What are the 8 Types of Homeowners Insurance Form Policies?
Buying homeowners insurance is one of the most important things you can do to protect your biggest investment— your home. However, not all homeowners insurance is created equal. In fact, there are eight different types of homeowner insurance policies, depending on the kind of home you have and the level of protection you need.
As you can see, homeowners insurance can be tricky, but we’re here to help it all make sense. Want to ensure that your home is protected when you need it most? Stay with us as we break down the eight types of homeowners coverage—and help you decide which one is right for you.
Different Types of Home Insurances:
- HO–1: Basic Form
- HO–2: Broad Form
- HO-3: Special Form
- HO–4: Contents Broad Form (Renters Insurance)
- HO–5: Comprehensive Form
- HO–6: Unit Owners Form
- HO–7: Mobile Home Form
- HO–8: Modified Coverage Form
- Fire or lightning
- Windstorm or hail
- Smoke
- Vandalism
- Theft
- Explosion
- Riot or civil commotion
- Damage from vehicles or aircraft
- Falling objects
- Volcanic eruption
- Weight from ice, snow, or sleet
- Accidental discharge or overflow of water or stream
- Sudden tearing apart, burning, cracking of a built-in home system, such as a water heater or centralized air conditioner or heating system
- Freezing of pipes and heating and air conditioning systems
- Sudden and accidental damage from certain electrical currents
- Defective construction or maintenance
- Foundation issues
- Government actions
- Pet or animal damage
- Pollution and corrosion
- Theft, vandalism and frozen pipes in vacant houses
- Wear and tear
- Flooding
- Earth movement
- War
- Nuclear hazard
- Intentional loss
- Neglect
- Mold, fungus, or wet rot (except if it resulted from an accidental discharge or overflow of water)
- Power failure
- Ordinance or law
- Mechanical breakdown
- Smog, rust, or corrosion
- Birds, vermin, rodents, insects
- Damage from the weight of snow or ice
- Damage from aircrafts or vehicles
- Damages caused by an electrical current
- Smoke
- Fire and lightning
- Hail and windstorms
- Pipes freezing
- Water damage from plumbing or HVAC overflow
- Water heater damage
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Volcanic eruptions
- Explosions
- Falling objects
- Riots
- Water damages from floods or sewer backup
- Ground movement
- Government actions or laws
- Infestation of birds, rodents or insects
- Intentional loss
- Mechanical breakdown
- Mold
- Nuclear hazard
- Pets
- Vandalism if the property is vacant more than two months
- War
- Damage from the weight of snow or ice
- Damages caused by an electrical current
- Damage from aircrafts or vehicles
- Water damage from plumbing or HVAC overflow
- Water heater damage
- Fire and lightning
- Hail and windstorms
- Pipes freezing
- Smoke
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Explosions
- Falling objects
- Riots
- Volcanic eruptions
- Falling objects
- Mobile homes
- Trailers
- Sectional homes
- Modular homes
- Park model homes and RVs
- Damage from aircrafts or vehicles
- Explosions
- Explosions
- Fire and lightning
- Hail and windstorms
- Riots
- Smoke
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Damage from aircraft or vehicles
- Explosions
- Explosions
- Fire and lightning
- Hail and windstorms
- Riots
- Smoke
- Theft
- Vandalism
HO–1: Basic Form
What is an HO-1 Insurance Policy?
An HO-1 policy is the most basic type of homeowners insurance policies. It’s also the most limited in terms of coverage. An HO-1 only provides coverage for the structure of your home, attached structures—such as a garage—and appliances and home features like carpeting. It does not include coverage for personal property, liability or additional living expenses. Because of those limitations, it is not a popular choice for home insurance.
What does an HO-1 form cover?
HO-1 insurance is a named perils policy, which means it only covers your home in specific situations, including:
HO–2: Broad Form
What is an HO-2 Insurance Policy?
A broad form policy is more common than an HO-1. It’s also an upgrade from the basic form policy, since it covers your home and your personal belongings at actual cash value.
What does an HO-2 form cover?
