Over half of US homeowners are delaying critical repairs, according to new research from ZestyAI, potentially exposing insurers to $317bn in claims.
The survey found 62% of homeowners are putting off essential maintenance, mostly due to budget issues.
This comes as Severe Convective Storms (SCS) caused $58bn in insured losses in 2024, overtaking hurricane losses and making it the second-costliest year on record for these weather events, ZestyAI stated. Roof damage continues to be a leading factor, responsible for up to 90% of residential catastrophe losses, according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).
ZestyAI’s data shows nearly 59 million homes may have unaddressed risks, with 40% of homeowners saying they would rely on insurance to cover large repairs like roof replacement. Meanwhile, 63% of those not present for their last roof replacement don’t know how old it is, increasing the chance of unnoticed structural issues.
Worryingly, 12% of respondents said they would delay repairs indefinitely, further elevating their risk of damage. ZestyAI has previously identified over 12.6 million homes at high risk for hail-related roof damage, representing $189.5bn in potential replacement costs.
ZestyAI co-founder and chief product officer Kumar Dhuvur said, “Deferred maintenance has long been a known risk factor, but today the stakes are higher than ever.
“With claim severity rising and storm losses compounding, insurers need more than hazard maps to navigate this landscape. Property-level insights allow carriers to proactively address known vulnerabilities, improve underwriting precision, and work with homeowners to reduce losses before they happen.”
For more, visit InsurTech Analyst
Read the daily FinTech news
Copyright © 2025 FinTech Global
