Florida soaring property insurance problem: Homeowners call for change

INSURANCE. THEIR MESSAGE TO LAWMAKSER TONIGHT. MICHEL:LE AND WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR RESTRICTIONS ON NEW RESTAURANTS. STEWART: IT’S SOMETHING IMPACTING HOMEOWNERS ACROSTHS E STATE OF FLORIDA. THE RISING COST OF INSURING YOUR PROPERTY. MICHELLE: TONIGHT LAWMAKERS JOINED ANGRY HOMEOWNERS WHO SAY THEY NEED URGENT RELIEF. WESH 2’S ANIKA HOPE IS IN MELBOURNE, WHERE PEOPLE SOUNDED OFF IN A TOWN HALL MEETI. ANA:IK HOMEOWNERS WHO SHOWED UP TONIGHT EXPLAINED THEY HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS EXCEPT TO GET HELP FROM LAWMAKERS. THEIR STORIES WERE ALL DIFFERENT, BUT THEIR MESSAGE WAS THE SAME. THURSDAY, HOMEOWNERS AT MELBOURNE’S CITY HALL REWE CLEAR THAT DAMAGE WAS DONE AND THE PROPERTY INSURANCE SYSTEM WAS TO BLAME. >> MY INSURANCE BILL THIS ARYE IS 35,000 DOLLARS. IT IS HIGHER THAN MY MORTGAGE. AND I CAN’T GET NEINW SURANCE. >> I’M ABOUT READY TO LOSE MY HOUSE BECAE USI CAN’T AFFORD INSURANCE. ANIKA: STATE LAWMAKERS REPUBLICANS REPRESENTATIVE RANDY FINE AND FLORIDA SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DEBBIE MAYFIELD WELCOMED FOLKS TO THERO FNT TO TALK ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY INSURANCE PROBLEMS. >> THE REASON THIS IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE IT AFFECTS EVERYONE. ANIKA: EVERYONE FROM THE MELBOURNE’S MAYOR TO BREVARD SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER MATT SINUS AGREED. INSURANCE PRACTICES NEED TO CHANGE. >> MY ROOF IS A 2008 ROOF AND MY HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1956. I CAN’T GET INSURANCE ANYWHE , AND I SELL IT. ANIKA: LAWMAKERS SAID THEY WOULD TAKE THESE STORIES A PEONDPLE’S SUGGESTIONS TO TALLAHASSEE DURING A SPECIAL SESSION CALLED FOR BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS, TO FIGURE OUT SOLUTIONS RELATED TO PROPERTY INSURANCE AND PUT THEM INTO L. SO FOLKS LAID OUT THE ISSU -ES THE MANY, MANY ISSUES. >> THEY CANNOT, THEY DON’T CARE HOW OLD IT I GS,ET ANOTHER POLICY UNTIL THAT ROOF IS REPLACED. AND I’VE SEEN IT HAPPEN WITH A 2-YEAR-OLD ROOF. THE TILES HAVE BEEN SUCKEDFF O THE TOP OF THE ROOF AND THEY DENIED THE CLAIM. >> THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. YOU HAVE A MAN WHO HAS ROOF DAMAGE AND HE CAN’T GET A CLM BUT YOU HAVE OTHER PEOPLEHO W HAVE NOT HAD THEIR ROOTS ASKED — HEAV NOT HAVE THEIR REEVES INSPECTED WHO ARE GETTING MORE THAN WHAT THE DAMAGE IS. ANIKA: THIS IS A BIG MONTH FOR THISSSUE.

Florida homeowners call for change in skyrocketing property insurance

It’s something impacting homeowners across the state of Florida, the rising cost of insuring your property.Thursday, homeowners at Melbourne’s city hall had one clear message — damage was done and the property insurance system was to blame.”My insurance bill this year is $35,000. It is higher than my mortgage. And I can’t get new insurance,” Steve Long, a Satellite Beach homeowner said.”I’m about ready to lose my house because I can’t afford insurance,” another homeowner said.Republican state lawmakers, Rep. Randy Fine and Florida Senate Majority Leader, Debbie Mayfield, welcomed people to share their property insurance problems.”The reason this is important is because it affects everyone,” Fine said. Related: Florida’s frustrating home insurance situation stands as barrier to buying for manyWESH 2 Investigates: Central Florida residents stunned by soaring home insurance premiumsEveryone — from Melbourne’s mayor, Paul Alfrey, to Brevard School Board member, Matt Susin — agreed insurance practices need to change.”My roof is a 2008 roof, and my house was built in 1956. I can’t get insurance anywhere and I sell it,” David Neuman, former candidate for Melbourne City Council said. Lawmakers said they would take these stories and people’s suggestions to Tallahassee.Gov. Ron DeSantis called for a special session to figure out solutions related to property insurance and put them into law.Thursday’s town hall was a chance to lay out the issues Central Floridians hope lawmakers hear.”They cannot — they don’t care how old it is — get another policy until that roof is replaced, and I’ve seen it happen with a two-year-old roof,” a contractor said.”The tiles have been sucked off the top of the roof, and they denied the claim,” Long said.Next week, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation is holding hearings for several well-known insurers.The special session in Tallahassee starts on May 23.Related: Florida property insurance company goes under, leaving policy holders scramblingRelated: $600 million fund available to help Florida residents struggling to save their homes

It’s something impacting homeowners across the state of Florida, the rising cost of insuring your property.

Thursday, homeowners at Melbourne’s city hall had one clear message — damage was done and the property insurance system was to blame.

“My insurance bill this year is $35,000. It is higher than my mortgage. And I can’t get new insurance,” Steve Long, a Satellite Beach homeowner said.

“I’m about ready to lose my house because I can’t afford insurance,” another homeowner said.

Republican state lawmakers, Rep. Randy Fine and Florida Senate Majority Leader, Debbie Mayfield, welcomed people to share their property insurance problems.

“The reason this is important is because it affects everyone,” Fine said.

Related: Florida’s frustrating home insurance situation stands as barrier to buying for many

WESH 2 Investigates: Central Florida residents stunned by soaring home insurance premiums

Everyone — from Melbourne’s mayor, Paul Alfrey, to Brevard School Board member, Matt Susin — agreed insurance practices need to change.

“My roof is a 2008 roof, and my house was built in 1956. I can’t get insurance anywhere and I sell it,” David Neuman, former candidate for Melbourne City Council said.

Lawmakers said they would take these stories and people’s suggestions to Tallahassee.

Gov. Ron DeSantis called for a special session to figure out solutions related to property insurance and put them into law.

Thursday’s town hall was a chance to lay out the issues Central Floridians hope lawmakers hear.

“They cannot — they don’t care how old it is — get another policy until that roof is replaced, and I’ve seen it happen with a two-year-old roof,” a contractor said.

“The tiles have been sucked off the top of the roof, and they denied the claim,” Long said.

Next week, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation is holding hearings for several well-known insurers.

The special session in Tallahassee starts on May 23.

Related: Florida property insurance company goes under, leaving policy holders scrambling

Related: $600 million fund available to help Florida residents struggling to save their homes

https://www.wesh.com/article/florida-homeowners-property-insurance/39985276