HO-2 insurance is a named perils policy that covers your home and your personal items from the same circumstances covered by an HO-1 policy. However, it also protects your home and personal belongings against a few additional perils, including:
HO-3: Special Form
What is an HO-3 Insurance Policy?
The most common type of homeowners insurance is the HO-3 Special Form policy, which accounts for the vast majority of single-family home policies. HO-3 insurance covers your home, your personal property, liability, additional living expenses and medical payments.
It gives you ‘open perils’ coverage for your home structure, which protects you from everything except the causes of loss specifically outlined in your policy. Your home and other structures typically have the following perils excluded:
What does an HO-3 form cover?
By default, an HO-3 policy will cover your home at its replacement cost and personal property at its actual cash value. Most insurers will allow you to add a replacement cost endorsement to your personal property coverage for a small additional premium. Some may even include replacement cost personal property protection in its base policy.
HO–4: Contents Broad Form (Renters Insurance)
What is an HO-4 Insurance Policy?
HO-4 insurance policy is also known as renters insurance, an HO-4 policy is created specifically for those who lease homes, apartments, or condos. Renters insurance protects your personal property inside your rental, as well as your liability. Some policies may include additional living expenses—such as hotel bills and meals—if your apartment is damaged and you need to live elsewhere temporarily.
What does an HO-4 form cover?
Renters insurance will pay your personal property at its replacement cost. It also covers the same named perils found in the broad and special form policies, including:
HO–5: Comprehensive Form
What is an HO-5 Insurance Policy?
If you’re looking for home insurance with the most robust coverage possible, an HO-5 policy is the way to go. This type of home insurance is the most comprehensive option available, covering your home, your personal belongings, liability, additional living expenses and medical payments for others.
HO-5 policies have higher coverage limits for expensive types of property with normally strict coverage limits. This makes them a best choice for high-net-worth properties and for individuals with high-value possessions. Although they cost more and may not be offered by every insurance company, an HO-5 is a wise option if you have many costly items in your home.
What does an HO-5 form cover?
With an HO-5 policy, your home and your personal items are both covered under an open perils policy, which means that it will protect you from anything not specifically excluded in your policy. Some common exclusions include:
HO–6: Unit Owners Form
What is an HO-6 Insurance Policy?
Also known as condo insurance, an HO-6 policy is specifically for people who live in a condominium. Generally, it offers coverage for liability claims, damage to your condo unit and belongings, and additional living expenses if you’re unable to stay in your residence due to a covered incident.
Since condo residents only own a single unit, rather than the entire building, the condo association has its own insurance policy to protect the condo building itself, as well as the building’s common areas and the structure of your unit before you moved in. However, an HO–6 typically doesn’t cover improvements or renovations you’ve made while living in your condo. To cover the cost of any upgrades, you’ll need to make sure your policy has adequate dwelling coverage.
What does an HO-6 form cover?
HO-6 policies are named perils policies, which generally protect coverage for:
HO–7: Mobile Home Form
What is an HO-7 Insurance Policy?
HO-7 insurance is designed specifically for mobile homes, which aren’t covered under a normal single-family home policy. The type of homes covered under HO-7 policies include:
What does an HO-7 form cover?
HO-7 coverage protects your home’s structure, your personal belongings and liability, as well as medical payments and additional living expenses. The exterior of your home is covered under an open perils policy, which covers any situation that is not explicitly stated in your insurance policy. However, HO-7 policies cover your personal belongings under a named perils policy. That means your personal items are only covered under a specific list of circumstances, including:
HO–8: Modified Coverage Form
What is an HO-8 Insurance Policy?
The final type of homeowners insurance is the HO-8 policy, designed for homes that don’t meet the standards required for most types of homeowners insurance. It’s ideal for homeowners who have older homes or homes that would be difficult to replace. This may include historic landmark homes, architecturally significant houses, or homes built with uncommon methods and materials. If it would cost more to repair your damaged home than its current value, an HO-8 policy may be the right policy for you.
What does an HO-8 form cover?
HO-8 insurance includes the standard coverage for dwelling, personal property, and liability, as well as additional living expenses and medical payments. Both your home’s structure and your personal property are covered under a named perils policy, which includes:
How to Lower Your Homeowner Insurance Rates
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