Ask PIA

Coverage for executor

How can the executor of an estate be covered under homeowners and umbrella policies?

Fallen tree—deductible

A tree fell onto my insured’s property as a result of the wind. His policy will cover the removal of the tree under the additional debris removal coverage. However, the company stated the policy deductible will apply, leaving very little actual coverage. Can the company apply the deductible in this situation?

Golf carts off course

My customer lives in a trailer park and owns a golf cart. Will his homeowners policy cover him while using the golf cart to visit his neighbors within the trailer park?

Long-term absence

I have a homeowners client who is going to Europe to attend medical school. While he is gone, his cousin will occupy the home. Are there any coverage problems with this scenario?

HO coverage and fallen trees

Has there been a change in homeowners coverage for trees that are blown down but don’t land on a structure? We think we saw something to this effect.

Insuring time shares

My insured has purchased a time share in a condominium and wants to add this premise to his homeowners policy. The underwriter says no. Could you explain the coverage issues involved in light of this refusal?

Coverage while home repaired

My customer’s home was extensively damaged by a fire while covered under an HO-3 homeowners form. Repairs have commenced while the insured is living at a temporary residence. Is the home protected during reconstruction in the same manner as it was prior to the loss?

CGL protection for building renovations

If a homeowner hires a general contractor to renovate or build a home, what is the appropriate additional insured endorsement that the general contractor should add to his policy to protect the homeowner against losses caused by the general contractor or its subcontractors?

Condominium instruments

Why do I need to know the statutory requirements for condominiums?

Parents own young couple’s house

We insure a young couple who are living in a home purchased for them by their parents. The home is titled in the parents’ names, but only the couple lives there.

We could write a dwelling policy for the parents and an HO-4 for the occupants, but we feel this would be an unnecessary complication. We would like to write an HO-3 with both the couple and the parents listed. Would this cover everyone’s interests?

Limitations on business pursuits coverage

We’re wondering just how to interpret the Business Pursuits (HO-71) endorsement. What additional protection could this endorsement give to our client who is a teacher?

Collapse exclusion

My homeowners client had a five-inch thick and two-by-three-foot cement slab in front of his fireplace. The whole thing suddenly fell into the basement. Is the damage covered as collapse under the HO-3 homeowners policy?

Son rents detached garage apartment

Our homeowners clients have a detached garage with an apartment above it where their son lives. Will the son have the same coverage as the parents regarding the structure, contents, and liability protection?

Sewer back-up excluded; endorsement available

My homeowners policyholder has a sewer that runs across a neighbor’s property to connect with the main. He has an easement that authorizes this.

A contractor working for the neighbor damaged the sewer line with a vehicle, causing sewage backup in the insured’s house. About $10,000 in damage was incurred. Our homeowners carrier denied coverage, because the vehicle did not cause the damage on our insured’s property. What can we do?

Covering landlord’s furniture

Will the HO-4 policy purchased by a tenant cover the landlord’s furnishings in a rented dwelling?

Worldwide coverage

If a homeowner is planning to vacation out of the country, does his or her homeowners coverage apply worldwide?

Homeowners—ordinance and law

How much ordinance or law coverage should be purchased on a homeowners policy?

Town water-line connection

Is there any coverage provided under the HO-3 for damage to an underground water pipe connection from the town/city water line to the home if the pipe breaks?

Binder prior to closing

I have an attorney that is requiring a binder before he can give a closing date. No coverage has been bound because the insured does not own the property yet. I have advised the attorney that we need a closing date to issue the binder showing coverage is bound when the insured has an insurable interest in the property. How can I get around this type of problem with banks and attorneys?

Service vehicle

I have an insured who owns an all-terrain vehicle that is being used as a utility vehicle on their property (three acres with a barn and horses). How would their homeowners policy respond?

Wine collections

My client has asked if his wine collection, valued at $300,000, would be covered under his HO-3 policy. I’m not sure if this would be covered under Coverage C—Personal Property coverage. What does PIA think?

Secondary location

We have an insured who owns two condo units in the same building. Both are for his use. One is his primary residence and the other is used as an office, which also contains a guest bedroom. He does not sleep in this unit, but his girlfriend sleeps there occasionally. We wanted to write this as a secondary location. The company is stating this is not secondary because he does not sleep there. Is that the correct description of a secondary residence? Must the insured sleep there? Is the fact that he spends time in this unit every day enough to show it is a secondary residence for the insured?

Cyberbullying

Would a homeowners policy provide coverage in the event an insured is accused of cyberbullying?

Theft of a lawn

I was reading a news article about a woman who had her lawn stolen; that’s right, it seems that after speaking to her neighbors they reported a white truck and trailer parked at her house. No one thought it was suspicious. They thought it was just another landscaping job, but what happened was that someone stole her lawn. I was wondering how a homeowners policy would respond?

Children away at school

Does our homeowners policy cover our son or daughter while away at college?

ISO HO policy treatment of trusts

I heard that the Insurance Services Office Inc. made changes in its 2011 Homeowners Program regarding trusts. Do you have any details on this?

Condominium assessments—perils insured

If the condo association insures common property only for broad-form perils, how could the unit owner be protected for assessments made for damage caused by an unnamed peril?

HO mold coverage

My insured discovered mold growth in her kitchen, which was caused by a water leak from the dishwasher. Does the ISO homeowners policy cover mold damage?

Power failure

I just had a claim denial for a power surge to a central air-conditioning unit. The insurer is claiming the air-conditioning unit is excluded under Coverage C—Personal Property. I would think the air-conditioning unit should be covered under Coverage A—Dwelling. The insurer states that coverage requires a home systems breakdown endorsement.

Insurance considerations after selling your home