What is Use and Occupancy Insurance (U&O)
Use and occupancy insurance, or U&O, is an obsolete name for what is now called business interruption insurance or business income coverage. It is a type of insurance that covers against the loss of use of machinery or property due, and the loss of income from this, to damage resulting from a named peril or hazard, such as a fire or natural disaster. Use and occupancy insurance provides certain coverage through endorsements to property/casualty insurance policies if the equipment or property can no longer be used.
BREAKING DOWN 'Use and Occupancy Insurance – U&O'
Use and occupancy insurance (U&O), now known as business interruption insurance or business income coverage, is insurance that reimburses the policyholder for lost business income when a covered incident makes the business location or equipment unusable. Covered incidents include situations like fires, floods, hurricanes and other disasters that are written into the policy. If a disaster or situation occurs that makes the business location or equipment unusable but this disaster is not written into the insurance coverage, insurance will not pay for the lost business income.
U&O can pay for a specific amount of lost income that is written into the policy and calculated by the policyholder and the agent who sells the policy based on records of the business income. This type of insurance policy can also pay the insured on a valued basis, or a specified, fixed amount, for each day that the insured is not able to use or occupy the covered property because of an insured peril. The amount that is payable can be determined by reviewing past financial records of the business. It is also possible to continue coverage past the date at which the location or equipment are deemed usable again, but this must also be written into the policy.
Use and Occupancy Insurance vs Property Insurance
Use and occupancy insurance, or business interruption insurance, and property insurance are both taken out on businesses and business locations. However, property insurance only covers the actual physical property, including the location, grounds, equipment, supplies and merchandise of the business. Business interruption insurance, in contrast, covers the loss of income from the operations of the business if the property damage forces the business to suspend operations. Having business interruption insurance in an emergency can keep a business operating by paying for fixed costs such as rent, electricity and business licenses while the location and property are being repaired and restored to functionality.
