PA Commissioner Warns About Homeowners Insurance Policy Cancellations

The senior insurance authority for the state of Pennsylvania warned property owners that their homeowners insurance policies could be canceled. Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller advised homeowners that they should comply with requests by insurance companies regarding property hazards. The advisory requests that property owners remove or repair hazards that could lead to potential cancellation or non-renewal of their homeowners’ insurance policy. The advisory comes after the state’s insurance commission received numerous complaints about canceled and unrenewed policies.

Details of the Homeowners Insurance Policy Advisory

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department released the homeowners insurance policy advisory on August 27. The office investigated dozens of consumer complaints regarding cancellation of a property owner’s homeowners insurance policy. The investigation revealed that numerous policy holders had received notices about hazards on their property. The property owners failed to take action on repairing the hazards, so the carriers decided either to cancel the policies or not renew the policy holder’s coverage.

Miller: Don’t Risk Losing Homeowners Insurance Policy Coverage

Ms. Miller told reporters that policy holders should respond to insurer requests to keep their homeowners insurance policy intact. She said that property owners “need to respond to these requests so they don’t risk losing the coverage they need.” She also advised policy holders to contact the PID with questions about their homeowners insurance policy coverage. She stated that the agency can help policy holders comply with the terms of their policies and prevent most circumstances that can lead to cancellations.

Identifying Homeowners Insurance Policy Hazards

Ms. Miller used an example of a property owner whose improvements may inadvertently lead to a cancellation of their homeowners insurance policy. The homeowner, according to Ms. Miller, installed an above-ground deck. The deck was higher than the surrounding ground level in several locations, but did not include a safety rail. The lack of a rail could lead to falls and other injuries for both residents and visitors. Without the rail around the deck, the insurer could classify the deck as a hazard and cancel the property owner’s homeowners insurance policy.

Homeowners Insurance Policy Hazards Require Action

She also advised property owners to consider areas surrounding the home that can cause hazards and lead to homeowners insurance policy cancellations. She told reporters that the homeowner must “take reasonable action to lower the risk the insurer has on a property.” These actions can include repairing broken sidewalks, removing large tree branches, or clearing snow and ice from driveways. Property owners who fail to take actions to reduce their own risk may have their homeowners insurance policy canceled.

Source: Insurance Journal

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