A letter says your homeowners policy won’t renew. Maybe it names your roof, your claims, or just “underwriting reasons.” Your first question is how long you have. For most Texas home policies, it’s at least 60 days, and what you do in those weeks matters more than the letter.
Here’s what a Texas home insurance nonrenewal means, what the law requires of your insurer, and a plan so your home is never uninsured.
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What does a nonrenewal notice on a Texas home policy mean?
The short answer: A nonrenewal means your insurer won’t offer another term when the current one ends, so your coverage stays in force until that date and then stops unless you have a new policy.
It isn’t a cancellation, and the difference tells you how much time you have.
| Question | Nonrenewal | Cancellation |
|---|---|---|
| When coverage ends | At the end of the current policy term | Mid-term, on the date in the notice |
| Minimum notice | 60 daysFor policies bought or renewed on or after January 1, 2024 | 10 daysAfter the notice is mailed |
| Reasons the law allows | Broader; TDI’s reason categories include claims history, the home’s condition and exposure to loss | Limited, such as nonpayment, a fraudulent claim or an increase in hazard within your control; a few more in a new policy’s first 60 days |
A nonrenewal reflects one company’s guidelines. It doesn’t, by itself, mean no one will insure your home.
How much notice does a Texas insurer have to give before it won’t renew?
The short answer: At least 60 days before the policy ends for homeowners policies bought or renewed on or after January 1, 2024, according to the Texas Department of Insurance; older policies had 30 days.
The statute says the notice must be mailed no later than the 60th day before the policy expires. If the insurer misses that deadline, § 551.105 says it must renew the policy at your request, until a replacement policy takes effect.
When someone brings a nonrenewal letter into our Arlington office, we first check the mailing date against the policy end date. Our Texas home insurance guide covers notice rights in brief.
Does your insurer have to tell you why it didn’t renew your policy?
The short answer: For policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, Texas insurers must give you a written reason without being asked; for older terms, you can request one.
That comes from House Bill 2067 (2025), which took effect January 1, 2026. It applies to policies delivered, issued or renewed on or after that date, as TDI’s July 2025 bulletin explains. Before, the statement came only on request, so if your current term began before 2026, ask for it in writing. Under Texas Insurance Code § 551.002, the statement must state the precise incident, circumstance or risk factors and the source of the information the company relied on.
If your letter only says “underwriting reasons,” ask for specifics in writing. TDI’s list of nonrenewal reasons includes these:
Claims history
Too many or too costly claims. Texas law limits which claims count.
Condition of property
TDI’s examples include maintenance, vacancy, roof condition and tree overhang. Often fixable.
Exposure to loss
Your home’s exposure to wind, hail or wildfire, or the company having too much risk in one area. It may have nothing to do with your record.
Credit or insurance score
TDI says a company can’t deny, cancel or nonrenew a home policy based only on credit information.
A condition problem can often be repaired and documented; an exposure decision means lining up new coverage quickly.
Can a Texas insurer refuse to renew because you filed claims?
The short answer: Sometimes, but Texas law only lets an insurer nonrenew a home policy over claims after three or more countable claims in three years, and only if it warned you after the second.
That’s Texas Insurance Code § 551.107. TDI’s plain-language version: a company may nonrenew if “you file three or more nonweather-related claims in three years.”
| What happened | Can it count toward a claims-based nonrenewal? |
|---|---|
| A hail, wind or other weather claim | NoClaims from natural causes don’t count. |
| A claim that wasn’t paid or payable | NoA claim filed but not paid or payable under the policy doesn’t count. |
| A question that never became a claim | No§ 551.113 bars using a customer inquiry to nonrenew. |
| An appliance water claim that was properly fixed | NoIf it was properly remediated and the work was inspected and certified, unless you were paid on, or the home had, three or more appliance-related claims in three years. |
| A third countable claim, with no earlier warning | Warning firstWithout the written warning after claim two, the company can’t nonrenew based on claims. |
| A third countable claim after a warning | YesThree or more countable claims in any three-year period. |
These rules govern only a nonrenewal based on claims; the company can still cite another reason, such as the home’s condition. The warning lists your claims and says which claims don’t count. If you never got one, say so.
