Kin
- Includes generous coverage for personal belongings.
- User-friendly website.
- Offers private flood insurance in select states.
- Pet liability coverage may cost extra.
- Can’t bundle home and auto insurance.
About Kin home insurance
Kin homeowners insurance earned 4.3 out of 5 stars for overall performance.
Kin Insurance sells home insurance in states at high risk of natural disasters. The company focuses on residential insurance, including single-family homes, condos and manufactured homes. That means it won’t be a good fit if you're looking to bundle all your policies with a single company. But if you're having trouble finding coverage in a high-risk area, Kin might be worth a look.
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Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.Where Kin home insurance stands out
Personal property coverage. Kin includes replacement cost coverage for your belongings in its standard policies — a more generous type of coverage than some other insurers include.
Online experience. Kin stands out for its user-friendly website. You can get quotes, file claims and find information without having to work with an agent, though personalized assistance is available as well.
Private flood insurance. In certain states, Kin also offers private flood insurance with more generous coverage limits and shorter waiting periods than policies from the federal government.
Where Kin home insurance falls short
Animal liability may cost extra. Most insurance companies include situations like dog bites in their personal liability coverage. But with Kin, you may need to pay extra for coverage in case Fluffy snaps at someone at the park.
No bundling. If you’re hoping looking to bundle all your policies together, look elsewhere — Kin doesn’t offer auto, boat or many other types of insurance.
What Kin home insurance covers
These types of home insurance coverage generally come standard:
- Dwelling
Dwelling coverage pays to repair or rebuild the structure of your home after a covered event. It also covers attached structures, such as porches.
Typical amount: Enough to rebuild your home.
- Other structures
Other structures coverage pays to repair or rebuild stand-alone structures on your property, such as a fence or shed.
Typical amount: 10% of dwelling coverage.
- Personal property
Personal property coverage pays to repair or replace stolen or damaged belongings. Personal property coverage comes in one of two options: actual cash value or replacement cost.
Typical amount: 50-70% of dwelling coverage.
- Loss of use
Loss of use coverage, sometimes known as additional living expenses coverage, helps pay temporary living expenses while your home is being repaired. This can cover hotel stays, home rentals and meals.
Typical amount: 20% of dwelling coverage.
- Personal liability
Personal liability coverage pays if you injure someone or cause property damage unintentionally or through neglect.
Typical amount: $100,000 to $500,000.
- Medical payments
Medical payments coverage pays to treat someone injured on your property, regardless of who’s at fault. It also pays if you, a family member or a pet injures someone away from your home.
Typical amount: $1,000 to $5,000.
For more details, see What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
In addition to the basic coverage above, Kin’s policies also include replacement cost coverage for personal property. This is a more generous option than the actual cash value coverage some other insurers offer. Here’s an example of how it works:
A fire destroys your 15-year-old living room set and you have actual cash value coverage. Your insurer will pay out only enough to buy another 15-year-old sofa, reflecting the depreciated value of the furniture. With replacement cost coverage, you’d receive enough money to buy brand-new furniture.
Kin’s policies also include ordinance or law coverage, which pays expenses associated with rebuilding your home to comply with the latest building codes.
Optional Kin home insurance coverage
Kin may also offer:
Extended dwelling coverage. If you select this option, Kin will pay more than your dwelling coverage limit if rebuilding your home after a disaster costs more than expected.
Animal liability coverage. If your dog bites someone outside your household, you could be responsible for medical or legal expenses. While many insurance companies include this liability coverage in their standard policies, it’s an optional add-on with Kin.
Water backup coverage. This type of insurance pays for damage due to backed-up drains or sump pump failures.
Identity fraud insurance. This coverage pays for fees and lost income associated with recovering your identity.
Personal injury liability coverage. This endorsement expands your liability coverage to include scenarios like libel or slander.
Flood insurance. Most U.S. flood insurance policies are underwritten by the National Flood Insurance Program, but Kin offers its own private flood insurance in select states. NFIP policies are limited, covering the structure of your home up to a maximum of $250,000. Kin’s flood insurance can pay up to your dwelling coverage limit for flood damage.
More Nerdy Perspective
The fact that Kin doesn’t always include animal liability coverage in its homeowners policies is somewhat unusual in the industry. If you have a pet, especially a dog that might bite or injure someone else, you’ll want to check your policy and buy the extra coverage if it’s not included. Breed restrictions may apply. Learn more about homeowners insurance and dog bites.
What's not covered
Like most home insurers, Kin’s standard policies doesn’t cover damage due to:
Earthquakes.
Flooding.
Infestations
Neglect
General wear and tear.
Mold or rot.
Liability claims related to home businesses.
Where Kin Home insurance is available
Kin currently offers new homeowners policies in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Kin also sells policies from a third-party carrier in California. Kin’s California partner is a “non-admitted” insurance company, which means it’s regulated differently than the admitted carriers most homeowners are used to.
One primary difference between admitted and non-admitted insurers is that if a non-admitted carrier goes out of business, the state won’t pay its outstanding claims.
Availability may change at any time. Coverage may not be available to all homeowners in a given state.
- Find the best homeowners insurance in your state
Discounts
Discounts vary by state, but you may be able to save on your Kin premium by:
Having security or fire alarms.
Taking steps to protect your home from wind damage or other disasters.
Going without a claim for a set amount of time.
Opting to get your insurance documents electronically.
Having a water detection device.
Being a first-time homebuyer.
