August 21, 2017

I have a claim in IL and the insured has an HO-0005. The public adjuster is stating since we can't match the siding we owe for the whole re-siding of the home regardless of damage. They are referring to page 14 of 22 where it states:

 D. Loss To A Pair Or Set

In case of loss to a pair or set we may elect to:

 1. Repair or replace any part to restore the pair or set to its value before the loss; or

2. Pay the difference between actual cash value of the property before and after the loss.

 Our interpretation in the past is this has to do with personal property and not siding, roofing, gutters etc. I was wondering if you have a previous opinion on this or could give one for our future reference? Thank you for your help on this matter.

Illinois Subscriber

 Matching is one of the most discussed parts of homeowners coverage. Our opinion has always been that if the policy is replacement cost, the carrier owes to restore the insured to what he had preloss, and that is matching siding. Otherwise, the insured has not been property indemnified, which is the point of coverage. You are correct in that the pair or set clause refers to personal property and not parts of the dwelling itself. The siding is siding, and not a set that can be broken up and moved around.

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