No insurer shall refuse to renew a policy of homeowners
insurance unless based on one or more reasons which shall be limited to the
following:
A. The reasons stated for
cancellation in Minnesota Statutes, section
65A.01,
subdivision 3a.
B. Use of the
premises for an illegal activity.
C. The termination of an agency contract,
except as provided under Minnesota Statutes, section
60A.171,
unless the insurer assigns the terminated agent's book of business to another
agent. The insurer must transfer the policy to another agent if the insured
makes a written request prior to the nonrenewal date. Notification of this
right must be included in the nonrenewal notice.
D. Violations of local laws or ordinances
which increase the possibility of a loss.
E. Refusal of the insured to eliminate known
conditions which increase the potential for loss after notification by the
insurer that the condition must be removed. Before a nonrenewal notice can be
issued under this item, two written requests stating the condition to remove
and the reason why the condition increases the potential for loss must be sent
to the insured. The first notice must inform the insured as to any time limits
for compliance. The second notice must inform the insured of the intent to
nonrenew the policy if the condition is not removed.
F. A substantial change in the quality or
availability of fire protection services.
G. If the insured has two or more losses
during the experience period, but not to include:
(1) losses caused by natural causes including
but not limited to lightning, wind, or hail; or
(2) losses for which no payment was made by
the insurer; or
(3) losses for
which the insurer recovers 80 percent or more of the payment through
subrogation.
H. The
insurer ceases to write homeowners insurance in Minnesota.
I. Failure of the named insured to provide
necessary underwriting information upon written request from the insurer,
provided that before a nonrenewal notice can be issued under this item, two
written requests asking for the information must be sent to the insured stating
the reasons why the information is necessary. The second request must inform
the insured of the intent to nonrenew the policy if the information is not
received.
J. If real property taxes
owing on the insured property have been delinquent for two or more years and
continue delinquent at the time notice of nonrenewal is issued.
K. The named insured no longer owns the
property or resides at the insured location, unless the spouse resides at the
insured location and retains ownership, in which event the spouse will be
endorsed onto the policy as the named insured.
If an insurer has grounds to nonrenew a homeowners policy on a
primary residence of a named insured, homeowners policies on secondary
residences of the insured may also be nonrenewed. Grounds for nonrenewing
homeowners policies on secondary residences cannot be used to nonrenew a
homeowners policy on the primary residence. If an insured fails to renew the
primary residence with an insurer, the insurer may nonrenew the secondary
residence.
L. The reasons
stated in Minnesota Statutes, section
72A.20,
subdivision 13.
