By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO, Licensed Insurance Advisor
Key takeaways
- Most homeowners claims stay on your CLUE claims-history report for up to seven years.
- The report covers both you and the property, so a house can carry claims from a prior owner.
- Claims can appear even if nothing was paid. Regulators say a simple question about coverage shouldn’t be reported as a claim.
- There’s no universal number of claims that triggers cancellation or non-renewal; each carrier sets its own guidelines, and recent claims weigh most.
- You can request your own CLUE report once a year from LexisNexis and dispute errors.
Short answer: a homeowners insurance claim generally stays on your record for up to seven years. That record lives mainly in the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, or CLUE, a database run by LexisNexis. The Texas Department of Insurance explains in its CLUE tip that a CLUE report shows claims filed for a house or car for the past seven years, including claims made before you owned the home.
We look at claim histories every day at Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance. As a family-owned independent agency founded in 2005, we compare 40+ carriers, and how each one treats prior claims is often what decides where a client belongs. It’s a big reason clients have trusted us with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials.
What is a CLUE report?
The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance answers the common questions in its CLUE FAQ. CLUE is a claims history database that insurers use when underwriting a policy. Participating companies contribute their claim data and can pull reports, and some agents can access it with the company’s authority. Not every insurer subscribes, so a claim with a non-participating company may not appear.
Wisconsin also notes that CLUE contains only policy and loss information. Credit reports, criminal records, lawsuits and judgments are not part of it. Insurers may use other tools, such as an insurance score where state law allows, but those are separate from the claims report.
What gets reported, and what doesn’t
| Item | On a CLUE report? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Date of loss | Yes | Reported by the insurer |
| Type of loss (water, wind, theft, liability) | Yes | Water and liability claims tend to draw the most attention |
| Amount paid | Yes | Shown even when small |
| Claims closed without payment | Often yes | Wisconsin says reported losses count whether or not they were paid |
| Policy number, claim number and insurer | Yes | Helps match records |
| Property address | Yes | The claim stays with the house |
| A question about your coverage or deductible | Should not be | Be clear you are asking, not filing |
| Credit history | No | Separate from CLUE |
| Claims older than seven years | Generally no | Your own carrier may still keep its own records |
TDI’s advice on questions is worth repeating: companies aren’t supposed to report questions you ask about your policy or deductible, but when you talk to your agent or carrier, be clear whether you’re filing a claim or just asking. We’re happy to talk through a possible claim before anything is reported.
How long does a claim affect your homeowners insurance?
Seven years is the outer edge for most CLUE reporting, but the effect isn’t even across those years. Underwriters usually focus on recent history, often the last three to five years, and on the pattern. One storm claim several years ago looks very different from two water claims in eighteen months. Wisconsin notes that CLUE reports are used almost entirely for new policies; at renewal, most insurers rely on their own records for existing customers.
That means a claim can affect you in two places: with your current carrier at renewal, and with any new carrier you apply to while the claim is still on your report. Our post on whether home insurance goes up after a claim covers the renewal side.
How many claims before home insurance cancels you?
There’s no standard number. Each carrier writes its own underwriting rules, and state laws limit when and how a policy can be cancelled mid-term versus non-renewed at the end of a term. In practice, these are the patterns that most often lead to a non-renewal conversation:
- Two or more claims within a few years, especially of the same type
- Repeat water claims, which can point to an ongoing maintenance issue
- A large liability claim, such as a dog bite
- A claim that reveals an unrepaired hazard, like an old roof or outdated wiring
- Claims combined with other risk changes, such as vacancy or a new rental use
If you get a non-renewal notice, don’t wait for it to take effect. An independent agent can shop the home with carriers whose guidelines fit your history. See our page on non-renewed and hard-to-place home insurance in New Hampshire and our guide to homeowners insurance cancelled because of a roof.
What about two claims in one year?
Two claims in a single year is the situation underwriters notice most. It doesn’t automatically mean non-renewal, particularly if the claims were unrelated and out of your control, such as a windstorm and a burglary. But it raises the odds of a closer review. Before filing a second small claim, weigh the payout against your deductible and how long the claim will remain on file. The Triple-I explains deductibles in understanding your insurance deductibles, and our guide on the pros and cons of filing a homeowners claim walks through the decision.
How to check and correct your CLUE report
- Request it. TDI notes you can get a copy of your report each year at no cost from LexisNexis through its consumer disclosure request page.
- Review it. Check dates, loss types, amounts and the property address. Look for inquiries that were recorded as claims.
- Dispute errors. LexisNexis accepts disputes, and you can add a short explanation to your file.
