ACORD 27 is the standard evidence of property insurance form, issued by an agent or broker to document property coverage for a party that holds a financial interest in the insured property, most often a mortgagee, loss payee, or lessor. It is the property-side counterpart to the liability certificate, built for personal lines and smaller commercial property risks such as a home with a mortgage, a condo unit, or a leased storefront's contents. Where a certificate merely reports information, an evidence form is addressed to a specific interest holder about a specific insured location.
Lenders on larger commercial schedules typically require ACORD 28 instead, which this page distinguishes below. Here you will find what ACORD 27 documents, why the evidence versus certificate distinction matters, and how the additional interest section works.
What does ACORD 27 do?
ACORD 27 tells a party with a financial interest in property that insurance covering that property is in force. The agent completes it with the named insured, the carrier, the policy number and term, the location and description of the covered property, the coverage amounts and deductibles, and the identity and interest of the party requesting it.
A mortgage lender closing a home loan wants evidence that the dwelling is insured for enough to protect the loan. A landlord wants evidence that a tenant insured its contents and improvements. An equipment lessor wants evidence that the leased property is covered.
In each case the requester's real protection comes from a policy provision, usually the mortgage clause or a loss payable clause, and the ACORD 27 documents that the provision exists and names them. The form is the deliverable at closing, the policy provision is the substance.
How is evidence of insurance different from a certificate?
The difference is who the document is for and what it speaks to. A certificate such as ACORD 25 is a broad informational summary of a liability program, issued to anyone who asks, expressly conferring no rights.
An evidence form is narrower and more pointed. It addresses one property, one policy, and one interest holder, and it corresponds to policy provisions that give that interest holder genuine rights, such as the mortgageholder's right to be paid on covered building losses.
That is why lenders will not accept a liability certificate for a property interest. The certificate does not identify their collateral, does not state property limits or deductibles on that collateral, and does not reflect any policy provision in their favor. Evidence forms exist precisely because property interests are specific. The distinction shows up operationally too, since evidence forms are typically issued at loan closing or lease inception and reissued at each renewal so the interest holder's file stays current.
What does the additional interest section record?
The additional interest section identifies the requesting party and the nature of its stake, and each choice maps to different policy mechanics. The main interests look like this:
| Interest | Who it fits | What the policy provision does |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgagee | Lender secured by real property | Pays the lender on covered building losses and preserves its rights even if the insured voids coverage |
| Loss payee | Party with an interest in personal property, such as an equipment lessor | Adds the party to loss payments on the described property |
| Lender's loss payable | Lender secured by personal property | Gives the secured lender protections closer to a mortgagee's on the scheduled property |
| Additional insured | Party needing insured status on property coverage, such as some lessors | Extends insured status rather than just payment rights |
Getting the interest type right matters more than it looks. A lender listed as a plain loss payee generally loses coverage if the insured's own coverage fails, while a mortgagee or lender's loss payable interest survives many insured-side defenses. Brokers check the loan documents, which usually dictate the exact clause the lender requires. The one-line lesson: the checkbox on the evidence must match the clause on the policy.
Where can you see the actual form?
Menlo does not reproduce ACORD forms because they are copyrighted by ACORD Corporation. Licensed agencies and carriers access current editions through acord.org and generate completed evidence forms from their agency management systems. If you are a lender, lessor, or landlord requesting evidence, you receive the completed form from the insured's agent or broker, and you can ask that representative to confirm your interest is endorsed onto the policy itself.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ACORD 27 and ACORD 28?
Both are evidence of property insurance, but ACORD 27 serves personal lines and smaller commercial placements while ACORD 28 is the fuller form built for commercial property, with room for the coverage detail commercial lenders require. If the collateral is a commercial building financed by an institutional lender, expect to be asked for the 28.
Is an ACORD 27 the same as a certificate of insurance?
No. A certificate is a general informational summary that confers no rights on the holder. An evidence form is addressed to a specific interest holder about specific property and corresponds to policy provisions, like the mortgage clause, that give the holder real rights.
Who requests an ACORD 27?
Mortgage lenders at loan closing, landlords at lease inception, equipment lessors, and loan servicers at each renewal. Anyone whose money is tied up in property someone else insures has a reason to hold current evidence.
Does an ACORD 27 guarantee the lender gets paid after a loss?
The evidence itself guarantees nothing, it documents coverage as of its date. Payment rights come from the policy's mortgageholders or loss payable provisions naming the lender. That is why lenders verify the interest appears on the policy, not just on the evidence form.
This guide is for educational purposes and describes standard evidence of insurance practice in Menlo's own words. Form numbers and titles are cited for identification only, and Menlo Insurance Services is not affiliated with ACORD Corporation. Your policy's specific terms, conditions, and endorsements control. Talk to a licensed broker about your actual exposures.