The California Department of Insurance published a notice asking all insurers to go above the legal requirement and provide up to 100% of their personal property limit to insureds without requiring a detailed inventory.

The Department aims to provide some relief to consumers who have lost their homes and personal property. Making an itemized inventory is no easy feat and can easily amount to over 5,000 items. Cal. Ins. Code Section 10103.7 states that if a total loss to a residential property occurs during a state of emergency, the insurer must pay at least 30% of the contents limit without requiring the insured to file an itemized claim.

The Department is asking all insurers, including the California FAIR plan, to go above the legal requirement of 30% and follow in the footsteps of some insurers who have offered 75% and even up to 100% of the contents limit. Insureds can file a full inventory at a later time to recover additional benefits.