Glossary

HO-4 (contents broad form)

The renters policy: it covers a tenant's belongings, loss of use and liability, but not the building, which the landlord insures.

Also called: HO 00 04, HO4, renters insurance, renters policy

HO-4 (ISO HO 00 04) is the standard renters form. It has no dwelling coverage because the tenant does not own the building. It provides Coverage C (personal property), Coverage D (loss of use), Coverage E (personal liability) and Coverage F (medical payments to others). Belongings are covered for the same 16 named perils used in the broad form, from fire and theft to water discharge and freezing.

You choose the Coverage C limit, so the first job is an honest inventory of what you own. Say a tenant owns about $30,000 of furniture, clothing and electronics: that is the limit to ask for, not the minimum the landlord requires. On the standard form belongings are paid at actual cash value, and replacement cost is an optional endorsement.

The landlord's policy does not cover your things or your liability. If a kitchen fire you start damages other units, the landlord's insurer can pursue you, and the liability coverage under an HO-4 is what responds. Renters coverage usually costs little compared with what it protects. See HO-4 renters insurance explained: coverage, limits and common gaps for limits, endorsements and common gaps.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

In the index now

Related terms

Personal property (Coverage C) Coverage for the movable things you own, such as furniture, clothing, electronics and tools, whether they are at home or elsewhere in the world. Loss of use (Coverage D) Coverage that pays extra living costs or lost rent when a covered loss makes your home unfit to live in, such as hotel bills or a tenant's missed rent. Personal liability (Coverage E) Coverage that defends you and pays damages if you are legally responsible for injuring someone or damaging their property, at home or away from it. Medical payments to others (Coverage F) No-fault coverage that pays the medical bills of a guest hurt on your property, whether or not you were at fault, up to a small per-person limit. HO-6 (unit-owners form) The condo owner's policy: it covers belongings, the parts of the unit the association's policy leaves to you, loss assessments, liability and loss of use.

Related guides

Does homeowners insurance cover a college student's belongings? A student away at school is usually still an insured on a parent's HO-3, but dorm and apartment belongings face a 10% cap and your deductible. HO-4 renters insurance explained: coverage, limits and common gaps What the HO-4 renters form covers, why the landlord's policy does not protect you, how to set a contents limit, and the roommate, flood and liability gaps. Homeowners policy types: HO-1 through HO-8 explained What each HO form covers, who can buy it, how many policies use it, and how to find the form on your own declarations page. ISO homeowners forms and why your policy may differ ISO publishes the standard homeowners forms, but your policy may use an older edition, an insurer's own wording or state endorsements. How to tell. Homeowners insurance for military families How deployments, PCS moves, on-base housing and rentals affect your homeowners policy, what a military insurer adds, and what to arrange before orders arrive.

Related tools

Which homeowners policy form fits your home? Answer a few questions about who owns the home, what kind it is and how it is used, and see which standard policy form usually fits and why.