Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (MPIUA), the Massachusetts FAIR Plan, provides basic property coverage for risks unable to secure insurance in the voluntary market. Current producer guidance is primarily contained in the Producer Quick Reference and refers producers to the Producers’ Operations Manual for full rules. Preferred / target business: - Residential: 1–4 family dwellings, owner-occupied homes (HO-2, HO-3, HO-5), tenants (HO-4) and owner-occupied condo units (HO-6) meeting basic eligibility standards. Contents of any residential unit are eligible under appropriate forms. Basic eligibility across programs is 1–4 unit dwellings and residential contents, with minimum coverage limits by form (e.g., HO-2/3/5 Coverage A minimum $25,000 primary; $15,000 secondary; HO-4 Coverage C minimum $6,000; HO-6 Coverage C minimum $10,000).([mpiua.com](https://www.mpiua.com/producer-quick-reference/)) - Dwelling fire: 1–4 unit dwellings and contents under DP 00 01/02/03, with minimum building limits of $12,000 for DP-2 and $15,000 for DP-3; no minimum for DP-1. Intended for owner-occupied or eligible non-owner-occupied dwellings where FAIR Plan coverage is needed.([mpiua.com](https://www.mpiua.com/producer-quick-reference/)) - Commercial property: Commercial buildings (including those with 5+ apartments or condos) under CP 00 99, within applicable MPIUA territory and eligibility standards.([mpiua.com](https://www.mpiua.com/producer-quick-reference/)) Coverage limits and valuation: - Homeowners: Minimum Coverage A $25,000 primary / $15,000 secondary (HO-2, 3, 5) and specified minimum Coverage C for HO-4 and HO-6; maximum Section I Coverage A or C limit $1,000,000 and Section II liability (Coverage E) up to $500,000, med pay (Coverage F) up to $5,000.([mpiua.com](https://www.mpiua.com/producer-quick-reference/)) - Dwelling fire & commercial: Maximum building and contents combined generally $1,000,000 single interest / $1,500,000 multiple interest. Coinsurance requirements typically 80%+ replacement cost for DP-2/3 and HO-2/3/5; buildings under the commercial form may be written at 80/90/100% replacement cost with documentation, otherwise no coinsurance; contents are generally written on ACV.([mpiua.com](https://www.mpiua.com/producer-quick-reference/)) Geographic and catastrophe notes: - Wind / Named Storm: Mandatory Named Storm (and in some materials, Wind/Hail) percentage deductibles apply based on Coverage A limit, location relative to the coast (within or beyond 1/2 mile), and county (Barnstable, Dukes, Nantucket vs. rest of state). Higher minimum percentage deductibles (e.g., 2–5%) apply on Cape & Islands and near-coastal zones, with lower percentages inland. A separate table governs minimum Named Storm deductibles for properties more than 1/2 mile from the coast statewide (except specified counties) and coordinates All Other Perils vs. Named Storm deductibles by Coverage A band.([mpiua.com](https://www.mpiua.com/producer-quick-reference/)) - Coastal properties, especially within 1/2 mile of the shoreline in Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket counties, are subject to the strictest mandatory storm deductibles. Producers must consult current Named Storm Quick Reference for exact required percentages based on Coverage A and location. Occupancy and rental / use restrictions: - Basic eligibility is for 1–4 unit residential dwellings and qualifying commercial properties. For homeowners: - Primary/secondary homes: year-round occupied homes may be rented up to 12 weeks per year on an occasional basis.([mpiua.com](https://www.mpiua.com/producer-quick-reference/)) - Seasonal properties: dwellings with at least 3 consecutive months of yearly unoccupancy may be rented up to 4 weeks per year. - Occasional rental must stay within these week limits; extended or continuous rental, boarding house, or hotel/motel type occupancies would typically fall outside standard homeowners eligibility and may need dwelling fire or commercial forms subject to MPIUA acceptance. Trust, title, and interest handling: - MPIUA allows homes held in trust to be written on homeowners forms via Residence Held in Trust endorsement HO 05 43 for an additional premium. The named insured should reflect the trustee(s) as titled on the deed; HO 05 43 is used to schedule the interests of beneficiaries or grantors residing in the dwelling. All relevant parties (trustees, grantors, beneficiaries as applicable) must sign the application. Non-occupant grantors/beneficiaries cannot be added using HO 05 43. Parallel rules apply to dwelling and commercial forms where property is titled to a trust (title should be in the trustee capacity and trustee signatures are required).