Steps to take if your homeowner’s insurance is canceled

Nobody likes to get dumped, whether it’s by a loved one or an employer. When the company that insures your home tells you to get lost at renewal time, that can be a nasty surprise, too.

What can cause the breakup?

“Many times it has nothing to do with you,” explains Jeanne Salvatore, a spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute, a Manhattan organization that educates consumers about insurance. It could be that the company is reducing market share in your area, or that it is going to discontinue writing that line of insurance. Then too, perhaps your area is now deemed more “risky,” such as being more prone to flooding, for example.

What can you do if your insurer calls it quits?

Relax. “Know that the state insurance department has very specific rules that insurers must follow,” says Salvatore. In other words, they just can’t get rid of you willy-nilly.

Then too, she adds, “Insurance is very competitive. If you have to get new insurance, there are a lot of options out there. You might wind up with a better deal.”

Make yourself an attractive risk. Says Salvatore, “Take reasonable steps to mitigate problems at your home by updating the plumbing and electrical systems, and making your home more wind-resistant.” Translation: Impress them with your best behavior.