OCEAN HARBOR CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
SOUTH CAROLINA
MANUFACTURED HOMEOWNER PROGRAM
UNDERWRITING GUIDELINES
The risk must meet all qualifications and rules before it can be bound. Underwriting guidelines apply to
New Business only, unless noted with an asterisk (*). Those guidelines noted with an asterisk (*) apply to
both New and Renewal Business.
1. RISKS THAT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM
A.
Ineligible risks include those with any fire, liability, vandalism or theft loss or one (1) loss
of any other type other than weather, within the previous three (3) years.
B.
Manufactured Homes over 30 years of age.
C.
Risks with more than two (2) mortgages.*
D.
Manufactured homes not constructed to standards promulgated by the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development and are not properly anchored/tied down.*
E.
Ineligible risks include RV’s (recreational vehicles), RV Ports, motor homes, fifth-wheel
trailers, travel trailers, park trailers or similar structures less than 500 square feet.
F.
Protection Class 10 risks not visible to neighbors, not located within ½ mile of a paved
road or not accessible year round.*
G.
Manufactured homes wherein the utilities, including electrical hook-ups, are not
permanently installed.*
H.
Risks with pools and similar structures that are not completely fenced, walled or screened
with a self locking gate. The fence or wall must be permanently installed with a minimum
height of four (4) feet and be constructed of a material that provides a reasonable barrier
to entry (e.g. chain link, wood, steel, aluminum).*
I.
Seasonal homes rented to others.
J.
Risks where both the land and mobile home are not owned by the named insured(s).
Purchaser-occupants who have entered into a long-term installment contract for the
purchase of the dwelling, but to whom title does not pass from the seller until all the terms
of the installment contract have been satisfied, are eligible. The seller’s interest in the
building and premises liability may be covered by attaching the Additional Insured
endorsement.
K.
Manufactured homes or adjacent structures where a business is conducted on the
premises. Three elements that identify a business include 1) a profit motive, 2) continuity
of the activity and 3) regular customer traffic.*
L.
Commercial properties.
M.
Risks for which Coverage A is below $20,000.
N.
Risks which have been condemned due to condition, risks located in a condemned area
or risks in an area scheduled to be condemned due to urban renewal or highway
construction.*
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OCEAN HARBOR CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
SOUTH CAROLINA
MANUFACTURED HOMEOWNER PROGRAM
O.
Manufactured homes in a state of disrepair, poor physical condition, physical defects or
with existing damage. Manufactured homes where ‘pride of ownership’ is not apparent.
Structures and premises must be in good physical condition without need of repairs. *
P.
Manufactured homes with fuses or polybutylene pipes.
Q.
Manufactured homes which have a portable heater, woodstove or open flame as a
primary source of heat or homes with any type of kerosene heater.*
Note: Risks with permanent and factory or professionally installed central gas, fireplaces
or wood burning stove heat systems are eligible on a submit basis.
R.
Properties equipped with electrical service less than 100 amps.
S.
Risks or structures that are homemade, rebuilt, substantially modified, or have undergone
extensive remodeling. This includes homes with salvaged titles, homes deemed a
constructive total loss, or those with policy limits paid from a prior loss.
T.
Fraternity, sorority or any similar housing arrangement.
U.
Risks with more than two unrelated owners. Two unrelated owner-occupants with
insurable interest in both the home and land are acceptable.
V.
Applicants who have been canceled or non-renewed for material misrepresentation in the
past seven (7) years or have ever been convicted of insurance fraud or arson.*
W.
Applicants with duplicate coverage.
X.
Applicants who have had any lapse in coverage or who have been cancelled for nonpayment of premium.
Y.
Business or corporation listed as a Named Insured.
Z.
Any risk on raised poles or pilings or with a structure constructed partially or entirely over
water, including piers and docks.
AA.
Any home or structure used to store flammables or explosive materials.
BB.
Properties built on landfills.
CC.
Risks with 3 or more steps on any exit without a handrail, or where steps or stairs are not
permanently affixed to the home. Decking should have handrails on 3 or more steps and
safety railings.
DD.
Barns used to house or feed animals.
EE.
Risks located within one mile of salt water.
FF.
Applicants who are unemployed, unless retired or on disability.
GG.
Rental homes.
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10/2013
OCEAN HARBOR CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
SOUTH CAROLINA
MANUFACTURED HOMEOWNER PROGRAM
2.
RISKS THAT REQUIRE SPECIAL HANDLING / UNDERWRITING APPROVAL
A.
Homes that have pools with diving boards or slides must be written without liability.
B.
Properties with excessive or unusual liability exposures (e.g. empty, in-ground pools,
skateboard or bicycle ramps, trampolines) must be written without liability.
C.
Risks located on a farm, ranch, orchard or grove; or where farming activities or ranching
operations take place must be written without liability.
D.
Residences in which vicious, dangerous, exotic, farm, or riding animals are owned by the
named insured or kept on the premises, including but not limited to Akitas, Chows,
Dobermans, Pit Bulls (American Staffordshire Terriers), Presa Canarios, Rotweilers, or
Wolf Hybrids, or any animal with a biting history are eligible without liability. (Attach the
Animal Liability Exclusion).
