DP3 Form Home Insurance: Complete Policy Guide

Are you a landlord or planning to rent your property to someone else? If you don’t live on your property, you could face certain risks if an accident or loss occurs. That’s where dwelling fire insurance comes in.

A dwelling fire (DP3) insurance policy is a specific home insurance policy for rented homes. A DP3 is essential for protecting your home’s structure from the unknown. If you only have an HO-3 policy, you don’t have the right coverage. This DP3 policy guide will clear up confusion and get you on your way to proper home insurance coverage.

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What Is a DP3 Policy?

A DP3 policy is a type of dwelling fire insurance intended for rented residential homes (not commercial rentals). It covers the rental property structure and (optional) landlord furnishings.

A typical homeowners insurance policy won’t work the same way on your rental property. As a landlord, you face significant risks that the typical homeowner will never face. There is a lot to take into account when renting out a home.

From personal liability and vandalism to fire and theft, these risks put a lot of weight on a homeowner. You’re trusting another person to live on your property. Luckily, there is the DP3 form specifically designed to protect your property.

What Does a Dwelling Fire Policy Cover?

Do you own a multi-family property but don’t reside on the property? A DP3 policy will be your best match. Many people like you choose a DP3 policy because it is an open-peril policy. “Open peril” means your insurance company includes all covered perils. Think of this as coverage on pretty much anything bad that happens to your property. Open perils are much different than named perils. A named-perils policy only covers your property’s losses from specific perils or hazardous events listed in your policy.

Loss of use rental coverage may also be included. Loss of use coverage exists to cover additional living expenses. You need loss of use when your home becomes unlivable. If a windstorm comes and rips the roof off of your property, it will need to be repaired or rebuilt. Your tenants will need to find another place to live.

For reference, your home’s rebuilding or repair is known as dwelling coverage (or Coverage A). This covered peril would result in a loss of rents. As a landlord with loss of rents coverage, you could be eligible for reimbursement of lost rental income of the fair rental value, up to your policy’s limits. For reference, loss of use/rents will be under Coverage D in your homeowners policy.

Finally, personal liability is included in some DP3 policies. Personal liability coverage is a type of coverage that protects you legally. This type of coverage is used for events like accidents resulting in bodily injury or property damage. Personal liability also covers the cost of medical bills and legal defense fees up to the policy’s limit.

What’s Not Covered Under a DP3 Policy?

A DP3 policy does not include the contents of the home, like furniture. Do you need coverage on the contents of your rental home? You will have to purchase additional coverage or an endorsement to your policy.

You may be required to buy a different policy if you have buildings that you rent to three or more families because they may be considered investment properties. In this case, a commercial policy would be the correct policy for you, instead of a DP3.

There are some instances where your insurance company will insure a three- or four-family building with a DP3. Check with your insurance company to confirm which policy is right for you.

Perils and Events Typically Excluded in a DP3 Policy:

Not every peril is covered by your DP3 policy. You should be aware of common exceptions. If your property is at reasonable risk of one of the following perils, you should add a rider or separate policy to your insurance plan.

• Earth movement (such as earthquakes)

• Water damage

• Ordinance or law

• Power failure

• Negligence

• Intentional loss

• War

• Nuclear hazard

• Governmental actions

• Mold or rot

• Seasonal vacation properties or short-term rentals

Coverage may vary depending on the insurance company. Wondering which company will work best for you? Insurify lets you compare and receive free quotes from the best insurance companies at the lowest prices available. It’s the easiest way to get the best policy for your investment.

Optional Coverages on Dwelling Fire Insurance

The DP3 policy mainly covers your property’s structure (known as Coverage B ). You may have other structures, like a garage or a shed. You can purchase an add-on or endorsement for your DP3 policy to include these structures. An endorsement may also be added for personal property inside your rental.

Personal property includes appliances like ranges or dishwashers. You can find personal property details under Coverage C in your insurance policy.

Also, check with your insurance agent to confirm if your policy includes personal liability coverage. Personal liability helps you cover things like medical payments should some b injured on your property due to your negligence. Policies vary from insurer to insurer, and not all policies will offer this coverage. Many landlords purchase a separate comprehensive general liability policy to get fully covered.

What’s the Difference Between a DP3 Policy and an HO-3 Policy?

An HO-3 is known as “broad form” home insurance. It’s the most popular type of homeowners insurance policy and provides comprehensive coverage. But it’s a bad idea to have an HO-3 policy if you don’t live on your property. If something terrible happens, you would be at risk of not being covered for losses.

When you rent out your single-family home or small multi-family property, your insurer considers there to be increased liability on it. Rental property premiums can cost 20 to 30 percent more. Yes, even though it comes with less coverage, you’re stuck paying more.

What’s the Difference Between a DP1 and a DP3 Policy?

They are both types of dwelling fire policies. The main difference is the occupancy of the home. A DP1 policy provides the minimum coverage amount for a vacant property at actual cash value. Actual cash value takes into account the depreciation of the property. For example, a roof that’s lived 20 of its 25-year lifetime would be reimbursed for one-fifth of its value. That’s because only five years (or one-fifth) of the natural life of the roof is left.

A DP3 policy is known as “landlord insurance,” when the landlord rents out a property without living there. If something happens, a DP3 includes replacement cost coverage for repairs or replacing property. Replacement cost coverage reimburses for the cost of replacing the property up to your policy limits —not just a percentage of what’s left in the property’s natural life. Minus the cost of the deductible, of course.

When You Need a DP3 Policy

If you are a landlord or intend to rent your dwelling without living there, the DP3 policy will be your best option. Let’s say your tenant has a fire in the kitchen of their unit. The kitchen walls and range are destroyed. The walls will be repaired or rebuilt under loss of use coverage in your policy. The range and dishwasher are covered under personal property coverage with additional coverage on these items.

The tenant’s personal property, including the kitchen table, would only be covered by their renters insurance. You are not responsible for the replacement cost of your renter’s personal property. If you only had an HO-3 policy, nothing would be covered in this scenario. It’s a scary thought!

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Frequently Asked Questions

DP3 Policy Guide to Landlord Insurance

If you are a landlord not living on your property, it’s in your best interest to purchase a dwelling fire policy, or DP3 insurance coverage, on your home. No matter what plans you have, risks like fires and natural disasters happen. If you’re not insured with the right home insurance policy, you could be out thousands of dollars. Additionally, purchasing extra coverage for any expensive personal items is a wise choice. Otherwise, you will have to pay for the replacement of expensive items out of pocket. That’s why a proper DP3 policy saves you money.

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