Homeowners Insurance Non-Renewal in Connecticut: What to Do

By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO

Homeowners Insurance · Non-Renewal · Connecticut

A non-renewal notice can be unsettling, especially if you have been with the same insurer for years. It does not mean you are uninsured today, and it does not mean nobody else will write your home. It means your current insurer has decided not to offer another term. What you do in the next few weeks matters, and Connecticut law gives you time to do it.

Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is a family-owned independent agency founded in 2005, with our office in Portsmouth, NH. We serve Connecticut from our Connecticut office and by phone, email and online. We are New Hampshire’s highest-rated agency on Google, with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials, and we are licensed in 10 states, including Connecticut. We compare 40+ carriers. Requesting a quote doesn’t obligate you to buy anything. For an overview of coverage in the state, see our Connecticut homeowners insurance guide.

What does a non-renewal notice mean?

A non-renewal means your insurer will not offer a new policy term when the current term ends. Your coverage stays in force until the expiration date shown on the notice, as long as you keep paying. It is different from a cancellation, which ends a policy before the end of its term.

Insurers non-renew homes for many reasons. Common ones include the condition or age of the roof, other property conditions found in an inspection, the claim history on the home, or a change in where and how the insurer chooses to write business. Sometimes the reason has nothing to do with anything you did.

How much notice does Connecticut require?

Connecticut General Statutes Section 38a-323 says an insurer may not refuse to renew a covered policy unless it sends at least sixty days’ advance notice of its intention not to renew. The notice must state, or be accompanied by a statement specifying, the reason for the non-renewal. The statute lists the permitted delivery methods, including registered or certified mail, mail with a certificate of mailing, tracked mail or, if you agreed to it, electronic delivery.

The Connecticut Insurance Department’s February 6, 2026 consumer advisory puts it plainly: if an insurer decides not to renew your homeowners policy, Connecticut law requires at least 60 days’ advance written notice of non-renewal, including a clear explanation of the reason.

The statute does not apply in a few situations, including non-payment and certain transfers of a policy to an affiliated insurer with the same terms and no gap in coverage. Connecticut law also lets you name a third party, such as a family member, to receive copies of non-renewal and cancellation notices on homeowners and auto policies. That can be useful for older homeowners or anyone who travels.

Can an insurer non-renew you because of storm claims or a roof photo?

Two Connecticut rules are worth knowing. First, Section 38a-316d prohibits declining, cancelling or non-renewing a homeowners policy based solely on losses from one or more catastrophic events, as declared by a nationally recognized catastrophe loss index provider. A policy is not treated as non-renewed if coverage is available through an affiliated insurer.

Second, roofs. The Department’s advisory explains that insurers may inspect homes in person or use aerial imagery, often as a screening tool. In March 2024, the Department advised insurers that aerial images showing cosmetic conditions such as natural discoloration or streaking should not be used as a reason for non-renewal. Insurers must have evidence of material degradation or damage that increases the risk of a claim. If your notice cites the roof, our post on what to do when a roof triggers a cancellation or non-renewal walks through repair and replacement decisions.

Is non-renewal different from cancellation in Connecticut?

Yes, and the rules are stricter for cancellation. According to the Department, once a policy has been in effect for at least 60 days, or if it is a renewal policy, cancellation during the term is limited by law and is generally permitted only for reasons such as:

• Nonpayment
• Material misrepresentation
• A physical change in your property that materially increases a hazard insured against

If you received a cancellation notice rather than a non-renewal, read the dates carefully. The timeline can be much shorter, and the steps below become more urgent.

What should you do first after a non-renewal notice?

• Read the notice closely. Note the expiration date and the stated reason. If the reason is vague, ask the insurer for specifics, such as the inspection report or photos.
• Check whether the issue can be fixed. The Department suggests providing documentation, such as receipts or contracts, if repairs or replacement have been completed or scheduled, and asking whether temporary extensions or alternatives are available while repairs are underway.
• Tell your mortgage lender. Most lenders require continuous coverage. If a policy lapses, the lender can place its own coverage. Our post on what happens to your mortgage if homeowners insurance is cancelled explains how that works.
• Start shopping right away. Do not wait until the last two weeks. New carriers may want photos, an inspection or roof details before they’ll offer coverage.
• Gather your records. Roof age and material, updates to wiring, plumbing and heating, alarm certificates and a five-year claims history all help.

