What Do I Do If My Insurance Company Tells Me to Replace My Roof Or It’ll Get Canceled? 

Are you feeling stressed after getting notified that your insurance company will cancel if you don’t replace your roof? Do you feel unsure about the best course of action to try to keep your insurance or at least mitigate the negative impacts of losing it?

At RoofSmart, we are committed to getting you the best coverage possible to help you fix your roof damage. In fact, the last 100 customers of ours who filed for coverage got an increase on their claim after we helped them negotiate with their insurance company.

In addition, for this article, we brought in Tom Jacoy from Sea-Mountain Insurance to provide insights on insurance policies and cancelations. He is not affiliated with RoofSmart, but he comes equipped with many years of experience helping customers with personal and commercial insurance claims.

In this article, you’ll learn why your insurance policy will be canceled and the steps to take after receiving this notice. By the end, you’ll be able to decide whether replacing your roof or finding new insurance is the right move for you.

Can homeowner’s insurance be canceled due to the state of the roof?

Yes, it is possible that your insurance company will cancel your insurance if they determine that your roof no longer meets their requirements or is high risk. Insurance cancellations and issues are most common with asphalt and wooden shake roofs.

Insurance companies expect that their clients will do their best to ensure that their roof is in good condition and take precautionary measures to protect it from damage. If your roof is getting old or if the insurance company has reason to believe that you aren’t taking care of it then your policy might get canceled.

How do insurance companies determine that they should cancel someone’s homeowner’s insurance?

Tom Jacoy outlines the main things that insurance companies look at when assessing coverage for a roof:

• The number of claims made on the roof: Insurance companies want to know if you have a history of losses. If you have filed a lot of insurance claims recently, that can be a red flag for your provider and can lead to non-renewal. They will want to know if you were negligent and what the payout was for the claims you’ve made in the last five years.
• The age of the roof: The insurance company will keep a record of how long ago the last roof replacement happened on your home. If it has been a while, this is a major contributing factor to their decision. An old roof is at risk of causing damage to the rest of the home.
• The condition of the roof: If there is a lack of maintenance on or around the roof means that it might not be in good condition or it is at a higher risk than normal for being damaged. This is especially true for roofs that have a lot of moss growing on them, or if you have branches hanging over your roof.

What steps should I take if I get notified that my insurance will be canceled if I don’t replace my roof?

After receiving this notice, you might feel stressed and unsure of what to do next. But don’t worry because there are still steps you can take to renew your insurance. Jacoy shares his recommended plan of action if this ever happens to you:

Step 1: Reach out to your insurance company

The notice that you receive will likely give some explanation as to why your insurance will be canceled, but in order to get more information you should reach out to your insurance company.

Setting up a meeting or a phone call with your insurance agent is a great way to understand how your insurance company decided that your roof can no longer be covered. Ask them what factors contributed to their decision.

This is also your opportunity to ask if there is anything you can do instead of replacing your roof to renew your policy. In some cases, you might be able to perform maintenance to help keep the roof in good condition and avoid potential future damage.

Step 2: Perform maintenance as needed

If your insurance agent tells you that there are other steps you can take, go ahead and do them. It is likely that you’ll need to hire someone to perform maintenance on or around your roof.

For example, it is very common for people to bring someone out to remove moss from their roof or cut back branches that hang over the roof. Once this is done, send over the invoices as proof to your insurance company and see if that will be enough to get your insurance renewed.

Step 3: Hire a roofing contractor to inspect your roof

A roofing contractor can help you assess what issues your roof has and the best way to address them. They can help you determine if you can hold off on replacing your roof by making some repairs. Or they might confirm that the best move for your roof is to replace it.

If they recommend making repairs, meet with your insurance agent again to see if that will be enough to renew your policy.

Step 4 (if needed): Find new insurance

If your roof is too old or you are not able to perform maintenance that will be enough to renew your policy, you can search for different insurance. There are many different options out there.

Should I replace my roof to keep my insurance?

Jacoy very firmly insists that you do NOT need to replace your roof in order to keep your insurance. There are often situations when you can perform maintenance to satisfy the requirements of your insurance policy without needing to replace your roof.

If the issue with your roof is that it is too old, there is not any maintenance you can do to fix that. However, that does not mean you are out of options. Jacoy says that instead of replacing your roof, you can decide to look for a different insurance company.

The insurance you find will no longer be through the preferred market. You will likely have higher premiums and watered-down coverage, but you will still be able to have coverage.

It will probably take some extra effort and research to find a new insurance company, but if you cannot afford to replace your roof, then it is worth your time to find new coverage.

Next Moves for Protecting Your Roof Insurance Coverage

Dealing with the possibility of losing your homeowner’s insurance due to the state of your roof can be overwhelming, but knowing your options empowers you to act confidently.

Start by communicating with your insurance provider to understand their decision and explore maintenance solutions to meet their requirements. If that’s not feasible, consulting with a roofing professional can help you decide whether repairs or replacement are your best course of action.

Remember, replacing your roof isn’t always the only solution. Sometimes, switching to a new insurance provider can offer the coverage you need without the immediate financial burden of a roof replacement. With the insights shared in this article and by Tom Jacoy, you’re equipped to make the right decision for your home and financial security.

Working with your insurance company to make sure your roof still has coverage can be tough, but you don’t have to do it alone. An experienced roofer can help you. Now you’re probably wondering how you can find a roofer who is qualified to assess your roof and work with an insurance company.

To learn how to find a qualified roofer, read our article “How Do I Know If A Roofing Contractor is Qualified?” and follow the step-by-step guide.