Home insurers increasingly condition new or renewal coverage on fixing hazards that raise the chance of injury or property damage. Since 2020, many carriers have shifted away from mid-term cancellations toward end-of-term nonrenewals to manage catastrophe exposure and reinsurance pressure. A concrete example: in March 2024, State Farm announced it would nonrenew about 72,000 California property policies, citing catastrophe risk and cost trends (Reuters). Regulators are tracking this closely; Florida’s Office of Insurance Regulation publishes quarterly counts of cancellations and nonrenewals by cause via the QUASR program, offering current visibility into property policy churn (Florida OIR QUASR; see also NAIC research).
Below, learn when insurers can require repairs, what’s commonly required in 2025, how premium and market conditions affect your options, and what to do if your policy is canceled or not renewed. Where relevant, we point to standards like IBHS FORTIFIED, California’s Safer from Wildfires rules, and current pricing dynamics (for example, 2025 reinsurance renewals broadly stabilized, easing but not eliminating upward pressure on homeowners rates in catastrophe-exposed regions: Gallagher Re Jan 1, 2025; June 2025).
When Can My Insurance Company Require Repairs?
Your insurer can flag repairs based on information in your application, photos/virtual surveys, on‑site inspections at new business or renewal, or during claim investigations. State laws commonly restrict mid‑term cancellations to reasons like nonpayment, fraud/misrepresentation, or a material change in risk, so many property‑condition issues are enforced at renewal via nonrenewal notices if hazards aren’t addressed (NAIC research). Public reporting in Florida’s QUASR shows ongoing volumes of both cancellations and nonrenewals through 2024, with underwriting‑related actions frequently appearing at renewal (Florida OIR QUASR).
An insurance company will typically give you 30 to 45 days to make a repair, according to Jason L. Austin, an independent insurance agent and owner of J.L. Austin Consulting. If you need more time to arrange repairs you can ask for an extension, but you should request it as early as possible. Not completing the repair in time, and not being communicative with your insurer, could lead to your policy being canceled mid-term (before the end of the policy term) or your insurer may choose to not renew your policy. In catastrophe‑exposed states, carriers more often use end‑of‑term nonrenewals to manage risk—illustrated by actions such as State Farm’s 2024 California nonrenewals (Reuters).
What Repairs Can My Insurance Company Require?
Underwriters aim to reduce the likelihood and severity of claims before offering or renewing coverage. In 2025, the most common requirements align with engineering and regulatory frameworks: wind/hail‑resistant roofing (often referencing IBHS FORTIFIED details like sealed roof decks and enhanced edge metal), wildfire hardening and defensible space (California’s Safer from Wildfires checklist), water‑loss mitigation and managed repair after interior water claims (e.g., Citizens’ Managed Repair Program), and electrical/plumbing safety corrections. Florida law steers decisions toward roof condition and remaining useful life rather than age alone, which has made inspection‑backed roof repair or replacement a frequent renewal condition (Florida Stat. §627.7011).
Some common recommended repairs are:
- Old or damaged roof (carriers may require inspection and repairs/replacement if fewer than ~5 years of useful life remain; reroofs in wind/hail zones often must follow IBHS FORTIFIED Roof elements or use Class 4 impact‑resistant materials where available, consistent with current underwriting standards and Florida’s focus on useful life in §627.7011)
- A tree branch hanging over the house that could fall (vegetation management and defensible space; in wildfire areas, maintain a noncombustible 0–5 ft “home ignition zone” and clear fuels per Safer from Wildfires)
- Broken windows (in hurricane/wind zones, carriers may require impact‑rated openings, approved shutters, or repairs to maintain envelope integrity; these are recognized in wind mitigation frameworks like FORTIFIED)
- Old electrical wiring (e.g., correcting aluminum branch wiring, replacing obsolete panels, adding GFCI/AFCI protection where required; many carriers require a licensed electrician’s certification before binding or renewal)
- Stairs without a handrail (fall‑prevention and life‑safety fixes are common preconditions for new or renewal coverage)
Are Repairs a Requirement or Recommendation?
