Mowing the Neighbor's Yard

May 14, 2012

If an insured uses his own motorized lawnmower or tractor to mow his neighbor's grass or plow his neighbor's driveway, we believe the homeowners policy would not provide liability coverage (use is off premises) even if there was no payment involved and this was purely a neighborly goodwill gesture.Do you agree?

Please also include suggestions as to how to deal with this kind of thing if you agree there is no coverage.

Kentucky Subscriber

It depends on which homeowners policy the insured has. The ISO 2000 form states that coverage exists for a motor vehicle if the vehicle is used solely to service an insured's residence; on this form mowing the neighbor's lawn is excluded. On the newer 2011 form, the exception states that coverage applies if the vehicle is used solely to service a residence; in this case there is no designated residence, so the insured could mow the neighbor's yard and still have coverage. If it is on the 2000 form, the insured needs to stay home or realize he's taking his chances. There is no endorsement that provides coverage for this on the 2000 form.