Latest news with #propertyowners
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Your Insurance Company May Be Using A Flying Drone Above Your House, And It's Honestly So Freaky
Every few years, I get a notice from my insurance company informing me that — usually unbeknownst to me — an inspector has strolled around my property looking for potential hazards or issues of concern to my insurer. The notice will sometimes include a list of things they want me to address, perhaps like a tree branch that's too close to the roof. Recently, I realized that my insurance company may be keeping tabs on my property in a way I never expected, by checking out my home from the air — and your insurance may be doing it, too. Some insurance companies are now using drones to do property inspections from the air. In some cases, insurers are using the results of these inspections to refuse to insure the property altogether. This may be especially concerning for property owners in certain areas at high risk of natural disasters, where insurance options may already be limited as insurers have been dropping customers. I talked to experts to find out why insurance companies are using drone inspections – and what you can do if an aerial inspection impacts you. Drone inspections are becoming more common. The use of drones for inspections on a widespread basis is becoming more routine. 'Property insurers have been using drone technology for many years in assessing damage from natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires to process claims quicker,' said Mark Friedlander, senior director of media relations at the Insurance Information Institute. 'The technology is now being used by many national and regional insurers to inspect the exterior condition of homes in making underwriting decisions for the property.' Here's why insurance companies use drone inspections. For insurance companies, drone inspections offer several benefits. Friedlander noted that this approach is more efficient and precise than inspections performed by humans and avoids the risks or potential hazards involved when an inspector must physically walk around a property. Related: A Republican's Response To A "Tax The Rich" Chant At His Town Hall Is Going Viral When enlisting a drone to help with a property inspection, insurers are especially interested in checking out parts of the property that are difficult to see from ground level. In particular, this is a great way for an insurer to get a bird's eye view of the roof. 'They would see if there's any patches or cuts into the roof that will lead to a claim tomorrow,' Mike Koba, of Koba Capital Insurance Brokerage, said. Insurance companies have often used Google Maps to assess properties — but while those images may be several years old, a drone allows for real-time views of a property's current condition. Koba says insurers will sometimes perform an aerial inspection before deciding whether to insure a property at all — this is especially common with large commercial properties — but may also use this as part of the routine ongoing process to decide whether to renew an existing policy. In addition to checking out the condition of the roof or other major components, drone inspections can also reveal something on the property that your insurance company didn't know about. 'While the focus is primarily on roof condition, aerial inspections may also capture unreported additions to homes such as swimming pools, gazebos, and trampolines,' says Friedlander. 'In some cases, this type of discovery could result in a premium adjustment or disqualify your property from being insured if it no longer meets the carrier's underwriting criteria.' Related: "I Am So Torn With What You Are Doing" — 11 Posts From MAGA Business Owners Who Are So Close To Getting It What if a drone inspection finds an issue? If your insurer notifies you that a drone inspection revealed an issue, that doesn't necessarily mean you should panic or prepare for higher insurance premiums. Koba says insurance companies will typically give the property owner a short period of time — often around 45 days — to correct the issue. If you believe the insurance company's information is incorrect, you can also present evidence or documentation to prove the accurate condition of the property. Know your rights and options as a property owner. If you're like me, the idea of a drone checking out your property without your knowledge might give you Big Brother vibes, but experts say it is most likely perfectly legal for an insurer to inspect your property this way. Candise Shanbron, managing partner of Cernitz Law, says there are a variety of federal, state and local laws regarding the use of drones which in some cases prohibit drone users from conducting surveillance that would violate a reasonable expectation of privacy without the property owner's consent. However, she notes that there are often exceptions for licensed business entities that have a legitimate interest in the property — which would typically include insurance companies and insurance adjusters. While laws about what — if any — disclosures or advance warning an insurer must provide about drone inspections are in many cases vague and vary by location, Shanbron says insurers will often make customers aware of this possibility out of an abundance of caution to avoid any legal liability. Unfortunately, if an insurer decides to raise your premiums or cancel your policy based on issues found via a drone inspection, there's probably not much you can do about it from a legal standpoint, Shanbron said, as long as the insurer complies with any applicable laws regarding rates and coverage. If, however, an insurer tries to deny coverage of a claim based on a drone inspection (or any other grounds), she does encourage property owners to consult with an attorney specializing in insurance claims. This article originally appeared in HuffPost. Also in In the News: People Can't Believe This "Disgusting" Donald Trump Jr. Post About Joe Biden's Cancer Diagnosis Is Real Also in In the News: One Body Language Expert Spotted Something Very Telling When Donald Trump "Held His Own Hand" At His Recent Press Conference Also in In the News: Republicans Are Calling Tim Walz "Tampon Tim," And The Backlash From Women Is Too Good Not To Share
Wall Street Journal
2 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
A Better Way to Make New York Affordable
Look alert, New Yorkers: Congress has a chance to cut the cost of living, and it's not the SALT deduction. Rep. Nick Langworthy (R., N.Y.) has introduced a bill in the House that would reduce the cost of federally funded construction projects in the state. New York's Labor Law 240, known as the Scaffold Law, imposes absolute liability on property owners and contractors for construction workers' gravity-related injuries from falling or being hit by a falling object. Enacted in 1885, the absolute liability standard applies even when the worker is at fault.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Ottawa to spend $500,000 to enhance façades of historic Bank Street buildings
