One to four family dwellings others decline
Seasonal and secondary homes, short term and vacation rentals, tenant occupied houses and older dwellings that standard carriers shy away from because of occupancy, age or size.
Dwelling Fire Insurance in California
Owners of hard to place dwellings, covered in days not weeks. Start a quote in minutes and a licensed California broker shops the dwelling fire markets for you.
We shop the market for you, no broker fees
Eight relevant markets are shown for comparison. Availability depends on the risk and location, and a logo does not imply a direct appointment.
Green Shield
Non-standard dwellings, seasonal and short term rental
Aegis
E&S DP3 dwellings, primary, seasonal and rental
Delos
California long-term landlord homes
GeoVera
Specialty residential property
Palomar
Residential catastrophe property
Markel
Specialty dwelling risks
Kinsale
Excess and surplus dwellings
Chubb
High-value residential property
What the dwelling fire market writes in California
DP1 and DP3 forms, mono-line or packaged
The basic DP1 form or the broader DP3 form, with premises liability packageable onto the property, which is what makes a dwelling fire policy more complete than a bare landlord policy.
The dwelling's condition decides the route
Plumbing, wiring, fuse panels, condemnation and existing structural damage can restrict individual programs. The broker checks them before choosing the market rather than applying one carrier's rule to every quote.
Every coverage a rental needs
Coverage A dwelling, other structures, personal property, fair rental value and additional living expenses, with vandalism, theft, water damage and mold sublimit ladders on the DP3 form.
How it works
10 minute form
A few questions about your business or home.
We shop the market
We compare carriers and read the forms line by line.
Quote and bind
We pick the best policy and get you covered.
Why the standard market declines your rental
A dwelling that is not your primary residence, rented short term, or simply old, falls outside the standard market's box the moment any one fact misses. Dwelling fire exists for exactly those facts.
Short term rental is a declination trigger
Standard homeowners and landlord policies exclude short term rental activity, and a vacation rental gap needs a form written for it. The dwelling fire market prices the occupancy instead of declining it.
Older systems end standard coverage
Galvanized plumbing, 100 amp panels or a roof past its life end most standard quotes. The specialty market prices those systems with age bands and deductible choices instead of a flat no.
Occupancy changes the form
Owner, tenant, seasonal, or short term rental each write differently, and the wrong occupancy on a standard policy can void a claim. The broker matches the occupancy to the form first.
Written for California dwelling owners, including:
- Seasonal and secondary homes
- Short term and vacation rentals
- Tenant occupied one to four family houses
- Older dwellings with updated systems
- Condominium units outside standard programs
- Manufactured homes by review
What changes your premium
These details help insurers assess your business and price the coverage. Terms and available options vary by insurer.
- Occupancy: owner, tenant, seasonal or short term rental
- Construction type and age of the building
- Roof age bands and protection class
- Liability limit and medical payments
- All other peril deductible from $1,000 to $10,000
Questions we get asked
What is a DP3 policy?
The DP3 is the broad dwelling property form: it covers the dwelling against open perils, and it is the form that carries options like theft, vandalism and water damage sublimits. The DP1 is the basic form covering a named list of perils.
Can I insure a short term rental?
Yes. Short term and vacation rental occupancies are written on this program, which is exactly what standard landlord policies exclude. The occupancy has to be declared honestly because it changes the form and the price.
Does dwelling fire include liability?
It can. Premises liability packages onto the property policy with limits from 25 thousand dollars to one million, plus medical payments from one to ten thousand.
What makes a dwelling ineligible?
Condemnation and serious existing damage are the strongest shared barriers. Plumbing, wiring, fuse panels, occupancy and wildfire exposure vary by market, so those answers guide routing instead of automatically ending the quote.
How is fair rental value covered?
If a covered loss makes the dwelling unrentable, the fair rental value coverage pays the rent you lose while it is repaired, which a bare property policy does not do.
Can you write this where my business is?
We are currently licensed in California only. Start a quote if the business or risk is in California, and we will confirm eligibility before you spend time on it.
What happens after I start a quote?
Tell us about the coverage you need and complete the application. We use those details to approach suitable markets and may ask follow-up questions. Requesting a quote does not put coverage in force.
Ready to compare your coverage options?
Start your application online, or talk with a licensed broker about your situation.