Home insurers dropped policyholders at a sharply higher rate in 2024 than in 2018. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) reported that company-initiated nonrenewal rates rose between 96% and 216% over those years, depending on region.
The average premium per policy rose in every region too, by 18.3% to 43.3% after adjusting for inflation.
A nonrenewal is not a cancellation. Your insurer lets the current term finish and declines to offer another. The notice starts the clock on replacing your coverage.
Read the date and the reason first
State law sets how much written notice an insurer must give before a nonrenewal takes effect. In New York, for example, insurers must give 45 to 60 days’ notice and explain why. Many states also require the insurer to state its reason.
Prepare early, as replacing a policy takes longer than most people expect when quotes, inspections and lender paperwork are involved.
Common reasons include roof damage or other hazards found in an inspection, a high-risk location, an insurer pulling out of your region, misstatements on the application and several recent claims.
The reason decides your next move. You can repair and document a worn roof. You can’t argue with an insurer leaving your state.
Fix what you can, then shop
If the notice cites a specific problem, such as roof condition or missing storm protection, repair it and keep the receipts and photos. Any insurer you ask for a quote may want to see them.
Then shop right away, through independent agents, your lender or your state insurance department’s referrals, and online marketplaces. Home insurers returned to an underwriting profit in 2025 after losing money in 2024, and rates vary widely from one carrier to the next.
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You should compare more than price. Check that the new dwelling limit still matches today’s rebuilding costs, and ask what the wind and hail deductible is.
If standard insurers say no
Many states run a FAIR Plan, an insurer of last resort. All FAIR Plans cover losses from fire, vandalism, riot and windstorm, but coverage is often narrower and pricier than a standard policy, and only about a dozen states offer a FAIR Plan homeowners policy that includes liability.
Names and availability vary by state, and some homeowners pair a FAIR Plan with a separate policy to fill the gaps.
Surplus lines insurers, which cover risks standard insurers will not write, are another route. You buy through a licensed surplus lines broker, and these policies are not backed by your state’s guaranty fund if the insurer fails.
If you have a mortgage, your lender will expect continuous coverage. Schedule the new policy to start the day the old one ends, because a gap can create its own problems.
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