Knob and Tube Wiring insurance options ?

[Patrick Shep]

Im looking to understand buying a place that has knob and tube wiring. I’ve read some insurance companies will not insure it.

What’s been your experience to get insurance with knob and tube? Any recommended insurance companies?

thx

[John Mocker]

Larry,

we represent over a hundred carriers.  Of our carriers, only one will write a homeowners or dwelling fire policy on a property with Knob & Tube wiring (and that company will only do it if the knob & Tube is less than 10%).  Your agent will probably have to go to the excess/surplus market.  Those policies will generally be more expensive and have more exclusions than a standard policy.  

When assessing a new property, you should have your electrician look for visible Knob & Tube
or Aluminum wiring and also for indications that some of the wiring was updated but not all (could still have knob & tube or aluminum wiring in the walls).

If you do buy a property with Knob & Tube or Aluminum wiring, you should budget for a complete upgrade of the wiring.