Pennsylvania dwelling-policy questions are a small slice of the Property, P&C and Personal Lines exams. They test how state law applies to the ISO dwelling forms:

• The Special Provisions – Pennsylvania endorsement.
• The requirement to meet the standard fire policy minimums.
• The residential cancellation and nonrenewal rules that protect owner-occupied homes.

The forms themselves (DP-1, DP-2, DP-3, Coverages A-E, perils, the dwelling eligibility rules) are covered in the national Dwelling Policy guide.

Pennsylvania form rules

• ISO's Special Provisions – Pennsylvania endorsement (DP 01 37) amends the dwelling policy to comply with Pennsylvania law.
• A Pennsylvania dwelling property policy must include at least the minimum provisions of the standard fire policy (40 P.S. 636). An open-perils (all-risk) form isn't required to follow them.

Standard fire policy numbers that carry into dwelling questions (40 P.S. 636)

• Binders: oral or written, up to 30 days.
• Vacancy: coverage is suspended after 60 consecutive days vacant or unoccupied.
• Excluded: theft. Currency, deeds and securities aren't covered.
• Proof of loss: within 60 days. A loss is payable 60 days after proof and ascertainment.
• Appraisers: chosen within 20 days of a demand.
• Suits: within 12 months of the loss.
• Mortgagee: gets 10 days' notice of cancellation.
• Insured cancels: short-rate refund.

Death of the named insured (40 P.S. 636.1)

• Coverage continues, if premiums are paid, until the property is sold or for 180 days, whichever comes first.

Cancellation and nonrenewal

The residential rules in 40 P.S. 1171.5(a)(9) and 31 Pa. Code Chapter 59 protect policies on owner-occupied residences with four or fewer units:

• First 60 days: cancel for any reason, with at least 30 days' notice sent by the 60th day.
• After 60 days: cancel midterm only for statutory reasons, such as nonpayment, material misrepresentation or a substantial increase in hazard.
• Notice: at least 30 days for cancellation or nonrenewal. The notice mentions FAIR Plan eligibility.
• Review: the insured may ask the Commissioner to review within 10 days.
• Prohibited reasons: domestic abuse status and geographic redlining.

A dwelling policy on a tenant-occupied rental isn't an owner-occupied residence, so Chapter 59's protections apply only when the owner lives in one of the units.

Hard-to-place dwellings

• Property the voluntary market won't insure can go to the Pennsylvania FAIR Plan. It provides basic property insurance against standard fire policy and extended coverage perils after an inspection (40 P.S. 1600.101 et seq.).

Common exam traps

• DP 01 37 is the Pennsylvania special provisions endorsement for dwelling forms. HO 01 37 is the homeowners version.
• Binders in Pennsylvania last 30 days.
• Vacancy suspension begins after 60 consecutive days.
• Owner occupancy matters. Chapter 59 protects owner-occupied homes of four units or fewer.