The City of Ottawa is looking to make aesthetic improvements to the façade of commercial heritage buildings to strengthen the historic character of buildings in the Bank Street area of Centretown. A report for the Built Heritage Committee proposes establishing a $500,000 Centretown Heritage Façade Improvement Pilot Program to encourage the restoration and conservation of heritage buildings. Under the proposed plan, eligible owners could receive 75 per cent of costs up to a maximum of $75,000 to support heritage façade improvements and restoration. 'The objective is to encourage private investment in the revitalization of the Bank Street corridor as part of the broader revitalization plan for Centretown,' says the report for the June 10 committee meeting. 'Through aesthetic façade improvements such as signage, lighting, commercial storefront improvements and heritage conservation projects such as masonry conservation, private property owners can help contribute to a vibrant Bank Street. These efforts will help reinforce a special sense of place along Bank Street as a historic main street in the downtown core.' Staff say eligible work includes improvements and restoration of storefront windows, entrances, brickwork, cornices and architectural detailing, and heritage compliant awnings, signage, painting, and lighting. The report says while a Heritage Property Grant Program already exists, the need for additional investment on Bank and Somerset streets 'has been identified through the city's ongoing work on downtown revitalization.' 'With additional funding and tailored support, the City would empower property owners to meaningfully conserve heritage features while contributing to the vibrancy of this historic main street,' staff say. Buildings eligible for the funding must be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and be located on Bank Street, between Catherine and Albert Street, and a section of Somerset Street east of Bank Street. The proposed Centretown Heritage Façade Improvement Pilot Program would run between this summer and the end of December 2026.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Low property taxes on houses in N.B. real estate ads can be attractive — and also unavailable to you
Real estate ads in New Brunswick show prospective buyers what can look like surprisingly reasonable property taxes on houses that catch their eye. What the ads don't say is the tax information often applies only to the current owner and expires after a sale.
CBC
26-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
'Very disheartening,' says resident whose property could be explored for uranium
Some Nova Scotians whose properties have been selected for possible uranium exploration say they're stunned to learn their land could be part of the province's push for more natural resource development. "I'll be honest, this is quite shocking," said Ward Blatch, who owns a property in Hants County that could be opened to exploration. "The province, without even speaking to me, has made the decision to proceed.… I have no recourse. Do I? I don't know." Earlier this month, the provincial government issued a request for proposals for companies interested in exploring for uranium in three designated areas it says are known to have higher levels of uranium. Those include areas near East Dalhousie in Annapolis County, Louisville in Pictou County and Lower Vaughan in Hants County. Blatch says he has not received any notification about the potential for exploration on his land. He thinks property owners should have been consulted first. He has owned his property, which surrounds a lake, for about 20 years and always planned to build a cottage on it. However, between a windmill farm being built directly behind his land, plus now the prospect of uranium exploration, he has put his plans on hold. "It's very frustrating to spend hard-earned money to buy a piece of property with plans to enjoy in peace and quiet," he said. "This is very disheartening." Landowner permission required After the last provincial election, Premier Tim Houston said his government would focus on natural resource development with an eye to shoring up the province's economy in the face of U.S. tariffs and slowing population growth. Uranium exploration and mining have been under a moratorium since 1981 and a full ban since 2009. That ban was lifted in March. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Natural Resources Department said the province is preparing to send letters to landowners and municipalities providing information about the request for proposals and landowner rights. In the event of a Canada Post strike, it would look at other options for notifying landowners. Why Nova Scotia's history with uranium mining is complicated 3 months ago Duration 3:28 The Nova Scotia government has announced it will lift blanket bans for future natural resource development, allowing for future uranium research. The decision is a big change in course for a province that hotly debated developing a uranium industry 40 years ago and again in 2008. In Nova Scotia, land ownership does not include rights to the minerals beneath the surface. Those are owned by the Crown. Companies that have an exploration licence must seek permission from a landowner before exploring. Property owners and companies can negotiate an agreement that spells out compensation requirements or other conditions, but the province is not involved in that process, the departmental statement said. Some types of exploration — such as examining rocks and soil and collecting hand samples — require a licence but no additional provincial permit. Exploration that disturbs the land, such as drilling, requires both a licence and a permit. Previous exploration Blaine Brown's property in Louisville is also among the many pieces of private land included in the areas that have been designated for potential exploration. He has lived on the property for the past five years, and before that lived down the road for 37 years. Brown says a company tested the area for uranium years ago, paying landowners $50 to drill a hole on their land. He says he never heard conclusively whether uranium was found, or how much. "They never came to me and told me much," Brown says. "There were just stories and rumours going around that they had found uranium around here." Brown says he doesn't know enough about the issue to say whether he supports exploration. "I don't know what the impact is … like dangers or anything like that. I don't know." James Oickle says this is not the first time there's been uranium-related interest in his property in East Dalhousie. In the 1970s, he even did the digging to help clear the rocks so an exploration company could drill. Now, at 82, he figures he doesn't have much say in what happens. "If they're going to do it, they're going to do it, the way I understand it, whether I got anything out of it or not." Companies interested in conducting exploration for uranium must submit their applications by June 11. Any proposals will be evaluated by the Natural Resources Department, and if there is a successful applicant, that will be announced by July 7, and an exploration licence will be issued by July 11.
