Home Insurance Forum

We first insured my home as a personal residence, from 1978 to 1986, then on a landlords policy until now. I moved back into the home recently. Allstate required an inspection upon my request for homeowners insurance when I moved in again.

There is one cracked window, just in a corner, that has been that way for 15 years. There are two gaps in the original 30-year old walkway that Allstate wants filled. The backyard, which is very large, has never been landscaped, and has weeds along the fenceline — which I cut twice a year. The yard was much worse when tenants lived there, since they often stored vehicles in the large backyard.

I have been slowly renovating the property as I live there, but the priority for me was the inside.

Allstate threatens cancellation of the policy in 60 days, which would leave me with no insurance. In fact, I am working on finalizing a contract with a landscape contractor, and the cracked window has already been replaced but I see the condition of other homes in the neighborhood, with uneven cracked cement, overgrown yards, and so forth, and doubt Allstate either routinely or randomly inspects properties like this.

We have another property and three vehicles, all through Allstate for 15 years and have rarely had claims. Allstate did not inspect our personal residence purchased in 1990 before insuring it.

Is Allstate entitled to do inspections on properties whenever it wants, or only upon request for changes in coverage? I am not a new client, nor is this property new to Allstate.

Carol, California

Dear Carol,

As far as the appearance of homes in your neighborhood goes, that isn't something that really comes into play with your homeowners policy. It may be that Allstate doesn't even insure any of the neighboring properties.

However, to ensure that you are not being subjected to a misuse of your rights as a policyholder, we recommend that you contact the California Department of Insurance's Consumer Communications Bureau. They are located at: 300 South Spring Street, South Tower Los Angeles, CA 90013 and their phone number is: 800-927-4357 (for out of state callers, dial: 213-897-8921). The bureau will inform you If your insurer is indeed entitled to random inspections; otherwise they will give you sound advice for combating the situation.

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