In-laws Are Not Insureds

February 4, 2014

Our insured has an HO6 policy and owns a second floor condo that he rents out to his in-laws at a reduced rate. The insured's mother-in-law left the bathroom sink running and it overflowed causing damage to the unit below.

Would the insured's mother-in-law be considered an insured under his policy? Would the actions of the tenant be covered under his homeowners policy?

Massachusetts Subscriber

The mother-in-law is not an insured because the insured does not live there; he is renting the premises to his in-laws, so they are tenants, not resident relatives. Therefore they are not members of his household; his household is where he is living. The homeowners policy provides coverage for the insured, not for tenants. The in-laws should have a tenants policy that would provide coverage for their liability.