy, Loss of Use (Coverage
D) will reimburse you for any additional living expenses incurred
by you in an attempt to maintain a normal standard of living if
your home is made uninhabitable by a covered peril. See Loss of
Use.
Appurtenant Structure
In a property insurance policy, "appurtenant structures"
are buildings on the same premises as the main, insured building.
Appurtenant structures like garages or barns on your property and
are usually covered by homeowner insurance policy.
Arbitration Clause
In your property insurance contract, the arbitration clause
provides a means for settlement when you and your insurer cannot
agree on an acceptable claim payment. Appraisers representing each
party select a neutral arbitrator; a judgment by any two of these
three constitutes a binding settlement.
Bodily Injury
(BI)
An important type of liability coverage, BI will pay legal
damages awarded for injury or death for which you are held legally
responsible.
Broad Theft Coverage
An endorsement to a dwelling policy which provides theft coverage
for contents to a named insured, owner occupant.
Business Personal Property
In a homeowner policy, "business personal property"
refers to items or "contents" owned by your business or
company—like the lap top you might bring home over the weekend.
Coverage is usually limited to $2,500.
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Coverage A
Called "Dwelling", this is the part of your home insurance
policy that covers the home itself—frame, flooring and fixed objects.
The amount of Coverage A is the cost to replace the structure of
your home in the event of total loss. Other coverages are usually
based on a percentage of Coverage A.
Coverage B
This part of your policy covers "Other Structures"—barns,
sheds, garages.
Coverage C
"Personal Property" covers your belongings automatically
for 50% of Coverage A.
Coverage D
"Loss of Use" takes into account expenses you'll have
if your home is uninhabitable because of a covered loss. It pays
for temporary lodging and living expenses.
Coverage E
"Personal Liability" covers you for your legal responsibility
for injury caused to others whether on or away from your own property.
Coverage F
"Medical Payments" pays medical costs if someone is
injured on your property. A homeowner policy automatically covers
$1,000. You can increase this coverage in $1,000 increments, up
to $5,000. In order to collect more than this, the injured party
must file for compensation under Coverage E.
Debris Removal Clause
While most property policies cover only direct damages caused
by an insured peril, the "debris removal clause" covers
the cost of removing debris produced by the peril's occurrence.
For example, a hurricane sweeps through the state; a fallen tree
will be removed only if it lands on your house. Debris Removal reimburses
you for the cost of cleaning all the broken limbs and rubble.
Direct Loss
This is a damage or loss resulting as a direct consequence of
an insured peril. For example, a computer lost in a fire is a direct
loss; the data destroyed inside the computer is considered an indirect
loss.
Direct Writer
When an insurance company offers its policies directly to consumers
through its own employees, it's called a "direct writer."
Electric Insurance Company is a direct writer.
Dwelling Forms
These are polices which cover a residence dwelling or building
and the personal property inside. You can buy dwelling forms which
vary by the degree of coverage they offer.
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Earthquake Endorsement
Most homeowner policies exclude coverage for earthquake damage.
People who are concerned about the risk of earthquakes can add an
Earthquake Endorsement to cover damages.
Easement
An "easement" entitles its holder to specific interests,
such as a right of way, in land owned by someone else.
FAIR
An acronym for "Fair Access to Insurance Requirements,"
FAIR offers insurance to people in high-risk areas who might otherwise
be denied coverage. Reinsured by the United States government, FAIR
is a pooling plan with policies for fire and allied perils.
Fire
In property insurance, "fire" refers to the unintentional
or "hostile" occurrences of flame and combustion. Damage
caused by fire in your fireplace, for instance, is not covered under
your homeowner policy. But if your rug were ignited by a spark from
that same fireplace, you would be covered.
Fire Resistive Construction
Building construction using fire-resistive materials in its
roof, floors and exterior walls. See also Modified Fire-Resistive
Construction.
Fire Wall
A wall designed to contain or seal off fires in a building.
Fireproof
Unfortunately, no one can make a building completely undamageable
by fire. Today, insurers use the term "fire-resistive"
to describe buildings which are practically resistant to most fire
damage.
Flood
A temporary submersion, partial or complete, of ordinarily
dry land by water or mud. Floods are typically caused by an overflow
of waters, whether inland, tidal or from any accumulated runoff
from any source. Flood is excluded under a typical homeowner insurance
policy.
Flood Insurance
Policies sold to cover property owners from losses caused by
floods or flooding, usually offered in conjunction with a government
flood insurance plan.
Frame Construction
The most common form of housing construction, frame buildings
are made primarily of wood frames and joists.
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Guaranteed Replacement Cost
Guaranteed Replacement Cost coverage on homeowners insurance
means that your home will be repaired to its value at the time of
loss, reguardless of the amount of coverage carried. For example,
you estimate your home to have a full replacement value of $162,000.
On your homeowner policy, you carry $162,000 coverage for the structure.
If you have guaranteed replacement cost endorsement on your policy
and the home is lost in a fire and the house costs $168,000 to rebuild,
the policy will pay $168,000.
Homeowner Policy
Combined property and liability insurance that covers homeowners
and renters for damage to or theft of their property and liability,
in case they are responsible for injury to another person.
Increased Cost of Construction
Insurance
Commonly added as an endorsement to homeowner policies, "increased
cost of construction insurance" covers the additional costs
of building repair or reconstruction when you rebuild with more
expensive services, materials and techniques required by local ordinances.
Increased Hazard
Property insurance terms are tailored to the nature and use
of the property as it exists when the policy is written. Should
you introduce dangerous materials or activities into the property,
like making fireworks, you will have added an increased hazard whose
liabilities would not be covered by your policy.
