If your home was built in the 1980s or ’90s, your insurance company may consider it to be so old they won’t write a home insurance policy for you.

Some companies are dropping coverage on homes built during that time, and it’s leaving homeowners with even fewer options for coverage in Florida.

Mark and Pam Harris have one of the older homes in their Charlotte County neighborhood. It was built in 1984.

Their home insurance rates have literally gone through the roof since moving in three years ago.

“It’s gone up 240% in three years….that’s a crushing number,” revealed Mark.

It was so high that they fired their insurance company, and while they found a lower rate, even more concerning was a note on their new bill which said the company was no longer insuring homes built before 2014.

“My mentality now is every year when it’s time for an insurance renewal, what are we facing?” Mark asked.

With fewer insurers to choose from, they fear even selling their home may be difficult.

“Who’s going to buy a home when they’re not going to be able to insure it?” Pam asked.

Reid McDaniel with McDaniel Insurance Solutions confirmed he is seeing a lot of carriers start to shed or not look at homes that are older. 

“In my eyes, a 1984 home is not old, but unfortunately in Florida…and those standards a lot of times 1995 and older could be more difficult to place,” McDaniel stated.

He pointed out there are companies who still insure older homes.

“Some carriers specialize in older homes. TypTap is a carrier that goes back to 1900,” McDaniel stressed.

Mark Friedlander with the Insurance Information Institute said there is no doubt that Florida is seeing an uptick in companies who refuse to write policies for older homes.

Friedlander said insurance companies are being picky about who and what they choose to insure.

“Typically, homes that were built 30, 40 years ago and beyond have a higher risk of damage than newer homes that are up to code in terms of current building codes in Florida,” Friedlander explained.

Leaving homeowners like Mark and Pam with fewer options for now.

“We’ve kind of adopted a let’s ride it out and see where this goes mentality,” Mark concluded.

Anyone who is facing a rate increase or their home dropped because of its age should contact several agencies and shop for options.