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Updated over 6 years ago on . Most recent reply
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Philadelphia landlord needs insurance advice!!
i have 3 properties rented. the 4th property will be rented by the end of the month. i have been a landlord for 3 years and a couple months ago, the insurance broker who wrote my policy informed me my policy was switched to a new carrier (AmTrust North America)....
i just received an email from my broker telling me a rep from AmTrust drove past three of my properties on the policy...
if i dont make the following repairs in a month they will terminate me. it frustrates me. i was covered for the past 3 years and now the new carrier is asking me to make improvements that cost a substantial amount of money....
1.) its the summer in philly and tenants have air conditioners in their windows...if i dont have a contractor install metal brackets, to prevent a falling air conditioner hazard, my coverage will be terminated. i told them "what if i have the tenants take the AC out of the window? its gona be fall soon?!"
2). Railings on outdoor stairs. any exterior step wider then 42 inches needs a railing.....i get this one. i am going to add these...
3). NEW CONCRETE SIDEWALK! WTF! lol its philly and the sidewalk is 800 years old. my sidewalk isnt bad...there is a small patch of cracks around a vent and the insurance company wants a new sidewalk....not a patch job! is the sidewalk below THAT bad that it posesses such a hazard??
i dont know if i should consider switching carriers or stick it out with AmTrust?? i just made a downpayment of my premiums two weeks ago for 560 bucks...
each property costs 570/year for a basic landlord coverage and i have a general liability protection for those properties for 1mil as well...
ARE YOU IN PHILLY? ARE YOU A LANDLORD? WHO HAS YOUR INSURANCE? WHAT IS YOUR PREMIUMS?
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Hello @Ryan Cameron, I am a landlord in Philadelphia. I have run into this with not only my rentals, but also my primary residence. I have been with the same insurance company for over 10 years. I made changes to my home policy and landlord policies a couple of years ago and a visit was made to all my properties and I was asked to make some repairs. For obvious reasons the insurance companies are not ensuring that what they are insuring is being maintained properly.
For Philly, I don't think the sidewalks are bad at all. But we live in a culture where people believe that the easiest way to heard a living or make extra money is to sue someone. My sister is currently being sued because someone claimed they fell on her property. Her sidewalk is in better shape than yours, no crack, no pushed up concrete...she has a small area at the curb that dips. I think this is a sign of what is to come with all insurance carriers.
Good luck.