Insurance costs climb for manufactured homeowners in Florida despite Citizens rate cuts

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. —

Manufactured homeowners in Charlotte County are facing rising insurance costs despite Citizens Insurance announcing an 8% statewide rate decrease earlier this year, which excluded older and manufactured homes.

There are some 1,300 manufactured home owners here in the Maple Leaf Estates of Charlotte County. The vast majority have been forced into Citizens Insurance, and there's nothing else available.

Gulf Coast News investigative reporter and insurance expert Dave Elias learned that those owners expected to see a rate decrease this year after Citizens announced rate decreases. However, they didn't read the fine print.

Debbie Desmarais, a Citizens Insurance customer, said she's now paying $3,000.

Another resident shared that their premium this year went up $900.

"$995 for my first payment. I had to let other bills go so I could pay this," another resident said.

The rate decrease announced by Citizens Insurance earlier this year did not apply to manufactured or older homes, leaving many homeowners frustrated.

"Well, it pisses me off! Nobody is treated the same. Everybody is treated differently," one resident said.

Doug Nellans, an insurance agent with The Insurancenter, confirmed the situation. "Every day we get calls from manufactured home owners," Nellans said. "A lot of these homeowners are finding out that it doesn't always impact them and often seeing rates going in the wrong direction."

Citizens Insurance declined an interview but referred inquiries to Mark Friedlander of the Insurance Information Institute.

"When Citizens announced a statewide average rate decrease this year, the largest decrease in history for Citizens, that was not manufactured homes," Friedlander said.

When asked why manufactured homes were excluded, Friedlander explained, "Manufactured homes have the highest risk of loss from windstorm events."

David Sekikie, a Citizens Insurance customer, expressed frustration, saying, "My home has survived all of these hurricanes absolutely fine."

Many of the homes in the community, built in the late 1970s and 1980s, have withstood hurricanes such as Charley and Ian.

"This is nuts! You people are supposed to help us people that are in this situation," said Judy Schueler, another Citizens Insurance customer.

Adding to the financial strain, Citizens Insurance will require all policyholders to have flood insurance next year, regardless of whether they live in a flood zone.

"It goes up even more next year. I don't know if I could afford it," said Michelle Kay, a Citizens Insurance customer.

For many residents, the concern is not the next hurricane but whether they can afford their next insurance bill.

"How are we supposed to live? We can't insure ourselves. It's too much money!" Desmarais said.

The best advice for homeowners experiencing rate increases is to shop around and contact their state legislators to voice their concerns.

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