Glossary

Collapse

Under most policies, the abrupt falling down or caving in of a building or part of it so it cannot be used as intended, covered only for listed causes.

Also called: abrupt collapse, collapse coverage

In homeowners insurance, collapse has a narrow meaning. The standard ISO form describes it as the abrupt falling down or caving in of a building or part of a building, so that it cannot be occupied for its current intended purpose. A structure that is sagging, bulging, cracking or settling has not collapsed, and neither has one that is merely in danger of falling.

The form covers collapse only from listed causes: the named perils that apply to personal property (such as fire, windstorm or the weight of ice and snow), hidden decay, hidden insect or vermin damage, the weight of people or contents, the weight of rain on a roof, and defective materials or methods used during construction. Several depend on the damage being hidden and unknown to you before the collapse.

Say a floor joist rots out of sight under a bathroom and the floor suddenly drops into the crawlspace (hypothetical). Hidden decay can qualify. A floor that sagged visibly for years usually cannot, because the insurer will call it wear and tear or gradual damage. Items such as fences, patios and pools are normally covered only when a covered building collapses and causes the loss. Wording differs by insurer, so read yours; the guide collapse coverage: what counts as a collapse covers common variations.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

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Related terms

Peril A specific cause of loss, such as fire, wind, theft or water, that a policy covers or excludes; it is the cause of the damage rather than the damage itself. Named perils Coverage that applies only to the causes of loss listed in the policy, so a claim is paid only if the damage came from one of them. Exclusion A policy provision that removes coverage for a stated cause, type of loss, property or circumstance that the coverage would otherwise reach. Wear and tear The slow breakdown of materials from age, weather and ordinary use, which homeowners policies exclude because insurance pays for sudden loss, not upkeep. Gradual damage Harm that builds up over weeks, months or years, such as a slow leak, rot or corrosion, which most homeowners policies exclude.

Related guides

The additional coverages hiding in your policy The standard HO-3 lists a dozen small coverages after Coverage D, from tree removal to fire department charges. Here is what each pays and where it falls short. Collapse coverage: what counts as a collapse The standard HO-3 pays only for abrupt collapse from listed causes such as hidden decay or a covered peril. Sagging, cracking and settling do not count. Foundation cracks and settling: what's covered A standard homeowners policy excludes settling, soil movement and water pressure, so cause decides whether foundation damage is paid. What is covered. Ice dams and roof damage Ice dam leaks are usually covered for the house; contents, dam removal and blame for poor insulation stall claims. What the HO-3 says and how to prevent one. Sinkhole and catastrophic ground cover collapse coverage explained Standard policies exclude sinkholes. Florida requires collapse coverage and an offer of sinkhole cover; here is how those claims work. Termites, pests, wear and tear: the maintenance exclusions Policies treat termites, rodents, rot and aging as maintenance. What the HO-3 excludes, and the resulting damage that can still be covered.