Hi. I inherited a house from a relative. it is a 2 family flat. She was staying in one unit and I in the other. Now that I own the property, I need to get it insured in my name. i went to one company, and they said because I stayed in one part ( but actually I have stuff in both units). They considred it a vacant unit and they wont insure the house if one part is vacant. I told them the house is not vacant, cause I live in the house and an using the " whole house". The insurance company asked me if I would want to rent to someone. I said no. ( I don't want strangers living in my home). What's going on here? Is this legit? How do I get the whole house " flat/duplex) insured? Is there something special I need to say? is there a special policy? Anyone with expereince with this or who is in insurance, please help me. Also, I need a good company to go with--any suggestions? Thanks!

If the two halves of the house have a wall between them, and you have to go outside to go from one to the other, it's a duplex. If you have a carpenter put in a doorway, with or without a door, between the two halves, then you have one continuous living space, and it's a regular house, not a duplex.

You don't argue with underwriters. If they don't want your business, you aren't going to get a policy. And it's probably your insurance agent that doesn't want your business. He writes up the application for your insurance, and he knows how to word things so that you either get accepted or get rejected.

The best company might be either the company your aunt used, or the company you have your car insurance with. The first company is familiar with the property's history, and the second company is familiar with your history. Houses and people that have a lot of claims, continue to have a lot of claims.

If neither company will write your business, go shopping, but shop by *agent*, rather than company. When you go in, tell the agent that you're looking for a new agent because you want everything with one agency, and if he can't write both your house and then your car (when your car policy comes due), then there's no reason to do business with him.

That's assuming that you're a decent risk. If you're a bad risk, it'll scare the bejesus out of him, and he'll show you the door.

They aren't required to sell you insurance, and they don't HAVE to give you a reason why.

If it's zoned as a 2 family dwelling, you'll have to have it rezoned as one, in order for it to NOT be considered half vacant.

You can go to someplace like www.foremost.com and they DO insure vacant or partially vacant dwellings, but it's EXPENSIVE. I'd do that right now, until you get the zoning straightened out, THEN you can do a regular homeowners on it. OR, you can move a tenant in (be prepared to produce a lease or rental contract) and get it insured that way.