- Working from home may affect your insurance depending on your setup.
- Employer-owned equipment may be covered by your employer, so confirm before relying on your policy.
- Personal work equipment may face business-use limits under a standard homeowners policy.
- Running a business from home may require added property or liability coverage.
Does Working From Home Affect Your Home Insurance?
If your day-to-day workspace looks a lot different than it did in the past, you’re hardly alone. In recent years, work-from-home or hybrid work arrangements have become much more prevalent than they were in the past. Many in the U.S. are now working at least one day a week from their homes.
Key Takeaways
It’s important to understand both how working from home can impact your insurance needs, and who is ultimately responsible for providing coverage. There’s not a general, definitive rule on who is responsible, whether it be the homeowner or the employer. It depends on the specific working-from-home scenario, and understanding expectations is critical. When you’re working from home, insurance depends on what equipment you use, who owns it and whether your home is also functioning as a place of business.
Quick takeaway: Working from home and home insurance don’t always create a coverage issue, but your setup matters. Occasional remote work may be different from storing business property or bringing clients into your home.
Compare common work-from-home setups
Your insurance questions may depend on whether you use employer-owned equipment, personal devices or run a business from your home. Use this overview to find the scenario that best matches your setup before reviewing the details below.
| Work-from-home setup | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Company laptop and basic remote work | Ask whether your employer covers company-owned equipment kept at home | Employer coverage may apply before your homeowners policy does |
| Personal devices used for your job | Review personal property limits and business-use restrictions | Your standard policy may have limits for property used primarily for business |
| Home-based business with clients, supplies or inventory | Ask whether you need added business property or liability protection | Home insurance needs may be higher when your home is also your workplace |
Scenario 1: “I’m working from home using my company’s equipment.”
Your company has embraced a hybrid working model, allowing employees to work from home two days a week. You enjoy splitting your time between working remotely and being part of the company's in-office culture, and you're curious about how working from home affects your home insurance coverage.
Consider keeping a record of any equipment you’ve taken home from your workplace, document it with your employer and confirm that business property is covered by your employer’s insurance when it’s in your home. Generally speaking, you don’t want to put in a claim on your homeowners policy if you don’t have to; a loss may impact your premiums.
Are you expected to cover your company’s equipment under your personal home insurance policy? Contact your insurance provider to ensure you have adequate coverage.
Scenario 2: “I’m working from home using my personal equipment.”
You began working from home on a personal laptop with dual monitors and enjoyed the comfort level of using your own setup. But since you wanted to make sure your workstation was protected, you began to wonder if you had enough coverage on your home insurance policy.
If you’re working from home and using your own equipment, it’s important to make sure your homeowners policy has enough coverage. Amica offers special computer coverage as an endorsement to any policy. It covers desktop computers and laptops, but also items like your smartphone or iPad, with a special deductible that’s typically much lower than your standard homeowners deductible.
Always keep in mind that a homeowners policy includes a Special Limits of Liability clause for property used primarily for business purposes. This limit is typically $2,500, although it may depend on the state in which the policyowner resides. The special limit applies even if the policy includes the special computer coverage equipment endorsement.
Also consider the precautions you should take with your employer’s data on your own devices. Most employers require using secure access points. Follow the same cybersecurity procedures as you would in the office to minimize the risk of a data breach.
Want a bird’s-eye view of a standard home insurance policy? Explore home coverage options and what home insurance fits you best.
Scenario 3: “I’m running my own business out of my home.”
You recently became a small-business owner and decide to operate your venture out of your home. You've been wondering how running a small business out of your house will impact your home insurance, and whether or not you need more coverage.
If this is the case, it may be time to look into additional coverage – like the home business protection for incidental occupancies coverage provided by Amica.
Many small businesses are operated out of someone’s house, which is different than simply working from home. Everything from the type of business you have to where you’re physically working within your home can impact your coverage and liability.
If you’re running a business out of a home, consider these questions before talking to an insurance provider:
- Does your business bring clients into your home?
- Do you have a dedicated space for your business?
- Is all of your equipment properly protected?
The answers can help your provider understand your specific situation and advise you on the best coverage to fit your needs.
Rent instead of own? It may help to review how personal property and liability protection may apply in a rental home or apartment.
Making sure you’re protected
Whether your work life has changed, or you’ve made changes to your home, it’s always a good idea to review your homeowners policy on a regular basis. If you’re unsure about home insurance when working from home, ask whether your current policy has any limits on business property, equipment or work-related liability. You can also compare your needs if your work-from-home setup has grown beyond occasional remote work. And if you’re ever in doubt, call your insurance provider with questions.
Get a home insurance quote today
FAQs about working from home insurance
It can. Working from home and home insurance may intersect differently depending on whether you use company-owned equipment, personal devices or run a business from your home.
Not always. If you work remotely on a company laptop from time to time, your existing homeowners policy may still be enough. But if you store business property, use personal equipment for work or meet clients at home, it may be worth reviewing your coverage.
When working from home, insurance depends on who owns the equipment and how it’s used. Employer-owned equipment may be covered by your employer, while personal property used primarily for business may be subject to policy limits.
You may. A home-based business can create added business property and liability needs, so it’s smart to ask whether additional protection is appropriate.
Ask about business property limits, liability concerns, coverage for personal equipment used for work and whether any home business endorsement may better fit your situation.
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