Got ‘Clutter’ In Your Backyard Or A Drained Pool? Insurance Companies Are Using Aerial Images To Decide If You’ll Keep Your Coverage

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California and Texas homeowners are finding out the hard way that what’s visible from the sky could result in losing their home insurance. More insurance companies are using aerial images and footage from satellites and drones to decide whether to renew a policy, and it has nothing to do with wildfire zones.

In California, KGO-TV reported in 2023 that long-time AAA customers are being dropped for reasons like backyard clutter, old roofs or even empty swimming pools. In one case, CJ Sveen of Oakley said AAA told him his policy wouldn’t be renewed because of “debris and hazards” in his yard.

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“Apparently, they have some pictures and they noticed clutter,” Sveen told KGO-TV. “I find that offensive. How dare you judge me because of my stuff!”

Sveen said he had no chance to fix the issue. “There was no chance to mitigate, clean up, do anything, it was just, you’re fired.”

Another homeowner, George Nadeau of San Rafael got dropped because AAA said his roof had “exceeded its useful life.” But Nadeau says that wasn’t true.

“I think obviously that their drone surveillance was bogus,” he told KGO-TV. “We’ve lived in this house for 50 years and have maintained our roof in a very effective way.” He said he installed a new roof seven years ago and even spent $4,000 on an upgrade later on.

He submitted invoices and photos to prove the roof had been replaced and upgraded. After his appeal, AAA reinstated his policy.

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Marilyn Smith and her husband in Northern California were dropped for draining their pool to conserve water. They now use the empty pool as a hothouse to grow potted tomatoes and lettuce.

“I think I was in so much shock, I couldn’t believe it,” she told KGO-TV. The AAA notice cited “deferred maintenance” due to the empty pool.

“We decided well, we don’t use it… that saves us on maintenance and then just the water,” she said.

In a statement to KGO-TV, AAA parent company CSAA Insurance Group said it uses aerial imagery from satellites and fixed-wing aircraft to assess properties and determine whether they meet underwriting criteria. “To continue offering industry-leading insurance coverage, we must periodically evaluate our exposure to risk,” the company said.