UPDATED 8:36 AM ET MAY. 13, 2022 PUBLISHED 6:22 AM ET MAY. 13, 2022
MELBOURNE, Fla. — Dozens of Brevard County residents attended a town hall in Melbourne Thursday night addressing rising property insurance costs.
What You Need To Know
• Dozens attended Melbourne town hall on rising property insurance costs
• Officials told homeowners they’ll share their stories at upcoming special session in Tallahassee
• Special session begins May 23
• RELATED: Beyond the Soundbite Podcast: Fixing Florida’s property insurance crisis
Officials at the meeting, hosted by State Rep. Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay), told homeowners they will be bringing their stories to an upcoming special session in Tallahassee.
Homeowner Stephen Long was among the homeowners who spoke out, saying his insurance costs have gone up by $15,000 in 12 years and that his long-time insurance company denied his claims to have his roof repaired following damage from a recent storm.
“For them to say, ‘We can’t insure your roof because it’s 20 years old.’ No, that’s not right,” he told Spectrum News 13.
The special session begins Monday, May 23. Gov. DeSantis’ proclamation for this special session states the Office of Insurance Regulation reported Florida accounts for nearly 80% of homeowners’ property claim lawsuits filed nationwide.