Florida claims
After a storm: how to handle contractors and door-to-door offers
Florida rules on contractor solicitation and assignment of benefits, how to verify a license, and the red flags to watch for after a hurricane.
By Ricardo Arevalo, Florida Public Adjuster · Published
Busy days after a storm
After a hurricane, many contractors and companies knock on doors, leave flyers or call. Many of them are legitimate. Florida law also sets rules for how contractors may approach owners about roof claims, and limits what you can sign away.
What contractors may not do
Section 489.147 of the Florida Statutes prohibits contractors from:
- Offering gifts, cash, rebates or a waiver of your deductible in exchange for a roof inspection or a roof claim
- Using roof-claim advertisements that leave out required warnings, such as that the owner pays the deductible
- Paying or receiving referral fees for work paid with insurance proceeds
- Interpreting your policy, advising you about coverage or adjusting your claim, unless they also hold a public adjuster license
- Asking you to sign a repair agreement without a good faith, itemized estimate
Assignment of benefits on newer policies
An assignment of benefits (AOB) transfers your claim rights to someone else, often a contractor. Under section 627.7152, residential and commercial property policies issued on or after January 1, 2023 do not allow you to assign post-loss benefits. Read every document before signing it, and be careful with any paper that tells the insurer to pay a company directly or gives that company control over your claim.
Red flags
Slow down if you notice any of these:
- Pressure to sign the same day
- An offer to cover or waive your deductible
- No written, itemized estimate
- A request for full payment upfront
- A company that will not give you a license number
Waiving or rebating a deductible to win the job can be insurance fraud under Florida law.
Verify before you hire
Check a contractor’s license with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation at myfloridalicense.com, and a public adjuster’s license with the Department of Financial Services licensee search. Ask for proof of insurance, a written estimate and a contract with clear payment terms. Emergency steps such as tarping are often needed quickly; keep them separate from the decision about who will do the permanent repairs.
Frequently asked questions
Can a roofer handle my insurance claim?
A contractor may not interpret your policy, advise you on coverage or adjust your claim unless it also holds a Florida public adjuster license.
Is it legal for a contractor to pay my deductible?
No. Florida prohibits contractors from offering to waive or pay your deductible, and doing so knowingly to deceive an insurer is insurance fraud.
Can I still sign an assignment of benefits?
Not under residential or commercial property policies issued on or after January 1, 2023. Older policies follow the rules that applied when they were issued.
General information only, based on Florida law at the date shown. It is not legal advice, and initial guidance does not replace an evaluation by a licensed public adjuster.
