Insurance for Properties Owned by Land Trusts in Florida

[Jim Windgassen]

Does anyone have a good recommendation for an insurance company in Florida that will handle properties held in land trusts ?

We own a number of properties in Florida and other states which are held in land trusts.  Insurance in Florida has always been somewhat problematic, but our troubles with Florida insurance have definitely increased since our properties are held in land trusts.  Our properties outside Florida have not had any issues being in land trusts. 

We have been using a company called GeoVera Insurance Services in St Petersburg, FL for the last few years, and they have raised our rates for the last two years very substantially.  Earlier this month, they sent a property inspector to one of our properties without telling us beforehand which frightened our elderly tenant when she had a stranger come to her door unexpectedly.  Today, we just got a letter telling us that they are dropping the insurance on this property due to "maintenance and repair issues" without any other explanation in the letter.  We have always performed any repairs (and replaced roofs) when they have asked us to.

I'm getting a bit frustrated with these folks mostly due to their poor communication, and their dropping us without explanation, and the dramatic rate increases.  I'd like to know if there are some other options that we might consider for insurance companies that handle land trusts.

Thanks in advance !