What Is an ACORD 27? Evidence of Property Insurance

What Is an ACORD 27 Form?

An ACORD 27 is the ACORD Evidence of Property Insurance form—proof that a property is insured, most often provided to a lender or mortgagee (for example, at a real-estate loan closing or renewal). It applies to residential/personal and small commercial property; the fuller commercial form is the ACORD 28. Think of it as a snapshot confirming a property has insurance coverage in place without showing the full insurance policy details.

ACORD stands for Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development. This organization creates standardized insurance forms that the industry uses nationwide. The ACORD 27 confirms that a property—whether residential, personal, or small commercial—is covered, showing enough detail to verify insurance protecting the building, equipment, and contents without disclosing the entire policy.

If someone sends you this form, they're proving their property is insured. Simple as that.

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What Is an ACORD 27 Form Used For?

The ACORD 25 is a certificate of liability insurance (ACORD 25), while the ACORD 27 is evidence of property insurance. They cover completely different types of risk.

Lenders often request this property insurance form before approving a loan for commercial real estate. Landlords may ask tenants to provide one as part of a lease agreement. If you're managing construction projects, you might need an ACORD 27 from contractors who own significant equipment or property that could affect your work.

The form gives you confidence that if something happens to that property, there's insurance coverage in place to handle it.

What's the Difference Between ACORD 25 and ACORD 27?

The ACORD 25 is a certificate of liability insurance, while the ACORD 27 is evidence of property insurance. They cover completely different types of risk. If you're still wondering if a COI is the same as liability insurance, read our blog.

An ACORD 25 shows liability coverage. It proves that a business can pay for damages or injuries they cause to others. This is the form you'll request when hiring contractors to work on your property or projects.

The ACORD 27 shows commercial property coverage. It proves a business can recover financially if its own property gets damaged or destroyed. You'll see this form when someone needs to verify they've protected their physical assets.

Most business owners need both types of coverage, but they serve different purposes. When you're reviewing insurance forms from vendors or contractors, knowing which one you need helps you ask the right questions.

What Is the Difference Between ACORD 24 and ACORD 27?

The ACORD 24 provides evidence of commercial property insurance with a focus on loss payee and additional interest information. The ACORD 27 is a simpler form that shows basic property insurance coverage without detailed loss payee provisions.

If a lender needs to be listed as a loss payee on a property policy, they'll typically request an ACORD 24 or ACORD 28. The ACORD 27 works well for general verification that property coverage exists.

What Is the Difference Between an ACORD 27 and an ACORD 28?

The ACORD 28 is the more comprehensive cousin of the ACORD 27. While both provide evidence of property insurance, the ACORD 28 includes detailed information about loss payee status, additional insured parties, and specific coverage limits.

Banks and mortgage lenders typically prefer the ACORD 28 because it shows exactly how they're protected if property damage occurs. The ACORD 27 works better for straightforward verification when detailed loss payee information isn't required.

Think of it this way: ACORD 27 answers "Is this property insured?" while ACORD 28 answers "Is this property insured, and exactly how am I protected?"

What Information Is on an ACORD 27?

An ACORD 27 contains several key pieces of property information that help you verify coverage at a glance.

You'll find the insured party's name and address, along with the insurance company providing coverage. The form shows the policy number, policy effective dates, and expiration date so you can confirm the coverage is current.

The property information section describes what's covered, whether that's a building, equipment, personal property, or a combination. You'll also see coverage amounts that indicate how much protection is in place.

The remarks section contains any special conditions or notes from the insurance agent or authorized representative. The form also identifies the certificate holder, which is whoever requested the proof of coverage.

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Who Fills Out and Signs an ACORD 27?

An ACORD 27 isn't something a property owner can fill out and issue on their own. The producer—your insurance agent or broker—or the insurer's authorized representative completes the form and signs it, drawing the details directly from the active policy. That signature is what makes the form credible to a lender: it confirms the coverage figures come from the insurer of record, not from the insured. If you need an ACORD 27, you request it from your agent rather than generating it yourself.

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Does an ACORD 27 Guarantee Coverage?

No. Since 2006, ACORD evidence and certificate forms carry "for information only" language, which means the ACORD 27 confers no rights on the holder and does not amend, extend, or alter the coverage described. It's a snapshot of what the policy said at the moment the form was issued. If coverage lapses, is canceled, or is changed after the form is signed, your rights still come from the policy itself—not from the ACORD 27. That's why lenders re-collect the form at each renewal instead of relying on an old copy.

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How Does illumend Help With ACORD Forms?

Managing ACORD forms and insurance compliance doesn't have to feel overwhelming. illumend, from myCOI, is an insurance compliance platform built on 16 years of expertise that brings clarity to exactly these situations.

When you're reviewing ACORD certificates or tracking proof of insurance from multiple vendors, illumend keeps everything organized in one place. Lumie™, the platform's AI-powered guide, helps you understand what you're looking at and what steps to take next. No insurance degree required.

Instead of wondering whether an ACORD 27 or ACORD 28 is right for your situation, Lumie provides real-time guidance in simple language. illumend empowers you to manage compliance with confidence, so you can focus on your actual work instead of decoding insurance forms.

Ready to bring clarity to your insurance compliance? illumend makes it simple.

For teams handling COI tracking for commercial real estate (/product/commercial-real-estate), that guidance scales across every property and lender in your portfolio. Ready to see it in action? Schedule a demo (/schedule-a-demo).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an ACORD 27 the same as a COI?

It's an ACORD evidence form; it proves property (not liability) insurance, whereas the ACORD 25 COI proves liability coverage.

Who fills out an ACORD 27?

Your insurance agent/broker or the insurer's authorized rep—not the property owner.

What's the difference between an ACORD 27 and 28?

The 27 is Evidence of Property Insurance (personal/small commercial); the 28 is Evidence of Commercial Property Insurance with fuller detail.

Does a mortgage lender require an ACORD 27?

Yes—most property loans require it at closing and each renewal as proof of coverage.

Is an ACORD 27 a contract?

No—it's informational and confers no rights on the holder.

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