Fla. Stat. 627.7142
Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights

HOMEOWNER CLAIMSBILL OF RIGHTS This Bill of Rights is specific to the claims process and does not represent all of your rights under Florida law regarding your policy. There are also exceptions to the stated timelines when conditions are beyond your insurance company’s control. This document does not create a civil cause of action by an individual policyholder, or a class of policyholders, against an insurer or insurers and does not prohibit an insurer from exercising its right to repair damaged property in compliance with the terms of an applicable policy. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: 1. Receive from your insurance company an acknowledgment of your reported claim within 7 days after the time you communicated the claim. 2. Upon written request, receive from your insurance company within 30 days after you have submitted a complete proof-of-loss statement to your insurance company, confirmation that your claim is covered in full, partially covered, or denied, or receive a written statement that your claim is being investigated. 3. Receive from your insurance company a copy of any detailed estimate of the amount of the loss within 7 days after the estimate is generated by the insurance company’s adjuster. 4. Within 60 days, subject to any dual interest noted in the policy, receive full settlement payment for your claim or payment of the undisputed portion of your claim, or your insurance company’s denial of your claim. 5. Receive payment of interest, as provided in s. 627.70131, Florida Statutes, from your insurance company, which begins accruing from the date your claim is filed if your insurance company does not pay full settlement of your initial, reopened, or supplemental claim or the undisputed portion of your claim or does not deny your claim within 60 days after your claim is filed. The interest, if applicable, must be paid when your claim or the undisputed portion of your claim is paid. 6. Free mediation of your disputed claim by the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services, under most circumstances and subject to certain restrictions. 7. Neutral evaluation of your disputed claim, if your claim is for damage caused by a sinkhole and is covered by your policy. 8. Contact the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services’ toll-free helpline for assistance with any insurance claim or questions pertaining to the handling of your claim. You can reach the Helpline by phone at (toll-free phone number) , or you can seek assistance online at the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Consumer Services’ website at (website address) . YOU ARE ADVISED TO: 1. File all claims directly with your insurance company. 2. Contact your insurance company before entering into any contract for repairs to confirm any managed repair policy provisions or optional preferred vendors. 3. Make and document emergency repairs that are necessary to prevent further damage. Keep the damaged property, if feasible, keep all receipts, and take photographs or video of damage before and after any repairs to provide to your insurer. 4. Carefully read any contract that requires you to pay out-of-pocket expenses or a fee that is based on a percentage of the insurance proceeds that you will receive for repairing or replacing your property. 5. Confirm that the contractor you choose is licensed to do business in Florida. You can verify a contractor’s license and check to see if there are any complaints against him or her by calling the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. You should also ask the contractor for references from previous work. 6. Require all contractors to provide proof of insurance before beginning repairs. 7. Take precautions if the damage requires you to leave your home, including securing your property and turning off your gas, water, and electricity, and contacting your insurance company and provide a phone number where you can be reached.

Source: Section 627.7142 — Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0627.­7142 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

627.701
Liability of insureds 627.702
Valued policy law 627.705
Return of unearned premium on overinsured personal property 627.706
Sinkhole insurance 627.707
Investigation of sinkhole claims 627.711
Notice of premium discounts for hurricane loss mitigation 627.712
Residential windstorm coverage required 627.713
Report of hurricane loss data 627.714
Residential condominium unit owner coverage 627.715
Flood insurance 627.7011
Homeowners’ policies 627.7015
Alternative procedure for resolution of disputed property insurance claims 627.7016
Insurer contracts with building contractors 627.7017
Hurricane loss mitigation projects 627.7018
Standards for determining risk of coverage 627.7019
Standardization of requirements applicable to insurers after natural disasters 627.7061
Coverage inquiries 627.7063
Building code effectiveness grading schedule 627.7072
Testing standards for sinkholes 627.7073
Sinkhole reports 627.7074
Alternative procedure for resolution of disputed sinkhole insurance claims 627.7142
Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights 627.7151
Limited sinkhole coverage insurance 627.7152
Assignment agreements 627.7153
Policies restricting assignment of post-loss benefits under a property insurance policy 627.7154
Property Insurer Stability Unit 627.7155
Wind and flood coverage in residential and commercial property insurance policies 627.70121
Payment of claims for dual interest property 627.70131
Insurer’s duty to acknowledge communications regarding claims 627.70132
Notice of property insurance claim 627.70151
Appraisal 627.70152
Suits arising under a property insurance policy 627.70153
Consolidation of residential property insurance actions 627.70154
Mandatory binding arbitration 627.70161
Family day care insurance

Current through Fall 2025

§ 627.7142. Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights's source at flsenate​.gov