Is My Home Becoming ‘Uninsurable’? 9 Warning Signs Homeowners Should Know



Key Takeaways:

• Homes don’t become uninsurable overnight – aging roofs, deferred maintenance, and frequent claims can all play a part in making a home less desirable.
• Improve your home’s insurability by providing regular maintenance to keep major systems in good working order or by making changes that help with risk mitigation if you are in a disaster-prone area.
• Review your homeowners insurance policy annually to identify any potential risks early. Your insurance representative can answer questions and review circumstances, so you don’t have any surprises during the year.

Being ‘uninsurable’ may become a growing concern for many homeowners as insurance companies issue higher premiums, policy restrictions, or actual non-renewal notices to stem the rise in catastrophic losses, inflation and tariff constraints on rebuilding, and an aging housing inventory.

The good news – many of the issues that lead to possible cancellation or price hikes can be proactively corrected.

Here are 9 warning signs every homeowner should know and ways to correct or substantially mitigate each one.

Why Would a Home Become Uninsurable?

Insurance companies are businesses, and whether they are publicly traded corporations, like Progressive, Allstate, and Travelers, or are mutual companies owned by their policyholders, like State Farm or Mutual of Omaha, they are acutely attuned to risk and conservative underwriting decisions. These risks include:

• Property condition
• Geographic hazards and weather conditions, e.g., wildfires, flooding, hurricanes
• Cost to rebuild, including inflation, labor/material costs, labor shortages
• Crime within the area
• Probability of future claims

Additionally, homes don’t suddenly become uninsurable. They typically move along a continuum as exposures increase, e.g., risk factors rise, underwriting standards tighten, and/or catastrophe risks increase.

Insurance companies want to minimize the probability of future claims, so they have extensive risk evaluation processes to determine if a home is insurable or if it falls into one of these possible categories:

• Difficult to Insure – A difficult-to-insure home presents a higher than average risk for obtaining coverage. While these homes can often still find insurance coverage, there are fewer options, larger deductibles, more restrictive terms, and higher premiums associated with their coverage.
• High-Risk Properties – These properties are deemed more likely to generate costly claims. They are often associated with weather-prone locations, e.g., wildfires or hurricanes, or homes that have what are called ‘attractive nuisances’ in the industry, e.g., swimming pools, trampolines, or elevated skateboard structures.
• Hard-to-Place – Homes that fall within this category fall outside the underwriting guidelines of most insurance companies. They often require coverage from surplus line carriers or a specialty insurance company. These can include historic homes, homes with unusual building materials, or homes with extensive prior losses.
• Residual Market (FAIR Plan Eligible) – Homes that cannot obtain coverage through the standard insurance marketplace but may qualify for coverage through their individual state’s FAIR Plan as the insurer of last resort. These policies tend to have much more limited options and coverage and can require additional insurance to ensure adequate coverage.

9 Warning Signs Your Home May Become Harder to Insure

So, what makes a house hard to insure?

It doesn’t matter if you have never filed a claim. Insurance carriers continuously evaluate, reevaluate, and revisit entire regions of their market looking at changes in risk. This can affect your homeowners insurance as well as your auto insurance, etc.

Let’s take a look at nine of the most likely culprits causing an individual homeowner’s insurance rates to rise:

1. Your Roof May Be Aged or Damaged

Roofs are one of the very first things an underwriter will evaluate, especially if your area is prone to hailstorms, extreme storm conditions, or excessive heat. Through property inspection technology and satellite imagery, insurance companies can perform roof inspections to look for:

• Age of roof
• Storm damage
• Missing shingles
• Improper repairs or replacements
• Mixed roofing materials

The obvious solution, which is good for you and the insurance company, is to ensure your roof is in good shape and that all repairs are made in a timely manner. This demonstrates to the insurance company that you are a responsible homeowner and want to protect and maintain your investment.

2. Multiple Insurance Claims

Insurance carriers view repeated losses as an indicator of potential future risk. Some claims can’t be avoided, e.g., weather-related claims, water or liability claims (where you are not at fault). However, claims that might be related to deferred maintenance or careless planning send a strong message to your insurance company that your property is high-risk.

While we can’t control the weather or the neighbor kid on is bike, we can maintain our property to reduce potential hazards, document all repair and improvements, and update systems when needed.

3. Deferred Maintenance Visible

Insurers will see deferred maintenance that has become visible as a direct result of a high-risk owner, which can cause your premiums to go up or to become ‘uninsurable’ through a standard policy. This would include:

• Rotting siding
• Peeling paint
• Broken windows
• Poor drainage
• Foundation issues

4. Outdated Electrical, Plumbing, or HVAC Systems

Outdated mechanical systems can be a safety issue and will increase your risk factor with an insurance company, including:

• Aluminum wiring
• Polybutylene plumbing
• Galvanized pipes
• Aging furnaces
• Knob-and-tube wiring
• Federal Pacific Electric panels (considered severe fire hazards with circuit breakers that frequently fail to trip)

While replacement of major mechanical systems can be expensive, they can also bring significant safety concerns if left in service. Upgrading can be an important step in securing your property and guaranteeing your family’s safety.