Your insurer should state whether a repair is mandatory for binding/renewal or a discretionary recommendation. In some jurisdictions, mitigation steps must be recognized in pricing and underwriting. For example, California requires carriers to incorporate and discount specified wildfire‑mitigation measures—Class A roofs, ember‑resistant vents, and defensible space—making these “repairs” part of standardized eligibility and pricing in high‑risk ZIP codes (Safer from Wildfires; see the broader market framework under the state’s Sustainable Insurance Strategy).
If you disagree with a required fix, gather evidence and negotiate methodically: obtain a licensed contractor’s report, time‑stamped photos, and proof of code‑compliant repairs; request an underwriting re‑inspection after mitigation; ask explicitly for available mitigation credits (e.g., FORTIFIED roof, wildfire hardening, water‑leak sensors); and escalate to a supervisor or underwriting if needed. If progress stalls, consider filing a complaint with your state insurance department to prompt a timely response (NAIC regulator directory). For water losses, many policies require using managed repair networks—contact them promptly to avoid coverage disputes (Citizens MRP); also see consumer claims guidance from the Insurance Information Institute (Triple‑I). Requirements and credits vary widely by carrier and state; comparing providers and their underwriting appetite is essential (NAIC market share; J.D. Power 2025).
What Do I Do If My Insurance Is Canceled?
First, ask your carrier whether completing the mandatory repair and providing documentation will allow reinstatement or a rewritten policy. Pricing is volatile and may change between quote and renewal; even with some reinsurance relief at 1/1 and mid‑2025 renewals, homeowners rates remain elevated in catastrophe‑exposed regions due to higher retentions and secondary‑peril losses (Gallagher Re Jan 1, 2025; June 2025). “If the policy was written in August and they gave you until October to complete [the repair], and you don’t get it done in time, the rates may be totally different from August to October,” Austin said.
You can also shop around for another insurance company. Underwriting rules and credits differ by provider—some offer incentives for FORTIFIED roofs, wildfire hardening, or smart water‑leak devices (an emerging mitigation tool highlighted in industry outlooks; see McKinsey 2024 and Deloitte 2025). If private options are limited, your state’s residual market (e.g., FAIR Plan or Citizens in Florida) may provide a temporary bridge while you complete repairs; monitor market availability and consumer metrics when comparing carriers (NAIC market share; J.D. Power 2025).
How Does Canceled Insurance Affect Me?
A lapse in homeowners coverage does not directly appear on your credit report and, by itself, does not change your credit score (Experian). Insurer credit checks for pricing/renewal are typically soft inquiries that don’t affect your score (TransUnion; CFPB). However, indirect credit damage can occur if an unpaid premium balance is sent to collections (collections can remain up to seven years: Experian), if you miss payments on a premium‑finance agreement, or if you miss payments on the card/loan you use to pay premiums—payment history is about 35% of a FICO Score (myFICO). A lapse often raises future insurance premiums as an underwriting/pricing factor (market analyses document higher post‑lapse auto premiums; property markets also prefer continuous coverage) (Bankrate; context on insurer use of credit data: NAIC). To avoid a lapse, coordinate repairs, ask for short extensions in writing, and line up a replacement policy before your current one ends.
What’s Next?
- If your insurance has already been canceled, review our roundup of the best cheap home insurance companies to shop around for quotes. When comparing, ask about credits for wildfire hardening, FORTIFIED roofs, and water‑leak sensors.
- Learn some good tips on how to get lower premiums for your homeowners insurance. In 2025, reinsurance moderation helps at the margin, but mitigation and shopping across multiple carriers remain the biggest levers (Gallagher Re).
- If your premium quotes seem really high, you might want to reevaluate how much homeowners insurance you need. Keep Coverage A aligned with true replacement cost and compare RCV vs. ACV roof options; requirements and roof settlement terms vary by provider (J.D. Power 2025).
- For an overview on buying homeowners insurance, check out our homeowners insurance buyer’s guide. Also review state resources and consumer complaint indices when screening carriers (NAIC Complaint Index).