Another way to lower your premium is to raise your homeowners insurance deductible. (A deductible is the amount that will be subtracted from your payout if you ever file a claim.) Just be sure to choose an amount you can cover out of pocket.
» MORE: The cheapest home insurance
Consumer satisfaction
One strong sign of consumer satisfaction is how many people complain about their insurance company to state agencies. Kin scores highly on this measure, drawing a low proportion of home insurance complaints compared to other U.S. insurers.
How we determined our complaint scores We analyzed three years' worth of complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. When comparing insurers, we accounted for company size and total premiums.
- What Reddit users say about Kin
Reddit is an online forum where users share their thoughts in “threads” on various topics. The popular site includes plenty of discussion on financial subjects like home insurance, so we sifted through Reddit forums to get a pulse check on how users feel about insurers. People post anonymously, so we cannot confirm their individual experiences or circumstances.
Reddit commenters have mixed feelings about Kin. One of the most frequent points of discussion is the cost of Kin homeowners insurance, especially in Florida, where many people complain about huge rate increases at renewal. But other commenters note that switching to Kin saved them money. As some Redditors point out, Florida’s home insurance market is particularly volatile, so it’s a good idea to shop around regularly. A few Reddit posters also report being unsatisfied with how Kin handled their home insurance claims.
How to file a claim with Kin
You can file a Kin homeowners claim online or by phone. If you choose the online option, you can upload photos and other documents. Kin says an adjuster will typically contact you within 24 hours.
You can check the status of your claim by logging into your online account. If your claim is approved, Kin can reimburse you via direct deposit or check.
Here are some key things to remember when filing a home insurance claim:
Document the damage. Take photos and create an inventory of damaged items. Provide details like labels and model numbers if possible, especially for more expensive items. Once you've documented the damage, you can make temporary repairs if it's safe to do so.
File your claim as soon as possible. This is especially important if the damage was caused by a storm, as it likely means other homes in the area were also affected.
Save your receipts. You may end up spending money on temporary repairs or living expenses before getting a payment from your insurance company. Keep all receipts so you can submit them for reimbursement later.
For more information, see how to file a home insurance claim.
How to contact Kin customer service
Phone: Call 855-216-7674 Monday through Saturday.
Email: Fill out a form on Kin’s contact page.
Live chat: Available Monday through Saturday.
Online tools
Website: Kin’s website is easy to use and has a wealth of information about homeowners insurance. It takes only a couple of minutes to get a quote on the Kin website. You can also make payments, file claims and view policy information.
Mobile app: None.
Get home insurance quotes in minutes
Answer a few questions to see custom quotes and find the right policy for you.Other home insurance companies to consider
Not ready to make a decision? You may be interested in these other homeowners insurance companies:
- See all NerdWallet home insurance reviews
How we rate homeowners insurance
NerdWallet’s star ratings reward companies for consumer-first features and practices. We evaluate factors such as consumer experience, coverage, discounts and financial strength.
In our research, we analyzed:
More than 270 million homeowners insurance rates.
More than 100 insurance companies.
Nearly 200 homeowner profiles.
View our complete homeowners insurance rating methodology.
Frequently asked questions
What other types of insurance does Kin offer?
What other types of insurance does Kin offer?
Kin also covers condos, mobile or manufactured homes and rental homes. Policies vary by state.
What is Kin’s roof surfacing payment schedule?
What is Kin’s roof surfacing payment schedule?
The roof surfacing payment schedule endorsement could help you save money on Kin home insurance — if you’re willing to take a little risk. (An endorsement is an addition to a policy that changes its original terms.)
Say a hailstorm destroys your roof. Without the roof surfacing payment schedule endorsement, Kin would pay for a brand-new roof made of similar materials to the old one. But if you’ve chosen the endorsement, your home’s roof will be covered only for its actual cash value. On an older roof, that amount could be significantly less than what it would cost to replace it. The endorsement applies only to hail and wind damage.
Adding a roof surface payment schedule endorsement to your policy could lower your premium. It could help you get coverage when you might otherwise be denied for having too old a roof. But you’ll want to weigh the chance of not having enough coverage for your roof after a disaster.
Why is my Kin homeowners insurance premium going up so much?
Why is my Kin homeowners insurance premium going up so much?
Home insurance rates have been rising across the U.S. over the past few years, especially in higher-risk states like the ones where Kin operates. One reason is inflation. When building materials and labor get more expensive, it costs more to repair or rebuild homes after a claim. In response, insurance rates go up. Increasingly frequent disasters such as hurricanes and hailstorms have also led to higher claim payouts. Learn more about how to protect your home from climate change.
Will Kin insure homes with solar panels?
Will Kin insure homes with solar panels?
Yes, Kin may cover houses with solar panels under certain circumstances. For example, Kin will cover solar panels if you own them, but not if you lease them.
Star rating methodology
NerdWallet’s homeowners insurance ratings reward companies for customer-first features and practices. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, consumer complaints, coverage, discounts, claims process and website functionality. These ratings are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes to find the best rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews or star ratings.
Here’s how we weighted each category to come up with our list of the best home insurance companies:
Consumer experience (40%).
Financial strength (30%).
Coverage (25%).
Discounts (5%).
Read our full home insurance ratings methodology for more details.
Complaint methodology
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022-2024. To assess how insurers compare with one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period.
NerdWallet conducts its data analysis and reaches conclusions independently and without the endorsement of the NAIC. Ratios are determined separately for auto, home (including renters and condo) and life insurance.