Where can you find new coverage?

The Department encourages consumers to shop around, noting that insurers have different underwriting standards and a decision by one company does not mean another insurer will not offer coverage. An independent agency can compare several carriers at once.

Depending on the home, options may include other standard carriers, high-value carriers for larger homes (see our page on high-value home insurance in Connecticut), excess and surplus lines insurers for harder-to-place risks, or, as a last resort, the CT FAIR Plan. The Department describes the Connecticut Property Insurance Placement Facility, known as the CT FAIR Plan, as the insurer of last resort when coverage is not available in the private market.

Shoreline homes face extra questions about wind and hurricane deductibles. Our post on coastal home insurance in Connecticut covers those, and our town pages for homeowners insurance in Greenwich and homeowners insurance in Stratford explain what carriers look at in those markets.

When should you contact the Connecticut Insurance Department?

If you believe the notice did not meet the 60-day requirement, did not state a reason, or relied on a reason that seems inconsistent with Connecticut rules, you can contact the Department. Its advisory says consumers with questions or concerns about homeowners underwriting or non-renewal notices may reach out for assistance, and the Department accepts consumer complaints online. Keep a copy of the notice, the envelope or email, and any inspection report.

How can we help after a non-renewal?

Send us the notice, your current declarations page and a few photos of the home and roof. We will review the reason, point out anything that might be fixed before the expiration date, and compare carriers that fit the home. If the issue is the roof, we can tell you what the carriers we work with generally look for, so you can plan repairs with that in mind.

Get a Connecticut homeowners quote

Tell us about the home and the notice you received, and we will compare carriers. Prefer to talk? Call (603) 431-4020.

Frequently asked questions

How much notice must a Connecticut insurer give before non-renewing a homeowners policy?

At least 60 days. Connecticut General Statutes Section 38a-323 requires an insurer to send advance notice of its intention not to renew at least sixty days before, with a statement of the reason. The Connecticut Insurance Department describes this as at least 60 days’ advance written notice with a clear explanation of the reason.

Does the insurer have to tell me why it is not renewing?

Yes. Under Section 38a-323, the notice must state or be accompanied by a statement specifying the reason for the non-renewal. If the reason is unclear, ask the insurer for the specific details.

Is a non-renewal the same as a cancellation?

No. A non-renewal means the insurer will not offer a new term when the current one ends. A cancellation ends the policy during its term. The Connecticut Insurance Department says that once a policy has been in effect at least 60 days, or is a renewal, mid-term cancellation is generally limited to reasons such as nonpayment, material misrepresentation or a physical change that materially increases a hazard.

Can an insurer drop me in Connecticut because of storm claims?

Not solely because of losses from a declared catastrophe. Connecticut General Statutes Section 38a-316d prohibits declining, cancelling or non-renewing a homeowners policy based solely on losses from one or more catastrophic events declared by a nationally recognized catastrophe loss index provider.

Can an aerial photo of my roof be used to non-renew my policy?

Insurers may use aerial imagery to screen roofs, but the Connecticut Insurance Department has told insurers that cosmetic conditions such as natural discoloration or streaking should not be a reason for non-renewal. The Department says insurers must have evidence of material degradation or damage that increases the risk of a claim.

What is the CT FAIR Plan?

The Connecticut Property Insurance Placement Facility, known as the CT FAIR Plan, is the insurer of last resort for homeowners who cannot find coverage in the private market. It is worth checking the private market first, since one insurer’s decision does not mean others will decline.

If I come to you after a non-renewal, do I have to buy?

No. Requesting a quote doesn’t obligate you to buy anything. We compare 40+ carriers and can review your notice, your home and your options with you.

Sources

• Connecticut Insurance Department: Consumer Advisory, February 6, 2026 (Understanding How Insurance Companies Evaluate Roof Risk)
• Connecticut General Statutes, Chapter 700: Sections 38a-323 (notice of nonrenewal), 38a-323a (third-party designee) and 38a-316d (catastrophe losses)
• Connecticut FAIR Plan (Connecticut Property Insurance Placement Facility)
• Connecticut Insurance Department: File a Complaint

This post is general information about homeowners insurance non-renewal in Connecticut. It is not legal advice. Statutes, Department guidance and your policy wording control. Call (603) 431-4020 with questions about a specific notice.