California regulator’s ‘forced marriage’ with insurers
California regulator’s ‘forced marriage’ with insurers

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is trying to get property insurers to remain in the state despite a spate of wildfires. In Sacramento, Ricardo Lara is the state’s insurance commissioner who hasn’t yet stopped an exodus of property insurers fleeing increased costs fueled by climate…
LA to consider prohibiting landlords from asking about criminal history
LA to consider prohibiting landlords from asking about criminal history

The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to consider prohibiting landlords from inquiring about prospective tenants’ criminal history. Council members voted 11-0, with no discussion, to reactivate a motion seeking to establish a so-called “fair chance” housing ordinance. Council President Paul Krekorian and Councilman Curren…
Insurance companies use drones and high-altitude balloons to spy on homes and deny coverage: report
Insurance companies use drones and high-altitude balloons to spy on homes and deny coverage: report

Home insurance companies are increasingly using aerial images from drones and even high-altitude balloons as a tool to dump properties seen as higher risk, according to a report. Angry homeowners have reported losing their coverage after being told they had damaged roof shingles, debris in…
Insurance companies rely on aerial images to ditch risky properties
Insurance companies rely on aerial images to ditch risky properties

Insurance companies are leveraging aerial images of homes to drop properties deemed too risky, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Consumer advocates are concerned that customers are not always able to challenge images that could be out of date or inaccurate. The…
Insurers Spy On Houses Via Aerial Imagery, Seeking Reasons To Cancel Coverage
Insurers Spy On Houses Via Aerial Imagery, Seeking Reasons To Cancel Coverage

Insurance companies across the country are using satellites, drones, manned airplanes and even high-altitude balloons to spy on properties they cover with homeowners policies — and using the findings to drop customers, often without giving any opportunity to address alleged shortcomings. “We’ve seen a dramatic…
US home insurers are using drones and satellites to spy on customers
US home insurers are using drones and satellites to spy on customers

The practice has been critized for breaching customer privacy and consumer rights. Some U.S. home insurance companies are using drone surveillance to decide whether to insure people’s homes, according to a report. In some cases, this has led to insurers refusing to insure homes due…
Fury as home insurance companies cancel coverage after secretly taking pictures of owners’ properties using drones, high altitude balloons and even manned airplanes
Fury as home insurance companies cancel coverage after secretly taking pictures of owners’ properties using drones, high altitude balloons and even manned airplanes

Insurance companies have been accused of canceling coverage after covertly capturing images of homeowners’ properties using drones, high-altitude balloons and even manned airplanes. Cindy Picos, a resident of Auburn, California, said she was dropped by her home insurer, CSAA Insurance, after they obtained aerial photos…
Insurers Are Spying on Your Home From the Sky
Insurers Are Spying on Your Home From the Sky

Cindy Picos was dropped by her home insurer last month. The reason: aerial photos of her roof, which her insurer refused to let her see. “I thought they had the wrong house,” said Picos, who lives in northern California. “Our roof is in fine shape.”…
Assemblymember Irwin to Host Wildfire & Disaster Insurance Online Town Hall
Assemblymember Irwin to Host Wildfire & Disaster Insurance Online Town Hall

The office of Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin—who represents AD 42, which includes Pacific Palisades—will host a Wildfire & Disaster Insurance Online Town Hall on Thursday, April 4, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Palisadians who are interested in attending can register at bit.ly/04042024. The town hall is…
Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin Hosts Wildfire Insurance Town Hall
Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin Hosts Wildfire Insurance Town Hall

Join Experts to Discuss Wildfire Response, Insurance Challenges Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, representing California’s 42nd district, is set to host an online town hall on wildfire and disaster insurance. The event will feature a panel of experts from various regions and aim to address the challenges…
United Policyholders helps Paradise residents with home insurance in wildfire-prone areas
United Policyholders helps Paradise residents with home insurance in wildfire-prone areas

A nonprofit organization focusing on fair insurance practices, disaster preparedness and recovery held a meeting in Paradise to educate residents about the home insurance crisis in wildfire-prone areas. Non-renewals have become more common, with premiums doubling and tripling, forcing many to rely on the California…
State Farm continues withdrawal from state
State Farm continues withdrawal from state

Despite efforts by the state’s Department of Insurance (DOI) to revise the rate making policies in California, on March 20, State Farm announced it would not be renewing more than 70,000 commercial, residential and rental insurance policies in California. And the announcement emphasized that these…
Are California homeowners getting any insurance breaks for beefing up their property to protect against wildfires?
Are California homeowners getting any insurance breaks for beefing up their property to protect against wildfires?

Officials can’t say how many people qualified for wildfire safety credits The CZU Lightning Complex wildfire that burned through the Santa Cruz Mountains in late summer 2020 was a wakeup call for Frank Bäuerle. He wasted no time fireproofing his Ben Lomond home and neighborhood,…
Essential Know-How For Wildfire Insurance Policyholders
Essential Know-How For Wildfire Insurance Policyholders

The podcast episode features Amy Bach, the executive director of United Policyholders, an insurance consumer advocacy group. The host introduces Amy as an advocate for policyholders and discusses her background as an attorney. Amy shares her insights on insurance claims and the importance of policyholders…
California’s home insurance crisis, explained
California’s home insurance crisis, explained

Home buying for the nation is about to get more interesting, as the National Association of Realtors agrees to a seismic settlement that will abolish the 6% commission. In California, there is a home insurance crisis. The big three insurers — Farmers, Allstate and State…
Struggle for home insurance: Santa Rosa couple faces almost 200 rejections after cancellation
Struggle for home insurance: Santa Rosa couple faces almost 200 rejections after cancellation

The Melendys’ experience isn’t new, but it is part of an increasingly dire trend in California. Read more.
What to do if your California homeowners insurance company drops you
What to do if your California homeowners insurance company drops you

As more and more insurance companies quit doing business in California, many local residents are facing sky-high premiums or even the daunting task of finding new home insurance. Here’s some advice from experts on getting property insurance and keeping costs down. Organizations like United Policyholders…
California oversight agency begins home insurance review
California oversight agency begins home insurance review

The Little Hoover Commission, a state oversight agency, is studying California’s home insurance issues, will report to Newsom, legislators. Read more.