The part of a homeowners insurance policy that pays to repair or rebuild the physical structure of your home if it is damaged by a covered peril such as fire, wind, or hail. Dwelling coverage should equal your home's estimated rebuilding cost, not its market value.
Related Terms
Replacement Cost
The amount it would cost to replace damaged or destroyed property with new items of similar kind and quality, without deducting for depreciation. Replacement cost coverage typically results in higher claim payments than actual cash value coverage.
Covered Peril
A specific risk or cause of loss that is included in an insurance policy. Fire, theft, windstorm, and hail are common covered perils in homeowners insurance. If a loss is caused by a peril not listed, the claim may be denied unless you have an open peril policy.
Homeowners Insurance
A policy that bundles coverage for your home's structure, personal belongings, liability protection, and additional living expenses into one package. The most common form is the HO-3 policy, which covers the dwelling on an open-peril basis and personal property on a named-peril basis.