([mpiua.com](https://www.mpiua.com/producer-quick-reference/)) Submission and documentation requirements: - Applications: - Dwelling fire: ACORD 65 MA plus mandatory Building Fire Insurance Application (MUA-CA-1) where building coverage is requested, and MPIUA MS&B Replacement Cost Estimate; Letter of Intent if under rehabilitation or construction.([mpiua.com](https://www.mpiua.com/producer-quick-reference/)) - Homeowners: ACORD 60 MA plus Home Cost Estimator Worksheet (MUA-RIA-HCE) required for HO-2/3/5; mandatory Building Fire Insurance Application (MUA-CA-1) if building coverage is requested; Letter of Intent if under rehabilitation.([mpiua.com](https://www.mpiua.com/producer-quick-reference/)) - For all lines: copy of mortgage agreement is required if a non-institutional mortgagee is named on the application.([mpiua.com](https://www.mpiua.com/producer-quick-reference/)) - Replacement cost / limit selection: - HO-2/3/5 Coverage A must be at least 80% of estimated replacement cost supported by HCE worksheet. Similar 80%+ replacement cost expectations apply on DP-2/3; buildings on commercial forms may use 80/90/100% replacement cost with documentation. Inadequate replacement cost documentation leads to ACV or no-coinsurance structures as laid out in the manual.([mpiua.com](https://www.mpiua.com/producer-quick-reference/)) Endorsements and special coverages (homeowners): - MPIUA lists a broad set of standard ISO HO endorsements with required documentation, including: - HO 04 16 Premises Alarm/Fire Protection (requires device description and installation certificate). - HO 04 40 Structures Rented to Others (requires description, year built, # of families). - HO 04 42 Permitted Incidental Occupancies (requires business description, number of employees, physical alterations, client visits, and location within dwelling/other structure). - HO 04 54 Earthquake (requires % deductible and whether masonry veneer is covered). - Numerous other endorsements for additional insureds, additional interests, increased limits, fungi/rot/bacteria, inflation guard, other members of household, etc., each with specific info to be provided.([mpiua.com](https://www.mpiua.com/producer-quick-reference/)) Broker / producer operational notes: - Producers are directed to consult the "Producers’ Operations Manual" for detailed product rules, procedures, and additional eligibility/underwriting requirements; the Quick Reference is explicitly a summary.([mpiua.com](https://www.mpiua.com/producer-quick-reference/)) - Producer login and submission of new business is handled through the Producer Portal, with separate resources for forms, policy notices, and hurricane/named storm deductibles on the MPIUA site. Producers should ensure they are using current forms and follow current Named Storm and wind deductible rules for their territory. Restricted or declined classes (implied from guidance): - Properties not meeting basic eligibility (e.g., more than 4 units under homeowners/dwelling programs, uninsurable construction/condition, or occupancies inconsistent with residential or standard commercial use) may be restricted or declined. - Trust or multi-interest arrangements where occupants’ interests cannot be correctly scheduled, or where required parties will not sign, may be unacceptable. - Seasonal or rental exposures exceeding occasional rental rules under homeowners must be placed under appropriate dwelling fire or commercial programs subject to MPIUA acceptance. For complete and current underwriting eligibility, restricted classes, and risk appetite detail, producers must refer to the latest MPIUA Producers’ Operations Manual and any current policy notices or service updates linked from the Producer Resources section.