E.
Submit unbound pending an inspection of the premises: Applicants who have declared
bankruptcy, or had a foreclosure or repossession in the last seven (7) years.
F.
Applicants who have had a policy cancel or non-renew in the past five years unless a
result of the company withdrawing from the state/line of business, submit for approval.
G.
Homes that have been totally enclosed or substantially modified, including enclosed
additions, submit for approval.
H.
Any manufactured home where the lienholder is a manufactured / mobile home dealer,
mobile home park, or non-finance corporation, submit for approval.
I.
Properties containing more than one mobile home on the premises, submit for approval.
J.
Absentee landlord acceptable when a local management company or relative monitors
the property. Absentee landlord is one that lives more than 100 miles from the property.
K.
If the manufactured home is relocated, the Underwriting Department must be notified
immediately. Where permissible, the policy will be endorsed accordingly.
L.
Homes requesting Replacement Cost Coverage A must be owner occupied and must be
less than 16 years old.
The Company reserves the right to request photos.
ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THESE GUIDELINES MUST BE APPROVED
BY THE COMPANY BEFORE BINDING.
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10/2013
OCEAN HARBOR CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
SOUTH CAROLINA
MANUFACTURED HOMEOWNER PROGRAM
COASTAL REQUIREMENTS – ALL POLICY FORMS
Mandatory Named Storm Deductible
All policies insuring risks located less than 30 miles from the coast are subject to a mandatory Named
Storm Deductible as follows:
 Less than 3 miles: 2% Named Storm Deductible ($1,000 Min)
 3 to 30 miles:
2% Named Storm Deductible ($1,500 Min)
The Named Storm Deductible applies only to risks located within 30 miles of the coast. All other
locations will use the All Peril Deductible in the event of a Named Storm.
Insureds in these territories may increase to a 5% Named Storm Deductible ($2,000 Min) for a premium
credit.
Named Storms are storms, cyclones, typhoons, atmospheric disturbances, depressions or other
weather phenomena designated by the US National Weather Service and/or the US National Hurricane
Center and where a number or name has been applied.
Named Storm Deductible Options may only be amended effective at the normal policy renewal date. A
policy may not be rewritten to circumvent this restriction.
Additional Zone 1 Requirements:
Homes located in Zone 1 must meet the following criteria:
 Must be tied down
 Cannot be elevated above 3 feet
 Cannot be on pilings or cement blocks
 Must be underpinned
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10/2013
OCEAN HARBOR CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY
SOUTH CAROLINA
MANUFACTURED HOMEOWNER PROGRAM
SCHEDULED PERSONAL PROPERTY
This coverage is only available for owner-occupied, primary residence risks.
The maximum limit per policy is $15,000. Note: The aggregate amount of scheduled property cannot exceed the
personal property policy coverage amount.
VALUATION GUIDELINES FOR JEWELRY, FURS, FINE ARTS, STAMPS, COINS AND FIREARMS
A current appraisal (less than three years old) is required for, and must accompany, any individual item(s) valued at $2500 or more.
If the item was purchased within the past three years, a copy of the original bill of sale is acceptable, and preferable, to an appraisal.
A copy of a valuable personal property schedule from a previous policy with another carrier is not acceptable evidence of value.
SECURITY
1. POSTAGE STAMPS & COINS – Collections valued in excess of $5,000 and kept at the insured’s dwelling should be kept
in a burglar resistant cabinet or safe.
2. FIREARMS – Particular care is needed when individual items are valued at over $500 or when total collection values
exceed $5,000:
a. Exterior doors should be equipped with deadbolt locks, where local code permits
b. Off-premises exposures, such as competitive meets and hunts, should be evaluated as to how frequently they
will occur and the value of the particular guns involved.
c. When the value of the collection exceeds $10,000, the manufactured home must be equipped with an adequate
burglar alarm system which protects all window and door openings.
INELIGIBLE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
JEWELRY – Jewel-studded clothing, eyeglass frames, unset gemstones, items of obvious poor quality and
items needing repair.
FURS - Mounted animals or animal trophy heads, fur-lined boots or other such footwear.
CAMERA EQUIPMENT – Equipment belonging to free-lance photographers and newspaper photographers;
television cameras and related equipment; coin or token-operated devices; aerial or radar cameras, video
cassette recorders and personal computers or related equipment
GOLFER’S EQUIPMENT – Coverage for individuals who travel worldwide, taking their equipment with them.
POSTAGE STAMPS & COINS – Gold or silver bullion; gold or silver in the form of bars, ingots, plates or
other quantitative forms.
FIREARMS – Ammunition; reloading presses and other reloading supplies such as brass cases, powder,
lead and primer; specialized clothing, glasses, binoculars; cleaning kits and supplies; muzzle loading
paraphernalia
FINE ARTS – Normal household contents, such as furniture or open stock crystal and china ware; items
subject to frequent off-premises exposure; “quantities” of items such as $1000 baseball cards” – such items
must be individually and separately described and insured.
MUSCIAL INSTRUMENTS – Instruments used by a professional musician
SILVERWARE – Items such as pens, pencils, flasks, smoking equipment, cigarette cases, trophies and the
like.
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