[MassHistPres] Home insurance on NR listed properties

[Richard McGrath]

In ludenberg an old blacksmith's home in the NHD was hit by a car in the
front of the house. The insurance company submitted a list of contractors
to use. The contractor proposed using particle board and vinyl siding to
repair the historic structure. The owner, not wanting a cheaper product
than what she had, complained that she wanted it put back the way it was.
The insurance company argued against that. She
continued to complain and the chairman of the architectural preservation
district commission, which the home is also part of, lwrote a letter to the
insurance company stating that it needed to be put back the way it was. The
insurance company complied and promptly canceled her insurance.

Richard McGrath
Member, Lunenburg APDC









On Thu, Jul 3, 2025, 10:07 AM Ralph Slate via MassHistPres <
masshistpres at cs.umb.edu> wrote:

> Has anyone approached a state legislator about this issue? Property
> insurance is regulated by the state, so the legislature could pass a law
> stating that historic status can not be used to disqualify properties.
>
> Ralph Slate
> Springfield, MA
>
> On 6/30/2025 10:06 AM, Steinitz, Michael @ SEC via MassHistPres wrote:
>
> Every week or so we are contacted by another historic homeowner who has
> gotten a notice of cancellation from their insurer.  Some insurers appear
> to  have discovered the MACRIS database, and seem to be dropping policies
> if they find a record there, regardless of whether or not there is a
> National  Register designation.  So in addition  to the memo on National
> Register properties, MHC has also prepared the attached memo regarding
> properties in the statewide Inventory in relation to insurance to help
> those property owners in responding to their insurer’s concerns.   Again,
> this is a national issue, exacerbated by a very challenging property
> insurance environment, with historic properties in general already being
> considered less desirable to insure, and insurers looking for any ways to
> reduce their exposure to perceived  risk.
>
>
>
> Michael
>
>
>
> Michael Steinitz
>
> Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
>
> Director, Preservation Planning Division
>
> Massachusetts Historical Commission
>
> 220 Morrissey Blvd
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/220%0D%0A++++++++++++Morrissey+Blvd+%0D%0A+++++++++Boston%0D%0A++++++++++++MA+02125?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/220%0D%0A++++++++++++Morrissey+Blvd+%0D%0A+++++++++Boston%0D%0A++++++++++++MA+02125?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
> Boston MA 02125
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/220%0D%0A++++++++++++Morrissey+Blvd+%0D%0A+++++++++Boston%0D%0A++++++++++++MA+02125?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
> 617-727-8470
>
> 617-727-5128 (fax)
>
> michael.steinitz at sec.state.ma.us
>
>
>
> *From:* MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu>
> <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> *On Behalf Of *Haley, Ben @ SEC via
> MassHistPres
> *Sent:* Monday, June 30, 2025 9:13 AM
> *To:* masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
> *Subject:* Re: [MassHistPres] Home insurance on NR listed properties
>
>
>
> This is an issue occurring across the country with increasing frequency. A
> couple of years ago the MHC developed the attached memorandum to provide to
> property owners and/or insurance companies. The National Trust hosted a
> webinar on the subject in 2024 (see
> https://savingplaces.org/stories/insuring-historic-properties-qa
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/savingplaces.org/stories/insuring-historic-properties-qa__;!!O9h35Ks8fCsF!GuxRb8N9Zr_j_UEuMwZfIz-Y4i93B3Em9tGTC-HKfaXpA9E9bp3_fZsvPoHKz6mVBu3vhpALEOUFi3AG0q3mpt9M-7Y3jJ2ODiYx9g$>
> ).
>
>
>
> Ben Haley
>
> National Register Director
>
> Massachusetts Historical Commission
>
> 220 Morrissey Blvd.
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/220%0D%0A++++++++++++++Morrissey+Blvd.+%0D%0A+++++++++++Boston,%0D%0A++++++++++++++MA+02125?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/220%0D%0A++++++++++++++Morrissey+Blvd.+%0D%0A+++++++++++Boston,%0D%0A++++++++++++++MA+02125?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
> Boston, MA 02125
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/220%0D%0A++++++++++++++Morrissey+Blvd.+%0D%0A+++++++++++Boston,%0D%0A++++++++++++++MA+02125?entry=gmail&source=g>
>
> Ph: 617-727-8470
>
> Fax: 617-727-5128
>
> www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc
>
> ben.haley at sec.state.ma.us
>
>
>
> Please be advised that the Massachusetts Secretary of State considers
> e-mail to be a public record, and therefore subject to public access under
> the Massachusetts Public Records Law,M.G.L. c. 66 § 10.
>
>
>
> *From:* MassHistPres <masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu> *On Behalf Of *Johnstone,
> Michelle via MassHistPres
> *Sent:* Friday, June 27, 2025 2:18 PM
> *To:* MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> *Subject:* [MassHistPres] Home insurance on NR listed properties
>
>
>
> Happy Friday, Preservationists 😊
>
>
>
> Here in Worcester, we have been noticing an uptick in complaints from
> owners (particularly new buyers) of NR-listed buildings related to their
> inability, in some cases, to find an insurance company to cover them *at
> all*, and in other cases, rates being exorbitantly expensive (like in the
> $400/*MONTH* range). Is this something that a lot of you are seeing in
> your communities as well? I’m not sure what it is about National Register
> listing that has become their sticking point, because the NR is an honorary
> program only under most circumstances.
>
>
>
> Does anyone know of any insurers that regularly provide insurance
> regardless of NR listing, and at a reasonable price? Also interested in if
> anything is being doing to address this issue.
>
>
>
> Best,
>
>
>
> *Michelle H. Johnstone *
>
> Senior Preservation Planner
>
> Executive Office of Economic Development | Planning & Regulatory Services
> Division
>
> City of Worcester | 455 Main Street, Rm 404, Worcester, MA 01608
>
> P: 508-799-1400 x31410
>
> C: 774-622-0695
>
> E: johnstonem at worcesterma.gov
>
> www.worcesterma.gov
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.worcesterma.gov/__;!!O9h35Ks8fCsF!BTD_4i2UwH8wqiZ2PYbjUOIcaP5n1gjqo7XnErlfUT9jgJgnE1n3niOwsivRYvS-VUfuJCLuff3BNdAqUqxeu1OkP5_xM6Pc$>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> MassHistPres mailing listMassHistPres at cs.umb.eduhttps://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> MassHistPres mailing list
> MassHistPres at cs.umb.edu
> https://mailman.cs.umb.edu/listinfo/masshistpres
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.cs.umb.edu/pipermail/masshistpres/attachments/20250703/6c18dc80/attachment-0001.html>