The new roof rules and regulations in Florida
It is no secret that the state of Florida is prone to natural disasters such as hurricanes, so protecting one’s home should always be a priority. As a foreign investor it is crucial to stay up to date on matters that can affect your investment.
Florida’s home insurance market has been going through some turbulent times especially in recent years and requirements surrounding roofs has often taken centre stage. As recently as 2022, home insurance companies were dropping coverage for homeowners due to the age of a roof, even if the roof didn’t need repairs. This caused a huge problem for homeowners with not only just trying to keep coverage, but also when trying to sell their house as lenders will often refuse coverage for uninsured properties. This of course presented challenges for homebuyers as well.
Thankfully, the Florida state legislature has implemented new rules and roof requirements for homeowners insurance in May, 2022. As per the 2022 Florida Statutes, the new rules stipulate the following:
- Insurance companies can no longer deny coverage due to a roof’s age if the roof is under 15 years old.
- For roofs at least 15 years of age, an insurer must allow the homeowner the opportunity to have the roof inspected performed by an authorized inspector at the homeowners expense before requiring the replacement of the roof of a residential structure as a condition of issuing or renewing a homeowner’s insurance policy. If the inspection reveals that the roof has 5 or more years left of life, then the insurer cannot deny coverage due to age.
- For homes that are built after 2009, roofs that are in compliance with the state’s 2007 building code are also eligible for repair instead of replacement, even when the roof is more than 25% damaged.
In 2021 another state legislature was passed to prevent fraudulent roof claims, which were also contributing to escalating insurance premiums. This law was created to prohibit the door – to – door scams by roofing contractors after a storm to persuade homeowners to file false roof claims and to receive a new roof when replacement wasn’t necessary. The law also updated claim requirements for homeowner roof claims. Roof – related claims must be submitted within 2 years and if a homeowner decides to file a lawsuit against their insurer, they must give 60 days written notice in advance.
While the age of the roof is a factor insurers use to determine individual homeowner policies, the type of roof on the property is also something they take into consideration. Some criteria insurance companies may consider when putting together an individual policy is the type of material the roof is made of such as metal or asphalt shingles, as lifespan can differ. The shape of a roof can also influence a property’s risk to hurricanes as well as overhangs and roof decks. For example, a larger overhang can provide wind to get under it easier and lift the roof.
As with many aspects of the homebuying process, research and due diligence is highly recommended.
