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🏠 '''Attached structures''' are building components physically connected to the main dwelling that are typically covered under a standard [[Definition:Homeowners insurance | homeowners insurance]] policy's dwelling coverage (often referred to as Coverage A). These include garages, porches, decks, covered patios, and room additions that share a common wall, roof, or foundation with the primary residence. Unlike [[Definition:Other structures coverage | other structures]] — such as detached garages, sheds, or fences, which are insured under a separate coverage section — attached structures are treated as part of the dwelling itself for valuation and claims purposes.

🔧 When a [[Definition:Property insurance | property insurance]] policy is underwritten, attached structures are factored into the [[Definition:Replacement cost | replacement cost]] estimate for the dwelling. Insurers and their [[Definition:Property inspection | inspection]] partners assess the size, materials, and condition of these additions to arrive at an accurate [[Definition:Insurable value | insurable value]]. In the event of a covered [[Definition:Peril | peril]] — such as fire, windstorm, or hail — damage to an attached structure is settled under the same dwelling limit and the same [[Definition:Deductible | deductible]] that applies to the main home. This contrasts with detached structures, which carry their own sub-limit, often calculated as a percentage of the dwelling coverage. The distinction matters particularly in [[Definition:Catastrophe modeling | catastrophe-prone]] regions where wind or seismic building codes impose different construction standards on attached versus freestanding components, influencing both [[Definition:Underwriting | underwriting]] decisions and [[Definition:Premium | premium]] calculations.

📌 Getting the classification right has meaningful financial consequences for both [[Definition:Policyholder | policyholders]] and [[Definition:Insurance carrier | carriers]]. Misidentifying an attached structure as detached — or vice versa — can lead to coverage gaps, disputes at the time of a [[Definition:Insurance claim | claim]], or inaccurate [[Definition:Risk assessment | risk assessment]]. In markets such as the United States, where [[Definition:Homeowners insurance | homeowners]] forms like the ISO HO-3 draw explicit lines between Coverage A and Coverage B, agents and adjusters must document the physical connection clearly. In other jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom or Australia, the distinction may be embedded in different policy wordings, but the underlying principle is the same: structures integrated into the dwelling share its fate in a loss event and should be valued accordingly. As [[Definition:Insurtech | insurtech]] firms increasingly rely on aerial imagery and [[Definition:Artificial intelligence (AI) | AI-driven]] property scans to automate valuations, accurate detection of attached structures has become a key capability in modern [[Definition:Property underwriting | property underwriting]].

'''Related concepts:'''
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Definition:Dwelling coverage]]
* [[Definition:Other structures coverage]]
* [[Definition:Replacement cost]]
* [[Definition:Homeowners insurance]]
* [[Definition:Property inspection]]
* [[Definition:Insurable value]]
{{Div col end}}

Definition:Attached structures - Revision history

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