Vacant Home Insurance Non Renewal Notice; Beware

Clients of vacant home insurance now often learn that vacant homeowners insurance is necessary after they report they have moved to the existing insurance company at renewal time. In order to renew the policy they may "call in" or mail their new address to the existing insurance company. As we have discussed, 95% of clients are then "blindsided" by their insurer when they learn that their existing policy cannot provide vacant home insurance.

Here is where things get interesting. Clients will receive a notice of non-renewal in the mail from their existing homeowners insurance company. The question I ask clients is, even though they will not be renewed, will the existing homeowners insurance policy honor a claim on the vacant home until the renewal date? One should not assume yes.

Something worth noting regarding vacant homeowners insurance; just because you are not being renewed does not necessarily mean the existing company will honor claims on the vacant home. Those in this situation should make sure they get it in writing that all claims will be paid normally on the vacant home until the date of the renewal, or in this case the non-renewal or cancellation date.

Clients that don't get a straight answer are advised to secure vacant home insurance sooner rather than later or they may be taking big risks.