Citizens Insurance Changes Rules On Home Inspections
Citizens Property Insurance, the State of Florida's insurer of last resort, has changed the rules regarding electrical inspection on residential homes. This is the "4-point inspection" with which real estate agents and home sellers are so familiar.
From now on, any Florida home that is thirty (30) years old must now undergo a 4-point inspection. Under the prior rules, Citizens required the inspection only of homes that were 50 or more years of age. So, if the home was built between 1962 and 1982 it must now be inspected. Since those years were "boom years" in Florida real estate, it means that many thousands of more homes will be forced to have the inspection if they are to be insured through Citizen's.
The homes must comply with Citizen's new residential electrical standards. Undoubtedly, many more homes will require updates to qualify for Citizen's Insurance. Homes built between 1965 and 1972 that were originally wired with aluminum wiring will need to be given special attention because Citizen's will not insure a home with branch aluminum wiring. Branch Wiring means the wires from the home's breaker panel to the receptacles, switches, lights and the like are aluminum.
Homeowners with aluminum wiring have two options. First, the house can be totally rewired with copper wiring -- a very costly undertaking. The second option is to replace the aluminum wire with copper wire at the connection point. The second option is much more affordable. Wiring work of this kind should be done by a licensed electrician.
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From now on, any Florida home that is thirty (30) years old must now undergo a 4-point inspection. Under the prior rules, Citizens required the inspection only of homes that were 50 or more years of age. So, if the home was built between 1962 and 1982 it must now be inspected. Since those years were "boom years" in Florida real estate, it means that many thousands of more homes will be forced to have the inspection if they are to be insured through Citizen's.
The homes must comply with Citizen's new residential electrical standards. Undoubtedly, many more homes will require updates to qualify for Citizen's Insurance. Homes built between 1965 and 1972 that were originally wired with aluminum wiring will need to be given special attention because Citizen's will not insure a home with branch aluminum wiring. Branch Wiring means the wires from the home's breaker panel to the receptacles, switches, lights and the like are aluminum.
Homeowners with aluminum wiring have two options. First, the house can be totally rewired with copper wiring -- a very costly undertaking. The second option is to replace the aluminum wire with copper wire at the connection point. The second option is much more affordable. Wiring work of this kind should be done by a licensed electrician.
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posted by Terry Ward at 12:32 PM
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