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
Start a quote for a hard-to-place dwelling and let a licensed California broker compare the available dwelling fire markets.
We shop the market for you, no broker fees
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.
Is your dwelling a fit?
Usually a fit
- Seasonal and second homes
- Tenant occupied houses
- Older homes, by review
- Short term rentals, by review
Usually declined or referred
- Condemned or due for demolition
- Existing structural damage
- Earth, dome or stilt homes
- Converted commercial buildings
- Evictions under way
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 non-standard occupancy market we shop reviews the occupancy instead of declining it outright.
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.
On the California FAIR Plan
This request quotes the FAIR Plan dwelling policy next to the other dwelling fire markets.
Rented, seasonal or vacant
The FAIR Plan writes 1 to 4 unit homes that are tenant occupied, seasonal, or vacant for up to a year, up to $3 million per location.
Lost rent, not liability
Fair rental value can be added up to 50% of the dwelling limit. Landlord liability needs a separate policy, such as DIC.
What a dwelling fire policy covers
Usually covered
- The dwelling
On the basic DP1 or the broader DP3 form.
- Other structures
Detached structures on the lot.
- Personal property
Your belongings kept at the dwelling.
- Fair rental value
The rent you lose while a covered loss is repaired.
Not covered, and where to find it
- Flood
- Earthquake
- A tenant's belongings
Built around the way the home is used
- 01
Family units per dwelling
1 to 4
- 02
Policy forms
DP1 or DP3
- 03
All other peril deductible
$1K to $10K. Usually, depending on the market.
Written for California dwelling owners, including:
- Seasonal and secondary homes
- Short term and vacation rentals, by review
- 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?
It can be reviewed. Short term and vacation rental occupancy goes to the non-standard occupancy market we shop, which is the occupancy standard landlord policies exclude. A dedicated vacation rental market is not yet available online, so declare the occupancy honestly and expect the broker to confirm which market can quote it.
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.
What if no market will take the home?
The California FAIR Plan writes a named peril fire policy for 1 to 4 unit homes that standard insurers decline, including in wildfire areas. A DIC policy can cover what it leaves out, such as theft, water damage and liability.
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.
Get covered in minutes.
Start online or call to get covered fast with no fees.