Drone Surveillance: How Florida Insurers Are Invading Privacy to Deny Coverage
Fort Lauderdale, FL. - In a move that has raised concerns and enraged homeowners, property insurance companies in Florida have started using drones to inspect policyholders' homes. This new practice is being used to approve or decline new policies and renew or cancel existing ones.
According to sources, insurance companies are employing drones equipped with high-resolution cameras to capture detailed footage of properties, scrutinizing features such as roofs, property clutter, trampolines, pools, and other potential hazards. This footage is then used to determine policy eligibility and premiums and even cancel existing policies.
The Rise of Drone Inspections For years, property insurance companies have used drones to inspect property damage after a natural disaster. However, they have now started implementing that same technology to inspect policyholders' homes, specifically looking at their roofs or other hazards on the property.
An Insurance Information Institute Spokesperson said aerial inspection of roofs is vital because the roof is the first line of defense in storms. "It's a much more precise way of determining the condition of properties versus sending out an inspector and having them climb up on your roof."
Insurance companies defend their practice, citing the need for more accurate risk assessments and reduced costs. "Drones provide us with a more efficient and accurate way to assess properties, allowing us to serve our customers better," said a spokesperson.
What They Are Looking For: Roof problems: Insurers look for roof problems when taking aerial photos. Often, they spot something as simple as discoloration or streaking to determine a roof’s condition. Sometimes, you will need to spend money to repair or replace the roof.
Overhanging trees and tree limbs: Considered a significant insurance risk, which means you will need to pay to trim or remove them.
Undeclared trampolines: Trampolines are deemed a threat to physical safety and are not typically included in standard home insurance policies, according to American Family Insurance.
Excessive yard debris: As with trampolines, yards with excessive debris are considered a safety hazard that increases the insurer’s liability.
The Controversial Implications While the use of drones might be seen as a safer and more efficient method for inspections, it has also sparked controversy. Some homeowners see it as an intrusive method.
Drone inspections are not limited to the roof. They also visualize a home's overall condition and can detect other issues, such as undeclared trampolines or swimming pools. If a homeowner has installed a swimming pool and has yet to declare it, it's not covered under the policy.
The Impact on Homeowners If a drone report shows visible problems with a roof or a tree limb hanging over a roof, the homeowner could be told to remove it so it doesn't fall on or through the roof. If they don't make the repairs that are identified in the drone report, they may lose their coverage.
Although most drone inspections will be conducted at the start of a new policy agreement or when the policy is renewed, companies can legally conduct inspections at any time during the policy's duration.
The Future of Property Insurance? While the use of drones by insurance companies is legal in many areas, the practice has raised privacy and accuracy concerns. Some homeowners have been caught by surprise, finding themselves in the middle of an insurance problem no homeowner wants.
The Geospatial Insurance Consortium, a group funded by the insurance industry, has an airplane imagery program that it claims covers 99% of the U.S. population, the WSJ reported.
In one case, a homeowner was told to replace her 13-year-old roof or lose coverage. She hired two roofing inspectors to physically climb on her roof, touch the shingles, and rate the condition of her roof. Both inspectors said her roof doesn't need to be replaced. However, her insurance agent told her the decision stands. "They said that's not good enough," she said. "They are going by what the drone said."
As the use of drones by property insurance companies in Florida becomes more widespread, homeowners wonder about the implications for their privacy, their coverage, and their wallets.
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