How can I get homeowners insurance after non-renewal?

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After a non-renewal, it can be challenging to find new homeowners insurance. The reason for the non-renewal will impact how hard it is to find a company willing to insure your home.

If your home insurance was non-renewed because of maintenance or repair issues, completing the work will make it easier to find new coverage. However, if the non-renewal was due to multiple claims, increased risk like severe weather or other reasons that can’t be easily corrected, your hunt for new homeowners insurance will be harder.

Because each home insurance company rates risk differently, shopping around with as many companies as possible will help you find one that will offer you coverage. In more difficult circumstances, you may need to shop specialty home insurance companies or even look into a state fair access to insurance requirements (FAIR) plan after a non-renewal.

Key Takeaways

After a non-renewal, you will find it more difficult to get new coverage because other companies will see the same risks that led to the previous insurer’s decision not to renew your coverage.
Because each company sees risks a little differently, shopping around will help you find a company willing to insure your home after a non-renewal.
If you can’t find an insurance company willing to offer you coverage at a reasonable price, look into your state’s FAIR plan.

Where can I get home insurance after a non-renewal?

If your home insurance has been non-renewed, you still have options to find new coverage. Start by requesting quotes from as many companies as you can, both national and regional. Since each company has its own view of different risks, odds are good that there is a company that will offer you a policy.

Many companies are willing to take on risks that other companies won’t, so in many cases it’s simply a matter of finding the right one. A local agent who knows the market can help you locate an insurance company will to cover your home.

Before you start shopping however, you can first see if the non-renewal can be reversed. You may simple need to make some repairs or upgrades to reduce the risk the insurance company is concerned about. Contact your insurance company to see if anything can be done.

Insurers of last resort: FAIR plans

If you can’t find a private carrier willing to offer you coverage and you’re running out of time, contact the organization that runs your state’s FAIR Plan. These plans are designed for high-risk homes, and most states have one.

Coverage under a FAIR plan can be more expensive and less robust than what you’d get on the private marketplace, so it’s often considered a last resort. In addition, you typically have to prove that you’ve been denied standard coverage from other insurers to qualify.

Luckily, this coverage isn’t permanent. You might be able to make improvements to your home to reduce risk — such as installing an alarm system if crime is a risk — and re-apply for standard homeowners insurance coverage in a year or two.

Why a home insurance company might not renew your policy

In general, it’s possible to get a notice of non-renewal on your homeowners insurance if you’ve made too many claims or repeated claims for similar perils, such as theft or water damage from burst pipes.

You could also get a non-renewal letter if your home no longer fits the insurance company’s definition of acceptable risk, whether because you’ve made substantial changes to the property or they’ve changed their standards.

A non-renewal isn’t always the homeowner’s fault. For example, if you live in an area where catastrophic storms have become commonplace, a carrier may decide to stop offering coverage there because the likelihood of property damage has risen. A carrier could also base a non-renewal on a new home inspection that indicates problems are on the horizon.

However, state governments will sometimes step in to protect homeowners from non-renewals. For example, in California communities impacted by wildfires, the state insurance commissioner declared several one-year moratoriums on non-renewals and cancellation, meaning carriers can’t drop customers because of wildfire risk. In many states, carriers can’t non-renew a policy because of claims related to natural causes, like weather.

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Why it may be difficult to get homeowners insurance after non-renewal

Insurance companies generally consider a previous non-renewal a sign of increased risk, and will examine the reasons for the non-renewal.

The good news is that if your homeowners insurance non-renewal wasn’t caused by excessive claims, major repair or maintenance issues or a high risk of severe weather in the area, you shouldn’t have trouble getting picked up by a new carrier.

However, if your home does pose a risk beyond the standard level, you might have to fork over a higher premium or agree to make improvements to your property before signing a new policy.

What is the difference between cancellation and non-renewal?

A homeowners insurance non-renewal can only happen at the time a policy is set to renew. You can find your renewal date on the declaration page of your homeowners policy. Essentially, non-renewal means the insurer has elected not to renew the policy when it ends. You will be given notice with time to find new coverage.

A homeowners insurance cancellation is different because it can happen in the middle of the term. A carrier can decide to cancel before your renewal date for only a few select reasons, including missed payments or if you misrepresented information on your application. Like a non-renewal, most states require a carrier to give notice of a cancellation with time to resolve the issue or find new coverage.