Homeowners insurance is not just an important protection against financial ruin in the event something catastrophic happens to your homeâit is also required by your lender if you have a mortgage. A lapse in your insurance coverage is risky because if something happens to your home during the period in which you are not covered, youâll be responsible for paying for repairs out of pocket. Not keeping your homeowners insurance policy current is also considered a violation of your agreement with your lender, and could result in some serious financial penalties.
A lapse in homeowners insurance coverage is very risky, and it almost always results in higher insurance rates.
What is an insurance lapse?
At its most basic, an insurance lapse is a period during which you donât have homeowners insurance coverage.
The most common reason for a lapse in homeowners insurance is failure to pay on time. Some homeowners insurance companies have a grace period for missed payments.
So, if you are dealing with a major family emergency and realize youâve missed your premium payment by a couple of days, call your insurer and see if youâre within the grace period. Do this as soon as possible. Be prepared to pay your late bill immediately, and understand that your insurer might now require you to set up automatic payments as a condition of reinstating your coverage.
Lapse, canceled, or nonrenewal?
Lapsed coverage is frequently the result of nonpayment. There are other reasons a homeowner might experience a gap in insurance, and these are typicallyâbut not alwaysâpreceded by a notice, during which time you are expected to try to secure coverage through another company.
Being dropped by an insurer can happen for reasons that are no fault of the homeowner. For instance, an insurance company becoming insolvent or deciding to leave a high-risk region or state is out of the control of any homeowner. Pay close attention to any correspondence you receive from your insurer, as it may contain important information about your coverage.
On the other hand, homeowners can be dropped for reasons that are within their controlâsuch as an insurer learning that a homeowner lied or misrepresented something on their application for coverage, or the insurer discovers that a homeowner has avoided maintaining the property leading to a higher likelihood of claims. This may result in the insurer canceling your coverage.
Non-renewals are when an insurance company decides not to continue offering coverage, and will not renew a homeownerâs policy when it is time for renewal. The decision not to renew is usually driven by a substantial change in risk. Policyholders in California have experienced this in regards to wildfires; while Gulf states such as Florida and Louisiana have received non-renewal notices as insurers seek to rebalance their hurricane risk exposure.
Insurance is regulated at the state level, so notification requirements may vary. Typically, when insurers decide not to renew policies, they are required to let homeowners know in advance. However, a notice of cancellation of a policy may depend on the reason.
Regardless of the reason for canceling coverage or a decision not to renew policies, homeowners bear the responsibility for securing a new homeowners insurance policy, and should take action quickly if notified of a cancelation or non-renewal. Timing could be dependent on why youâve lost coverage. Cancelations can happen mid-term on your policy, causing you to lose insurance coverage quickly. Non-renewals mean that at the end of your policy term, your insurance coverage will not be renewed.
What are the risks associated with a homeowners insurance lapse?
You arenât covered by insurance
The most obvious risk is that something could happen to your home when you donât have coverage. Even a small kitchen fire can cause thousands of dollars in damageâand it is damage that you, as the homeowner, would be responsible for paying to repair.
Your mortgage company could purchase a policy for you
An insurance coverage lapse is a serious problem for the mortgage company. Ultimately, the mortgage company is the owner of the property until the home is paid off.
When a homeownerâs insurance coverage lapses, the carrier will notify the mortgage company that the policy is no longer in effect. As homeowners insurance coverage is a requirement, your mortgage lender may purchase coverage and charge you for it when it learns your insurance has lapsed.
This is called âforce-placedâ or âlender-placedâ coverage, and there are significant drawbacks to it compared to conventional coverage. It is generally more expensive than regular homeowners insurance, and it typically will cover less. For example, most force-placed policies will exclude liability coverage. So, if someone falls on your property and sues you while you are covered only by a force-placed policy, youâll be faced with covering those legal costs out of your own pocket.
Youâll pay higher premiums
Insurance premiums are calculated based on risk. One important aspect of risk is your track record of paying bills on time. If you donât pay your homeowners insurance premium on time, this is a red flag to insurance companies that you arenât reliable. Your risk factor goes up and your premiums will too. Even being a few days late to pay your premiums can be a problem.
You might have trouble finding an insurer to cover you
Once youâre flagged as a higher risk, it can be much harder to find insurance. If your coverage was canceled due to deferred maintenance issues, your new policy may require you to immediately address repairs before you can secure new homeowners insurance.
Even if you own your home outright, securing homeowners insurance coverage is important to protect your investment. Going without homeowners insurance puts your homeâwhich is most likely your biggest and most expensive investmentâat risk.
Finding new homeowners insurance
Homeowners in high-risk areas across the country are struggling to adjust to changes in a complex insurance market. No doubt, it is a challenging environment for homeowners in some areas right now.
If youâre concerned about the cost of homeowners insurance, reach out to the experts at Guaranteed Rate Insurance. They can help to find quotes, identify potential opportunities for bundling (if available), and talk through selections such as increasing deductibles or changing coverage limits, which might help to make your homeowners insurance options more affordable.
Disclaimer:
Savings, if any, vary based on the consumerâs profile and other factors. Contact your insurance agent for more information. Restrictions apply.
All information provided in this publication is for informational and educational purposes only, and in no way is any of the content contained herein to be construed as financial, investment, or legal advice or instruction. Rate Insurance does not guarantee the quality, accuracy, completeness or timelines of the information in this publication. While efforts are made to verify the information provided, the information should not be assumed to be error free. Some information in the publication may have been provided by third parties and has not necessarily been verified by Rate Insurance. Rate Insurance, its affiliates and subsidiaries do not assume any liability for the information contained herein, be it direct, indirect, consequential, special, or exemplary, or other damages whatsoever and howsoever caused, arising out of or in connection with the use of this publication or in reliance on the information, including any personal or pecuniary loss, whether the action is in contract, tort (including negligence) or other tortious action.
