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🏠 '''HO-4 policy''' is a standardized [[Definition:Homeowners insurance | homeowners insurance]] form designed specifically for tenants, providing [[Definition:Personal property | personal property]] and [[Definition:Liability insurance | liability]] coverage to individuals who rent rather than own their dwelling. Commonly known as "renters insurance," the HO-4 is one of several numbered policy forms developed under the framework maintained by the [[Definition:Insurance Services Office (ISO) | Insurance Services Office]], and it deliberately excludes coverage on the building structure itself — that responsibility falls to the [[Definition:Landlord | landlord's]] own [[Definition:Property insurance | property policy]]. Despite its relatively low [[Definition:Premium | premium]], the HO-4 delivers broad protection that many renters underestimate or overlook.

📦 The policy typically covers the tenant's belongings against a named-peril basis — meaning only the specific causes of loss listed in the policy (such as fire, theft, vandalism, and certain water damage events) trigger coverage. [[Definition:Personal property | Personal property]] protection applies both on and off premises, so a laptop stolen from a car or luggage lost during travel may also be covered, subject to limits and [[Definition:Sublimit | sublimits]]. Beyond the contents coverage, the HO-4 includes [[Definition:Loss of use | loss of use]] provisions that pay for additional living expenses if the rented unit becomes uninhabitable due to a covered peril. The [[Definition:Personal liability | personal liability]] section — typically starting at $100,000 — protects the tenant against [[Definition:Bodily injury | bodily injury]] or [[Definition:Property damage | property damage]] claims brought by third parties, along with [[Definition:Medical payments | medical payments to others]] for minor injuries occurring on the premises.

🔑 For [[Definition:Insurance agent | agents]] and [[Definition:Insurance broker | brokers]], the HO-4 represents a high-volume, entry-level product that introduces younger or first-time insurance buyers to the market — creating cross-selling opportunities for [[Definition:Auto insurance | auto]], [[Definition:Umbrella insurance | umbrella]], and eventually [[Definition:Homeowners insurance | homeowners]] coverage as clients' needs evolve. Many landlords now require proof of renters insurance as a lease condition, which has driven adoption rates higher. From an [[Definition:Underwriting | underwriting]] standpoint, the HO-4 is relatively simple: no building valuation is needed, loss severity tends to be modest, and the product's broad distribution through both traditional and [[Definition:Direct-to-consumer | direct-to-consumer]] digital channels makes it a staple of personal lines portfolios.

'''Related concepts'''
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Definition:Homeowners insurance]]
* [[Definition:Renters insurance]]
* [[Definition:Insurance Services Office (ISO)]]
* [[Definition:Personal property]]
* [[Definition:Personal liability]]
* [[Definition:Named peril]]
{{Div col end}}

Definition:HO-4 policy - Revision history

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