Can Your Neighbors Affect Your Property Insurance in Fort Lauderdale?

In June of 2025, AOL ran a story about a vacant home near Fort Lauderdale that was attracting “the wrong kind of attention.” Neighbors became infuriated at the overgrown property, which became an eyesore and a public nuisance. Break-ins were common, and the entire community suffered from reduced safety. Could a situation like this affect your property insurance in Fort Lauderdale? This is something you might want to discuss with your lawyer.

How a Bad Neighbor Might Affect Your Property Insurance

 An irresponsible neighbor can affect your property insurance in many ways. If they let their yard become overgrown with vegetation, some of these plants, trees, and shrubs might encroach onto your land. This might attract pests, and the trees might fall onto your property – especially during a major storm. This situation can be difficult to resolve, as you might not have the legal right to cut down or remove plants that originate on your neighbor’s property.

Perhaps the worst situations involve non-existent neighbors. Vacant lots can attract not only pests and weeds, but also crime and squatters. These individuals may turn the property into a den for addicts. They might also set fires, attempt to cook meth, or engage in all kinds of other dangerous behavior. An explosion, fire, or shooting could eventually affect your property – forcing you to file a claim with your property insurance provider.

Do Insurers Consider My Neighbors When Setting Premiums? 

Insurers may consider your neighbors when calculating your premiums. For starters, they may consider the crime rates in your neighborhood. If there’s a house on your block that attracts criminals, this could cause your premiums to increase. Insurers may also consider many other factors surrounding your neighbors, including the presence of dangerous dogs.

Aside from crime and dogs, insurers also consider the physical condition of your neighbor’s home. If their roof is leaking or their home is completely dilapidated, the insurer might fear that these issues will damage your property as well. This could subsequently increase your premiums.

What if My Claim Was Denied Because of Something My Neighbor Did?

While bad neighbors can theoretically increase your premiums, you shouldn’t face a denied claim because of something your neighbor did. This is especially true if you did everything in your power to maintain your property. If you face this issue, you should contact an experienced property insurance lawyer in Florida. These legal professionals can help you appeal the decision and recover the compensation you need to make repairs.

 Contact Our Fort Lauderdale Property Insurance Lawyers Today

At Fuxa & Tyler, our legal team is made up of a diverse combination of attorneys who are well-positioned to protect the legal rights and financial interests of policyholders. If your property insurance claim was denied, we can help. For a free consultation, please call us today at (954) 990-5251. With an office in Sunrise, we represent policyholders in Broward County and throughout the state of Florida.

Source:

 aol.com/finance/florida-residents-fed-neighboring-vacant-104400313.html