What is an HO-4 policy?

What the HO-4 form is

HO and DP form numbers are commonly associated with standardized templates developed by Insurance Services Office (ISO). Carriers may file state-specific editions or their own variants, so the form number alone does not establish the terms of a particular policy.

HO-4 identifies a standard renters policy form family. It is centered on a tenant’s belongings, loss of use, and personal liability rather than coverage for the residential building.

Standard form labels are a starting point, not a substitute for the contract. Insurers may use state-specific editions, endorsements, or their own filed variants. The language in the policy issued to the reader controls.

How property and perils are typically structured

Personal property is typically covered on a named-peril basis. That means the cause of loss must be among the perils listed in the policy, subject to its exclusions, limits, and conditions.

The building is generally the landlord’s property, so an HO-4 typically does not insure the dwelling structure. The exact property covered varies with the issued form and endorsements.

Who typically has this form

An HO-4 is typically issued to a person who rents the home they occupy.

How to find out which form you have

The declarations page usually shows the policy form number, such as HO-4. The form number is only the label for the form family. The policy itself, including its edition date and endorsements, is the source of truth for what your coverage says.

UnderstandMyPolicy reads your uploaded policy and explains what that document says, with answers cited to its pages and clauses. It does not fill gaps with assumptions based on the form label.

Read your policy · How to read your renters insurance policy