H1225 — An Act ensuring sufficient notice to homeowners by insurance companies prior to an inspection

Summary

An Act ensuring sufficient notice to homeowners by insurance companies prior to an inspection

Bill Text

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This bill adds new requirements for notifying homeowners about property inspections and conditions under which insurers may not cancel coverage based on roof conditions.

• Chapter 175

  Section 4D½. (a) Each admitted insurer writing homeowners insurance in the commonwealth, in accordance with the provisions of section 4, and the joint underwriting association, formed pursuant to the provisions of chapter 175C, or their agent shall notify an insured homeowner or policyholder by certified mail no fewer than 30 days prior to an inspection of the insured premises, including the roof, gutters, porch, steps, siding and bulkhead. The insurer, joint underwriting association or an agent of the insurer or joint underwriting association shall obtain from the insured homeowner or policyholder written authorization for an inspection and shall notify the insured homeowner or policy holder by telephone, email and written letter at least 7 days before any inspection of the date and a 3 hour time period when any inspection shall occur. (b) The inspector shall be licensed pursuant to section 222 of chapter 112 and upon arrival shall contact the insured homeowner or policyholder that they are at the insured premises and ready to begin the inspection. The inspector shall provide their homeowner’s inspector license and registered driver's license for examination by the insured homeowner or policyholder. (c) Upon completion of the inspection, the inspector shall show the insured homeowner or policyholder any photographs taken during inspection showing deterioration, rot, structural defects including any loose roof shingles that the inspector intends to forward to the insurer or joint underwriting association. In no case shall any insurer cancel or demand a full roof replacement in order to maintain a homeowner’s policy due to the deterioration of fewer than 10 roof shingles. (d) The commissioner and the attorney general shall jointly promulgate regulations necessary to implement and enforce this section.

  Establishes new rules for homeowner inspection notifications, inspector requirements, and limits on insurance cancellations.

Sponsors

• Sally P. Kerans · Primary

Subjects