My homeowners insurer non-renewed me in Connecticut. How much notice must they give, and what do I do first?

Connecticut General Statutes section 38a-323 sets the notice rules for non-renewal of personal risk policies, which the Insurance Department applies to homeowners insurance. In plain terms:

• The insurer must give at least 60 days' advance notice that it will not renew.
• The notice must state the reason for non-renewal or be accompanied by a statement giving it.
• The Insurance Department treats non-renewal notices that do not comply with Connecticut requirements as invalid.

A defective notice is therefore not a technicality. Count the days between the postmark and your renewal date, check that a real reason is given, and ask the insurer and the Department's Consumer Affairs Division (860-297-3900, [email protected]) what a defective notice means for your policy.

1. Admitted carriers. One company's non-renewal is not the whole market's verdict. An independent agent can submit the home to several admitted carriers.
2. Surplus lines (E&S). Non-admitted coverage for risks the standard market declines. Read the form, limits and deductibles closely before binding.
3. C-MAP. The Coastal Market Assistance Program, for homes within 2,600 feet of salt water that meet its rules, reached only through a licensed producer.
4. The Connecticut FAIR Plan. The last resort. It is a bridge, not a destination: dwelling limits are capped and some perils are excluded.

A homeowners policy excludes flood, and a new National Flood Insurance Program policy generally takes effect after a 30-day wait, with exceptions tied to mortgage transactions. If you are moving to a new carrier, check the hurricane and wind deductibles on the new declarations page before you accept it.