Following a story we last published May 8, 2012 in which state-run Citizens Property Insurance in Florida stated it would no longer insure carports and porches, legislation has been filed in both chambers that would require them to do just that. In a bill backed by the Federation of Manufactured Home Owners of Florida as well as by James Ayotte, executive director of the Florida Manufactured Housing Association (FMHA), Senate Bill 378 and House Bill 573 would require Citizens to offer adequate coverage on manufactured homes and their related structures, attached and otherwise. The company had wanted to drop 45 percent of its policyholders and raise rates on the others, saying a major hurricane could wipe out its $6 billion surplus. As sunshinestatenews tells MHProNews, the goal of the legislation is to make sure MH owners are covered for the full value of their homes.
