In the spring of 2022, Florida’s Legislature passed two new bills that will specifically address property insurance in the state. As The Property Advocates explains, these bills, which went into effect immediately, will have a wide-ranging impact on the insurance industry and specifically on how roofs will be covered under home insurance policies.
The bills, Senate Bill 2D and Senate Bill 4D, address different aspects of the insurance agency. They were meant to put an end to rising prices in Florida’s insurance industry while also providing relief to the insurance companies in the state struggling with insurance claims and helping homeowners find better solutions to roofing scams.
Below are further details about the roof coverage changes in Florida that are now here, thanks to these two new bills.
Prohibition on Solicitation
Under Senate Bill 2D, contractors are now prohibited from sending any form of communication that would encourage homeowners to contact either a public adjuster or contractor to file an insurance claim related to roof damage unless it meets certain requirements.
One, the communication must state that the homeowner would be responsible for paying the deductible. Two, it must include language that says it’s insurance fraud for a contractor to either waive or pay for an insurance deductible. And three, it must include language that states it’s insurance fraud to file an insurance claim that intentionally includes fraudulent, misleading, or false information.
Roof Deductibles
Florida insurance companies can now offer policies with a separate roof deductible. This deductible can be up to 2% of the dwelling limit on that policy or 50% of the total cost to replace the roof — whichever amount is lower.
Consumers must be allowed to decline this roof deductible if they sign a form. If, at the policy’s renewal, the roof deductible is added to the policy, the insurance company has to provide clear notice of this change and allow homeowners the chance to decline it.
Age of the Roof
Insurance companies can’t turn down a new homeowners policy or renew a policy on homes with a roof that is less than 15 years old, solely based on the age of the roof. If the roof is older than that, the insurance company has to allow homeowners to get a roof inspection done by an authorized inspector before they require the roof to be replaced in order to secure the insurance policy.
Roof Damage
One of the biggest changes under these laws is related to when a roof is required to be replaced. According to The Property Advocates, under old regulations, the entire roof had to be replaced if it was more than 25% damaged.
The new bills state that now if a roof is damaged by more than 25% but is in compliance with Florida’s 2007 building code, it can be repaired and not entirely replaced.
This part of the laws could provide substantial savings to homeowners and insurance companies, who in the past were forced to pay for the full cost of replacement — minus the deductible — if the roof was more than 25% damaged.
About The Property Advocates
The Property Advocates, P.A. is a full-service Florida insurance law firm specializing in property insurance claims. With offices in Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, The Property Advocates team consists of nearly 25 experienced attorneys with decades of combined experience who are compassionate, knowledgeable, and not afraid to go to trial for their clients. They have a successful track record of resolving complicated property insurance claims and getting their clients the fair compensation they deserve.