5. You Live in a High-Risk Disaster Area

Today, geographic risks are increasing affecting underwriting. Our weather is worsening and the consequences are becoming exponentially more impactful. This affects insurance companies and their policyholders as we grapple with how things will worsen in the future. Issues include:

• Wildfires, both urban and forest
• Hurricanes
• Flooding
• Tornadoes
• Hailstorms
• Earthquakes

There are home mitigation measures that can be taken to protect your property and family. This may also improve your insurance premiums by demonstrating a desire to act. Here are some examples:

Wildfires

• Create a defensible space around your home – clear vegetation, trim trees, remove combustible materials.
• Install Class A roofing materials.
• Install fire resistant siding and decking.
• Cover vents with ember-resistant meshing.
• Clear gutters of leaves, pine needles, etc.
• Store all combustible materials away from home, e.g., firewood, propane tanks.

Hurricanes

• Install resistant windows, doors, and hurricane shutters.
• Reinforce roof with hurricane straps.
• Install backup power or generators.
• Reinforce garage doors to withstand high winds.
• Secure outdoor equipment/furniture during threats.
• Relocate utilities and HVAC systems about flood levels.

Flood-Prone Areas

• Improve grading and drainage around structures.
• Elevate electrical panels, HVAC systems, and water heaters.
• Install sump pumps with battery backup systems.
• Use water-resistant building materials where possible.

6. Your Replacement Costs Have Increased Dramatically

Replacement costs are rising everyone, but if your home sees an even more dramatic increase, you could be at risk of your home becoming ‘uninsurable’. Here are key things to consider:

• Are your replacement costs exceeding the fair market value of the home?
• How are inflation and tariffs going to impact your construction materials costs?
• Do you have serious labor shortages in the construction industry in your area?

7. Your Home is Sometimes Vacant or Unoccupied

Homes can be left vacant for a variety of reasons, e.g., vacation or seasonal homes, rental conversions, extended travel, short-term rental homes, etc. Anytime a home is left unoccupied then problems that impact insurance risk can occur, including:

• Theft
• Vandalism
• Squatters occupying a home
• Water damage left for extensive periods of time

It’s important if you intend to leave your home unoccupied to secure ongoing oversight through a property management company or housesitting agency.

8. ‘Attractive Nuisances’ Will Increase Liability Exposure

You can significantly reduce your risk by installing secure measures on these types of ‘attractive nuisances’:

• Swimming pools
• Unsecured ponds
• Trampolines
• Treehouses
• Aggressive dog breeds

9. Your Neighborhood has a Change to the Overall Risk Profile

Community-wide influences can impact everyone’s insurance rates including yours – consider these factors as circumstances change:

• Crime rates
• Distance to a working fire station
• Water supply availability
• Local wildfire scores
• Weather trends

How Can I Improve My Insurability Before Problems Arise?

Here is a great list of actionable guidance – some that we’ve mentioned and some new additions. Also, your insurance professional may be able to provide additional suggestions moving forward.

• Upgrade outdated electrical, heating, and plumbing systems as appropriate.
• Complete annual preventive maintenance.
• Replace aging roofs.
• Install smart leak detectors.
• Add monitored security systems and smart home features.
• Improve wildfire defensible space.
• Document all improvements and renovations.
• Review coverage annually with your insurance professional.
• Avoid filing small claims when possible.

When Should I Shop for a New Policy?

Instead of passively waiting, we recommend that you as a homeowner conduct an annual review of your insurance policy, including cost, terms, requirements, and discounts, so that you know you are getting the best possible coverage for your money.

Using a marketplace website, like einsurance.com, you can easily get quotes and explore options. At einsurance.com, you are matched with only high quality insurance companies who offer the best rates through insurance professionals.

Conclusion – Stay Proactive!

A home becoming uninsurable is a gradual process, not an overnight event.  Whether it’s due to lack of maintenance or slowly evolving weather changes, the end result is the same. A large jump in insurance costs with little to no change in value or service.

By proactively maintaining your property and staying abreast of evolving underwriting standards and changes in local risk conditions, you can position yourself to retain affordable coverage. Additionally, reviewing your insurance policy and coverage annually allows you to stay up to date on where your house sits in terms of uninsurability.

Your home is one of your greatest financial investments. Protect it with the right insurance coverage. Contact einsurance.com for more information on auto insurance and finding the best solutions to possible uninsurability.