A month after closing, a new homeowner got dropped by insurance over a tar roof

A first-time homebuyer said their homeowners insurance was being canceled just one month after buying their house, and not because of a missed payment or claim, but because of the roof.

The homeowner said that shortly after buying their first house, Geico Homesite sent a notice that coverage would end on November 10 because the company doesn't cover rolled or tar roofing.

Here's what to know

The issue was described in a Reddit thread on the site's r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer forum, where the original poster said they had compared multiple insurance quotes while purchasing the home before settling on Geico Homesite.

OP wrote, "When we were buying the home we got several insurance estimates and went with Geico Homesite," and said they believed the house had "built up tar." They added, "Anyone have any experience with this happening or advice on where to go next? Feeling extremely stressed over this?"

Commenters quickly streamed into the thread to add their two cents. One commenter said, "It's not that uncommon for the insurer to do an inspection (possibly just a drive-by inspection) and make changes to the policy or cancel it completely, unfortunately."

Several people in the thread said this kind of problem can happen fairly often and shared personal examples. A commenter in a Colorado fire zone wrote that, even after 6.5 years in the home, "the longest we have gone without being dropped is 2 years."

Another commenter said Allstate would drop their policy a week before closing unless either they or the seller trimmed overhanging trees.

A separate user described getting a list of required cleanup tasks two weeks after buying their home: clear low branches, tall grass, firewood, and pine needles, and put rock around porches and within 10 feet of a propane tank or risk losing coverage.

"I haven't even finished moving in yet," the commenter wrote.

The replies also included other roof-related disputes. Another commenter said Geico dropped them in 2024 over roof moss despite cleanup efforts and an appeal, while another said an addition with a flat roof at the back of the house had triggered problems with an insurer. They concluded, "You will probably just need to get a new insurer."

What can be done?

Across the thread, the most common advice was to work with a local insurance broker. The top comment read, "Find an insurance broker."

Another added that brokers "do all the work and really doesn't cost you anything."

People said brokers can help because they often know which smaller or regional companies may be willing to insure a home. One commenter described many "tiny companies that you have never heard of doing a better job than the big guys," while another said their broker in Colorado has always been able to find coverage "for a reasonable amount."

A few commenters also shared specific alternatives. One said that after Geico dropped them, they got a cheaper policy "through Costco with our membership" under American Family. Another said a broker handled the messaging after a flat-roof issue and "got it straightened out."

One commenter said, "You have more than a month to find someone else, it doesn't need to be a big deal. If you have a difficult-to-insure property, an insurance broker might be able to save you some time."

Where can I learn more?

These stories show how quickly homeowners can lose coverage when an insurer reassesses a property's risk.

• An Arizona homeowner said one warning letter was all it took to lose coverage.

• In California, a couple said State Farm canceled coverage one month before a wildfire destroyed their home.

• In Nevada, buyers and homeowners were left reeling when insurers abruptly halted coverage.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.