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Does Home Insurance Cover Burglary?
A burglary happens when someone forcibly breaks into your home and steals some of your property. There must be some visible sign of a break-in: a broken window, clipped lock, or splintered door. Most homeowners policies do provide coverage for burglary, but not all:
| Home Type | ISO Policy Form | Burglary Included |
| Primary Owner Occupied | HO3, HO5 | Yes |
| Townhome and Rowhome | HO3 | Yes |
| Condo | HO6 | Yes |
| Renters | HO4 | Yes |
| Older, Seasoned Home | HO8 | No |
| Landlord and Rental Home | DP3 | No |
| Vacant Home | DP1 | No |
Should I File a Burglary Claim with my Home Insurance Company?
Just because your policy covers burglary or theft, doesn’t mean you should file a claim. Burglary and theft claims look terrible on your claims record. Carriers score a theft or burglary claim as partially the fault of the homeowner, even if it is entirely out of your control. The harsh treatment is because many claims in this category do happen because of not having a secure home or being away for long periods.
It is not a good idea to file a theft claim unless it is more than 3x your deductible. If you have a $1,000 deductible and $2,000 worth of electronics get stolen, it is probably not in your best interest to file a claim because:
- You are only going to get $1,000 from the insurance company — you pay the deductible.
- You will have a theft claim on your record for the next 3-5 years. Carriers charge more for customers with theft claims, and you may get dropped from future insurance companies altogether. It can even be hard to secure insurance if you have other losses on your record.
Experiencing a break-in is scary and makes you feel very vulnerable. It still pays to play it smart with your insurance company so as not to create more costs down the road.
Dislaimer: All insurance-related services are offered through Young Alfred.
Also see: Everything You Need to Know About Home Insurance Claims