Indirect Loss
Also known as consequential loss or damage, indirect loss results
from, but is not caused directly by, a peril. If your business property
burned down, for instance, the property itself is a direct loss,
while the lost business revenues would be considered an indirect
loss.
Inflation Guard Coverage
"Inflation Guard Coverage" provides automatic
periodic increases on the building's property insurance, to reflect
the effects of inflation on building replacement expenses.
Inherent Vice
A property flaw or fault which causes its own destruction. Damages
from inherent vices are usually not covered through insurance.
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Liberalization Clause
If policies or endorsement forms are broadened through legislation
or rating authority rulings—and do not require premium increases—the
"liberalization clause" automatically includes the broadened
coverage in similar, existing policies.
Loss of Use Coverage
If your home becomes uninhabitable because of an insured
peril, Loss of Use (Coverage D) provides compensation for additional
living expenses incurred in an attempt to maintain a normal standard
of living. Loss of Use is automatically included as 20% of the Replacement
Cost amount you carry in Coverage A . If your home were covered
for $200,000, for example, Loss of Use coverage would provide up
to $40,000 for additional living expenses. See Additional Living
Expenses .
Loss Payable Clause
To protect lenders or lien holders, this clause extends coverage
to parties with an insurable interest in your property, most often
the institution holding your mortgage.
Masonary Noncombustible Construction
Refers to buildings constructed from noncombustible materials
such as masonry walls of brick, cinder block, stone, tile, or other
similar materials, and floors and roofs made of metal or other noncombustible
materials.
Mobile Home Policy
A homeowner policy for a permanently situated mobile home.
Modified Fire-Resistive Construction
Building construction featuring exterior walls, floors and
roofs made of fire-resistive materials such as masonry or metal.
Mortgage Clause
In policies covering mortgaged property, the "mortgage
clause" protects the interests of the mortgagee for loss reimbursement
and other rights of recovery, regardless of any acts or neglect
by the insured.
Mortgagee
A lender or creditor, typically a bank, who holds the mortgage,
and lends money secured by the value of the mortgaged property.
Mortgagor
Usually the homeowner who, as debtor, receives money in return
for a property mortgage granted as a security for the loan.
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Named Perils
Named Perils Insurance covers specific perils listed in a policy,
as opposed to an "all-risk insurance" covering all losses
except the ones excluded by name in the policy.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
A program backed by the United States government to provide
flood insurance for fixed property. The NFIP writes policies directly
and offers reimbursement to private carriers offering flood insurance.
Occupancy
Property insurance rates reflect the way the property is used.
In general, "owner occupied" homeowner policies are less
expensive than "non-owner occupied" policies.
Off Premises
Coverage you can obtain for personal property or "contents"
which are away from the principle, insured property. In most cases,
the amount of this coverage is limited to a percentage of the property's
total coverage.
Other Structures
Generally detached structures, such as a garage or tool shed,
sharing property with the insured dwelling. Under a homeowner policy,
"other structures" are automatically covered for 10% of
the limit chosen for Coverage A.
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Personal Property
Any of your property, such as furniture, clothing and consumer
electronics, other than real estate property. Your homeowner policy
covers the personal property of you and your family members.
Physical Damage
Actual damage to your property.
Red-Lining
Unfair discrimination against a risk based solely on its location.
For example, the denial of property insurance to the owner of a
building located in a depressed area.
Rental Value
Insurance Protection against loss of rental value or actual
rent should the owner's insured property suffer damages prohibiting
property use or tenant occupation.
Renters Insurance
See HO4 .
Replacement Cost
Coverage for the cost of replacing damaged property at the time
of loss with that of similar kind and quality. If you carry replacement
cost coverage and have a loss, the insurer pays for the cost of
a new replacement, minus any policy deductible.
Residence Premises
Where you, the insured, live. In homeowner insurance, this includes
the dwelling, grounds and other structures, or that part of any
other building in which you live.
Riot
Violent activity by more than one person. The number of persons
it takes to constitute a riot varies by state. Your policy may cover
riots through extended coverage or direct reference.
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Scheduled Personal Property
Personal belongings that are worth more than the limits of
liability set in your policy can be insured by adding this endorsement.
Sinkhole Collapse
A special form of earth movement, covered by some homeowner
insurance, referring to the sudden collapse or sinking of land into
empty, underground spaces eroded by water. Most other forms of earth
movement remain excluded from ordinary policies.
Smoke Damage
As opposed to fire damage caused by combustion, heat or burning,
this is damage attributable to the smoke itself.
Stated Amount
In your policy, you may choose to cover certain items for a
specific amount. In the event of loss, the insurer pays the stated
amount regardless of the property's actual value. If, for example,
you insured a painting for a stated amount of $15,000, in the event
of theft you would recover the $15,000 (minus your deductible),
even if the painting had accrued value after the policy had been
signed.
Tenants Policy
Another term for Renters Insurance. See HO4.
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Unoccupied
Property without people occupying or living within it. As opposed
to vacant property, unoccupied property may hold furnishings. Unoccupancy
beyond a specified period of time is prohibited by the standard
homeowner policy. See Vacant .
Vacant
A building with nothing in it. While an "unoccupied"
building is defined by not having people in it, a "vacant"
building is also devoid of furnishings and other items. Vacancy
beyond a specified period of time is prohibited by the standard
homeowner policy. See: Unoccupied .
Vandalism and Malicious Mischief (V&MM or VMM)
Your homeowner policy should automatically cover you for willful
destruction or damage performed by others to your property.
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