Leatherstocking Cooperative Insurance Company
Carrier website links, underwriting access points, mapped product lines, and appetite notes in one place.
This appetite summary is only a guide. Confirm eligibility, submission requirements, restrictions, and binding authority directly with the carrier or underwriter before relying on it.
Carrier appetite summary
Territory & appetite - New York state-focused mutual; personal and commercial property programs, including homeowners and Long Island-specific HO. Product overview dated October 2025 is current baseline for appetite and underwriting. Homeowners (primary residence) - Target: Owner-occupied primary residences; up to 3 units rented are allowed on the HO form. Claim‑free renewal credit available, indicating preference for clean, stable accounts. - Incidental business or farming exposures can be considered but must be reviewed with underwriting (UW) prior to binding. - Long Island variant (Nassau & Suffolk Counties): primary residence only, 1–2 family dwellings; risks within 1 mile of the coast (including inlets) are prohibited; any risk with prior losses is prohibited; Coverage A limit capped at $1,000,000. ([cdnc.heyzine.com](https://cdnc.heyzine.com/files/uploaded/v3/5e47ed5322ee4a21616551450abaed0e68dd7aef.pdf)) Tenant Homeowners - Form ML‑4; intended for renters needing contents and liability. - Minimum personal property limit of $6,000, so very small schedules are not eligible. ([cdnc.heyzine.com](https://cdnc.heyzine.com/files/uploaded/v3/5e47ed5322ee4a21616551450abaed0e68dd7aef.pdf)) Landlords - Target: 1–4 family rental dwellings; more than 4 units must be moved to commercial lines. - Liability limits available up to $2,000,000. - 5% credit if tenants carry their own insurance (tenant insurance credit). - Can accommodate multiple rental properties on a single policy by UW arrangement. ([cdnc.heyzine.com](https://cdnc.heyzine.com/files/uploaded/v3/5e47ed5322ee4a21616551450abaed0e68dd7aef.pdf)) Mobile Homeowners & Seasonal Mobile Homes - Age-sensitive: mobile homes 1990 or older are written on Form 1 only (basic form); all such risks are ACV loss settlement. - Replacement Cost endorsement is available only for homes 15 years old or newer. - Claim‑free renewal credit is also offered here, reinforcing preference for loss‑free accounts. ([cdnc.heyzine.com](https://cdnc.heyzine.com/files/uploaded/v3/5e47ed5322ee4a21616551450abaed0e68dd7aef.pdf)) Seasonal Residences - Stand‑alone seasonal coverage is available; no supporting primary home policy is required. - Short‑term rentals are acceptable but must be reviewed with UW. - For Coverage A limits over $300,000, only Form 1 is allowed unless an approved low‑temperature alarm is installed (documentation required); otherwise, higher‑form coverage is restricted. ([cdnc.heyzine.com](https://cdnc.heyzine.com/files/uploaded/v3/5e47ed5322ee4a21616551450abaed0e68dd7aef.pdf)) Dwelling Fire - Used for unique or non‑package residential risks; RC or ACV options available. - Vacant dwellings, dwellings under renovation, and new builds are acceptable classes. - Standalone barns and condos can be written under this form, broadening appetite for non‑standard structures. ([cdnc.heyzine.com](https://cdnc.heyzine.com/files/uploaded/v3/5e47ed5322ee4a21616551450abaed0e68dd7aef.pdf)) Dwelling Fire – Mobile Homes - Allows rented mobile homes and travel trailers. These are treated as dwelling fire risks rather than HO. General underwriting & valuation - Building valuation guidance: personal and commercial buildings typically valued at $170–$250 per square foot; Long Island properties use $200–$300 per square foot for rating/RC adequacy. - Replacement cost requires 80% insurance‑to‑value; ACV policies have 0% coinsurance, except Enhanced & Classic BOPs which require 50% coinsurance for ACV. - Large accounts: any risk with total insured value (TIV) over $2,000,000 must be submitted to reinsurers for approval; coverage cannot be bound prior to that approval. - Policyholder ineligibility: applicants/insureds with history of fraud, bribery, foreclosure, bankruptcy, judgment, or litigation are ineligible; any prior losses, code violations, or previously declined coverage must be referred to UW for determination. ([cdnc.heyzine.com](https://cdnc.heyzine.com/files/uploaded/v3/5e47ed5322ee4a21616551450abaed0e68dd7aef.pdf)) Preferred characteristics (implied) - Owner‑occupied primary homes with good maintenance and no prior losses, especially where insured meets valuation targets and qualifies for claim‑free renewal credits. - Smaller rental schedules (1–4 family) with tenant insurance in place (to earn the 5% credit) and within TIV limits. - Seasonal properties with adequate freeze protection/low‑temp alarms when higher limits or broader forms are requested. Restricted or declined risks (operational notes) - Long Island properties: - Any location within 1 mile of the coast, including inlets, is declined. - Any risk on Long Island with prior losses is declined. - Coverage A over $1M is not permitted on the Long Island HO product. - Personal/commercial insureds with adverse financial or fraud‑related history are declined outright. - Risks exceeding $2M TIV effectively require facultative approval; treat as do‑not‑bind until reinsurer sign‑off. Submission & broker/producer notes - All references to “contact UW” indicate that agents must submit full details and obtain UW approval before binding when: - Incidental business or farming exposures exist on HO. - Short‑term rental exposure on seasonal homes. - Multiple landlord locations are to be scheduled on a single policy. - Seasonal residence limits exceed $300K and the insured wants more than basic Form 1 coverage without documented low‑temp alarms. - Contractors, student housing BOP, or other non‑standard commercial classes are proposed. - General practice: do not bind large or complex accounts (TIV > $2M) or any risk hitting the noted prohibited categories without written UW clearance. Producer resources - Public site lists personal and commercial lines, plus optional endorsements (inland flood, equipment breakdown, underground utility line) mainly for HO, mobile home, seasonal, landlord, and BOP accounts; these indicate available enhancements but not separate eligibility. - Agent portal is present on the main site for detailed manuals and real‑time tools; operational expectation is to use the portal for current manuals, rating, and to confirm any appetite item flagged “contact UW.” ([leatherstockinginsurance.com](https://www.leatherstockinginsurance.com/products/personal-lines/))