Under § 551.113, asking whether your policy would cover something is an inquiry, not a claim, unless it involves specific damage that leads to a claim or investigation.
Can your insurer drop you because your roof or house is old?
The short answer: Texas rules already bar declining to write a home policy based on the property’s age, a 2026 TDI proposal would name roofs and other components, and roof condition can still be a reason.
The current rule, 28 TAC § 21.1006, says an insurer may not decline to write residential property insurance based on the property’s age, but may consider physical conditions, including roofing. On September 29, 2026, TDI proposed amendments to make clear the age rule covers a home’s individual components, including the roof. TDI’s proposal describes the existing rule as barring insurers from refusing to write or renew a policy because of the property’s age. TDI’s hearing is set for November 3, 2026, with written comments due November 9. As of October 30, 2026, it’s proposed, not final, so check TDI for its status.
If your notice points at the roof, find out whether it’s about age or condition. Our guide to keeping Texas home insurance with an older roof covers how to document one.
By clicking Get My Free Quote, I give Robinson Legacy Partners LLC, an Allstate agency, and its licensed agents my prior express written consent, by electronic signature, to contact me with calls and text messages — including marketing calls and texts made using automated technology or an artificial or prerecorded voice — and by email, at the number and email I provided, about my insurance quote and related insurance products and services, even if my number is on a Do Not Call list. My information is never sold or shared with other agencies for their own marketing. Consent is not a condition of purchase; I can call (817) 262-5300 instead. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the arbitration clause and E-SIGN consent.
What happens with your mortgage if your home coverage lapses?
The short answer: Your lender can buy force-placed insurance and charge you for it, and the CFPB says that coverage is usually more expensive and generally protects only the lender, not you.
If you owe money on your home, your lender will require insurance, according to TDI’s home insurance guide. If your policy ends with nothing in its place, the servicer can step in. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s mortgage servicing summary sets out the rules:
- Warning first. The servicer must warn you at least 45 days before charging you, then send a reminder.
- Refund for overlap. Once you show proof of your own policy, the servicer has to cancel it and refund premiums and fees for the overlap.
What should you do in the 60 days after a nonrenewal notice?
The short answer: Read the notice the day it arrives, get the reason and your records together the first week, start a new policy by day 30, and have it in place before day 60.
Here’s the order we work through with homeowners:
- Day 1: Read the notice and circle the dates
Find the policy end date, the mailing date and the stated reason, and put the end date on your calendar.
- Day 1: Call your agent
Talk it through first. If the reason is vague, ask the insurer for specifics in writing.
- First week: Gather your records
Pull your declarations page, recent claims, roof install date, repair invoices and any inspection reports.
- By day 30: Fix what you can and ask for a second look
If the reason is a repairable condition, such as roof damage or an overhanging tree, fix it, keep receipts and photos, and ask the company to reconsider.
- By day 30: Start your new policy application
Don’t wait on the reconsideration. Applications can need photos, inspections or documents.
- Before day 60: Have the new policy in place
Set it to start the day the old one ends, and send the new declarations page to your mortgage servicer.
- After the switch: Review the new policy
Check the dwelling limit, every deductible in dollars and how the roof is settled.
- First week: You call us and pull your roof records.
- By May 2 (day 30): The repair is done, the invoice and photos are sent, and a new application is in.
- Before June 1 (day 60): The new policy starts June 1, and your servicer has the declarations page.
Read the new policy as closely as the price. Our policy review checklist shows what to check, and our explainer on percentage wind and hail deductibles turns a deductible into dollars.
What if you can’t get a new policy before your old one ends?
