'Personal property' versus 'landscaping' insurance coverage

Coverage Q&A: Solar lights in the insured's yard were destroyed in a fire. Should they be covered under 'landscaping'?

What differentiates personal property from ‘landscaping’ in home insurance policies? (Photo: Shutterstock)

Every claim is different, and some insurance policies can be difficult to interpret for unique situations. FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation, the recognized authority on insurance coverage interpretation and analysis for the P&C industry, makes it simple to find credible answers to your complicated coverage questions. Analysis brought to you by our FC&S experts. 

Editor’s Note: Certain property covered in homeowners insurance policies can be a little confusing. This week’s question considers one such item: landscaping.

Question: I have a homeowners insurance claim from a brush fire that damaged many items outside of the house, including solar lights. State Farm has taken the position that the lights are covered under landscaping, which the insured has already exhausted the limits. I’m arguing that the solar lights are personal property. They are not hardwired, so they wouldn’t be covered under dwelling coverage. Thoughts?

— Arizona Subscriber 

Analysis: Most insurance policies list trees, shrubs, plants, and lawns under additional coverages that are insured by certain named perils. Some carriers, however, include landscaping in that coverage. But what is landscaping? Is it manicured lawns, or does it include decorative objects, like garden gnomes, or are those considered personal property? What makes something part of the landscaping instead of personal property?

Answer: To learn the answer to this week’s coverage Q&A, please log into your FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation account.

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