Need Homeowners Insurance – Current Company not renewing our policy Susan Sachen asked 9 months ago
Need Homeowners Insurance – Current Company not renewing our policy

Can you please help us find new homeowners insurance? We just got a letter from Occidental that they will not renew our policy when it expires in November. We live in the Oakland Hills on Valley View Rd. We’ve lived here for 30 years and never filed a claim. Thanks, Susan Sachen

1 Answers
Answer for Need Homeowners Insurance – Current Company not renewing our policy Carolyn Winter answered 8 months ago
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Dear Susan,

I’m very sorry to learn that you’ve been dropped by your insurer, and it’s unfortunately a story that’s increasingly common from California policyholders (and, in fact, from policyholders throughout the country).

In California they must give you 75 days advance notice that they are planning to "non-renew" your policy. Make sure you receive written notice within this timeframe. If not, you can file a complaint with the Department of Insurance to give you more time to find replacement coverage.

Your insurer must also state the reason you are being non-renewed. We recommend you reach out to them and ask if there are any steps you can take to qualify you for a renewal. You can also reach out to your local fire department to see if they will do an inspection certifying that you have taken all steps to mitigate risk.

It is important to start shopping immediately to find replacement coverage. Here are a few resources to get started:

Since you’re in California, can you please take our short, confidential survey? We are tracking this issue closely and completing our survey can help us advocate on behalf of policyholders for fair insurance coverage.

I hope this information is helpful.