The short answer: The Texas FAIR Plan Association is the statewide last resort, and TDI says you may buy a policy through it if at least two companies refuse to insure your home.
TDI’s nonrenewal guide calls it the state’s homeowner insurance provider of last resort, and the FAIR Plan’s site says applicants need two declinations from other insurers. It’s a fallback, not a first step. The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association serves designated coastal counties, not Dallas–Fort Worth.
If something looks wrong, such as short notice, no written reason or claims that shouldn’t count, call TDI’s Help Line at 800-252-3439 (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central) or file a complaint with TDI.
The bottom line
A Texas home insurance nonrenewal starts a clock, not a crisis. You generally get at least 60 days’ notice, a written reason (automatically for terms issued or renewed since 2026, on request before that), and protection from having weather claims counted toward a claims-based nonrenewal. The real risk is letting the end date pass with nothing in place.
If a nonrenewal letter just arrived, send us your ZIP below or call (817) 262-5300. We’ll go over your notice, quote Allstate coverage for your home insurance, and help you get proof to your lender, in English, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu or Coptic, Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 5.
By clicking Get My Free Quote, I give Robinson Legacy Partners LLC, an Allstate agency, and its licensed agents my prior express written consent, by electronic signature, to contact me with calls and text messages — including marketing calls and texts made using automated technology or an artificial or prerecorded voice — and by email, at the number and email I provided, about my insurance quote and related insurance products and services, even if my number is on a Do Not Call list. My information is never sold or shared with other agencies for their own marketing. Consent is not a condition of purchase; I can call (817) 262-5300 instead. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the arbitration clause and E-SIGN consent.
Texas home insurance nonrenewal FAQ
What if my Texas home insurance nonrenewal notice came late?
Check the dates first. For homeowners policies bought or renewed on or after January 1, 2024, the notice must be mailed at least 60 days before the policy ends, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. Texas Insurance Code section 551.105 says that if the insurer doesn’t mail it in time, it must renew the policy at your request when it expires, until a replacement policy takes effect. Keep the envelope and letter, ask the company in writing, and call TDI at 800-252-3439 if it disagrees.
Does my insurer have to tell me why it didn’t renew my home policy?
Yes, in writing. House Bill 2067 (2025) took effect January 1, 2026, and for policies delivered, issued or renewed on or after that date, Texas insurers must give you a written statement of the reason without you asking. If your current term began before 2026, the older rule applies and you get the statement on request, so ask in writing. Under Texas Insurance Code section 551.002, the statement must state the precise incident, circumstance or risk factors and the source of the information. If your letter is vague, ask for specifics.
Can a Texas insurer refuse to renew my home policy because I filed hail or storm claims?
Not because of those claims. Under Texas Insurance Code section 551.107, claims from natural causes don’t count toward a claims-based nonrenewal, and neither do claims that weren’t paid or payable. An insurer may refuse to renew if you filed three or more countable claims in any three-year period, and only if it sent you a written warning after your second claim. A company can still cite the home’s condition, so finish storm repairs and keep the paperwork.
What happens if my home insurance lapses and I have a mortgage?
Your lender requires coverage, so your servicer can buy force-placed insurance and charge you for it. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, it’s usually more expensive than a policy you buy and generally protects only the lender. The servicer must warn you at least 45 days before charging you, and must cancel it and refund the overlap once you show proof of your own coverage. Avoid it by having a new policy start the day the old one ends.
Can I get the Texas FAIR Plan after a nonrenewal?
Possibly, if regular coverage isn’t available. TDI says you may buy a policy through the Texas FAIR Plan Association if at least two companies refuse to insure your home. TDI describes the FAIR Plan as a last resort, so it’s a fallback rather than a first step. Start a new policy application early in your 60 days, and if two companies decline, ask about the FAIR Plan before your current policy ends so there’s no gap.
Last reviewed by the Robinson Legacy Partners team on .