- Ask before buying a home. TDI suggests asking the seller for the property’s CLUE report, since past water or roof claims can affect insurability.
Washington’s insurance commissioner has a similar CLUE overview if you want a second explanation.
Claims that follow the house vs. claims that follow you
A CLUE report can be pulled two ways: on a person and on a property. That’s why buyers are sometimes surprised. You may have never filed a claim, yet the house you’re buying has two water losses from the previous owner. TDI notes that the report lists claims on your home even if you weren’t the owner at the time.
Underwriters treat the two differently. Claims tied to the property raise questions about its condition: was the roof replaced, was the plumbing fixed, was mold remediated? Documentation helps, so ask the seller for repair invoices along with the report. Claims tied to you follow you to your next home and often matter more for liability and theft history. Either way, honest disclosure on the application is essential; an omitted claim usually turns up anyway.
A quick check before you file a small claim
- Is the damage clearly above your deductible, with room to spare?
- Have you had another claim in the last few years?
- Is this the same type of loss as a previous claim?
- Could the damage get worse, or affect a neighbor, if left alone?
- Is there any liability involved, such as an injured guest? If so, report it regardless.
Liability incidents are the exception to any “wait and see” approach. Policies require prompt notice, and a delay can cause problems with coverage.
How long should you keep old homeowners insurance policies?
This is a different question, and one of the most searched. CLUE keeps your claim record, but it doesn’t keep your policy documents. We suggest:
- Current policy: keep the full policy, the declarations page and every endorsement until the policy is replaced.
- Old policies: keep at least the declarations pages and the policy form for several years after the policy ends. Liability claims can surface well after the event, and the policy in force on the date of the incident is the one that responds.
- Open claims: keep everything until the claim is closed and any related repair warranties expire.
- When you sell: keep the last policy and any claim files for the home, in case a buyer or lender raises a question later.
Digital copies are fine. If you can’t find an old policy, your agent or carrier can often provide a copy. Our explainer on the insurance declarations page shows what to keep.
Claims history and New England homes
- Older housing stock. Many New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts homes are decades or centuries old. A CLUE report on a house you’re buying can reveal past water, roof or heating claims worth asking about.
- Winter water losses. Frozen pipes and ice dams produce many of the region’s claims. Preventing a repeat matters because a second water claim draws extra scrutiny.
- Coastal storms. Wind claims after a nor’easter usually count as weather events. Some carriers view them differently from claims tied to maintenance, but they are still reported.
- Seasonal homes. Claims at a lake or ski house are reported the same way as at a primary home and can affect both policies with the same carrier.
Our guide to how long a home insurance claim takes explains the claim process itself.
Worried a past claim will follow you? Share your claim history and we’ll find out which carriers will look at it fairly. You can phone (603) 431-4020 or email insure@portsmouthatlanticins.com; the quote form below also works. Request a quote. There’s no obligation to buy. About 90% of our quotes go out within 24 hours.
Received a non-renewal or a surprising renewal after a claim? Send it over and we’ll review your options.
Frequently asked questions
How long do homeowners insurance claims stay on your record?
Generally up to seven years on a CLUE report. Insurers usually weigh the most recent three to five years most heavily.
Does a claim show up if the insurer didn’t pay it?
It can. Wisconsin’s regulator explains that claims information includes losses you asked the company to cover, whether or not it paid.
Does asking my insurer a question count as a claim?
It shouldn’t. Texas regulators say companies aren’t supposed to report questions about your policy or deductible, but be clear you’re only asking.
How many claims before homeowners insurance cancels you?
There’s no set number. Each carrier has its own guidelines. Two or more claims in a few years, repeat water claims or a large liability claim most often lead to non-renewal.
Can I see my CLUE report?
Yes. You can request a copy each year from LexisNexis and dispute anything that’s wrong or add an explanation.
How long should I keep old homeowners insurance policies?
Keep the current policy in full and old declarations pages and policy forms for several years, since a late liability claim is handled by the policy in force when it happened. Questions? Call (603) 431-4020.
Related reading
Sources
- Texas Department of Insurance: How to get a CLUE about your claims history
- Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance: Frequently asked questions about C.L.U.E.
- Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner: CLUE
- LexisNexis Risk Solutions: Consumer disclosure request
- Insurance Information Institute: Understanding your insurance deductibles
Existing clients can report a claim or ask a coverage question through our billing and claims page.
This guide is general information. How claims are reported and used varies by carrier and state, and cancellation and non-renewal rules depend on your policy and state law. It is not legal advice and does not promise coverage or eligibility.