Homeowners insurance has become a line item buyers cannot treat as an afterthought. Federal Insurance Office data cited by 06880 found that homeowners premiums rose 8.7 percent faster than inflation from 2018 to 2022, and that ZIP codes in the riskiest fifth for climate exposure paid 82 percent more than those in the least risky fifth.
What underwriters look at
Insurance professionals quoted in the same 06880 piece named water damage and the roof, including its age and condition, as the most common concerns, and listed buried oil tanks among other issues that can affect coverage. They also said buyers should start by having a trusted insurance broker run a CLUE report, the industry’s record of insurance claims on the property.
Connecticut’s Residential Property Condition Report, which sellers must provide, also asks about water penetration and past or current underground storage tanks. Read it alongside the CLUE report. Our closing guide explains the form.
Flood is a separate policy
A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood. Since July 1, 2026, Connecticut has required homeowners, renters and condominium policies to say so in a plain-language notice and to point out that separate flood insurance is available, under Public Act 25-33, as the state Insurance Department explained in a July 2025 bulletin.
If the house is in a FEMA special flood hazard area and you borrow from a federally regulated or insured lender, flood insurance will be required. Westport participates in FEMA’s Community Rating System at Class 8, which gives a 10 percent discount on National Flood Insurance Program premiums. Under FEMA’s Risk Rating 2.0, price depends on flood frequency, the types of flooding, distance to water, the height of the first floor and the cost to rebuild. Most annual increases for existing policies are capped at 18 percent.
After Sept. 13
The storm that dropped about seven inches of rain on Westport on Sept. 13 flooded streets well away from the shore. The town asked residents to file damage reports with the state, which help determine eligibility for federal disaster aid and Small Business Administration loans. If you are buying, ask the seller directly whether the house took water that day, and check the answer against the condition report.
Our flood field guide walks through checking a specific address.
Sources
- 06880, Ensure that your home is well insured, March 16, 2025
- Connecticut Insurance Department, Bulletin PC-93-25, July 8, 2025
- FEMA, Understanding Risk Rating 2.0, July 2025
- Westport Journal, Town inks pact to stem tide of flood insurance costs, Jan. 15, 2023
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Residential Property Condition Report, revised July 2025
- Westport Journal, Westporters report flood damage, Sept. 14, 2026
