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Tiny Home Insurance

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posted 2 years ago

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In checking around, I have been unable to find homeowners or property insurance. This due to the fact my tiny home does not have a foundation.

I am small scale homesteading on 24 acres of land. I have goats, chickens, and rabbits besides pets.

Does anyone know a source for insuring the property? We have frequent wildfires ( and careless neighbors). There have been 3 fires around me in the past 2 years. ...hellllp!

R Scott

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posted 2 years ago

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What do you need insured? Any outbuildings, equipment, etc? Or just the tiny house?

Tiny houses can be a catch 22. Sometimes you can insure them as an RV, but sometimes you have to have it licensed and tagged to do that, which can change where you can “legally” Park it.

There are farm and commercial property insurance that can work without a “home” but they usually cost more. I currently live in a whole apartment building that I am rehabbing. I have commercial insurance for the building AND renter’s insurance for my personal belongings.

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John C Daley

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posted 2 years ago

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Would caravan insurance cover you?

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Note "caravan" translates in the US to RV or camping trailer.

Douglas Alpenstock

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posted 2 years ago

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R Scott wrote:What do you need insured? Any outbuildings, equipment, etc? Or just the tiny house?

Tiny houses can be a catch 22.

Agreed, they may fall into a no-man's-land. I suspect that a standard homeowner's policy assumes a house that is accepted as such under the bylaws of the local municipality. Usually that means (at least) a permanent foundation. That's the standard path that insurers understand. Insurance for all the other outbuildings etcetera are added to that base policy.

I don't know a solution. I hope you can find one.

One thing: it's also really, really important to have liability insurance that covers the property. This reflects the crazy times we live in. My 2c.

John F Dean

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posted 2 years ago

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Looking at this through the eyes of the insurance company, can you insure the “storage shed” and the property it sits on?

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Anne Miller

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posted 2 years ago

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John brings up a good suggestion.

Probably part of the problem you are having trying to get it insured is the problem with wildfires. The company is using the foundation as an excuse to not say they don't want to insure it due to wildfires.

Buying insurance for the tiny home as an RV if it has wheels will be much easier, or at least it seems that way to me.

I am really surprised that your insurance person has not suggested insuring the tiny home as an RV unless the company does not sell RV insurance.

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James Dawnung

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Location: PNW, Zone 8b, Cascades Washington

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