(1) All home warranty contracts are assignable in a consumer transaction and must contain a statement informing the purchaser of the home warranty of her or his right to assign it, at least within 15 days from the date the home is sold or transferred, to a subsequent retail purchaser of the home covered by the home warranty and all conditions on such right of transfer. The home warranty company may charge an assignment fee not to exceed $40. Home warranty assignments include, but are not limited to, the assignment from a home builder who purchased the home warranty to a subsequent home purchaser.
(2) Subject to the insurer’s or home warranty association’s requirement as to payment of premium, every home warranty must be mailed, delivered, or electronically transmitted to the warranty holder within 45 days after the effectuation of coverage, and the application is part of the warranty contract document. Electronic transmission of a home warranty constitutes delivery to the warranty holder. The electronic transmission must notify the warranty holder of his or her right to receive the home warranty via United States mail rather than electronic transmission. If the warranty holder communicates to the home warranty association electronically or in writing that he or she does not agree to receipt by electronic transmission, a paper copy of the home warranty shall be provided to the warranty holder.
(3) All home warranty contracts must state in conspicuous, boldfaced type that the home warranty may not provide listing period coverage free of charge.
(4) All home warranty contracts must disclose any exclusions, restrictions, or limitations on the benefits offered or the coverage provided by the home warranty contract in boldfaced type, and must contain, in boldfaced type, a statement on the front page of the contract substantially similar to the following: “Certain items and events are not covered by this contract. Please refer to the exclusions listed on page of this document.”
(5) Each home warranty contract shall contain a cancellation provision. Any home warranty agreement may be canceled by the purchaser within 10 days after purchase. The refund must be 100 percent of the gross premium paid, less any claims paid on the agreement. A reasonable administrative fee may be charged, not to exceed 5 percent of the gross premium paid by the warranty agreement holder. After the home warranty agreement has been in effect for 10 days, if the contract is canceled by the warranty holder, a return of premium shall be based upon 90 percent of unearned pro rata premium less any claims that have been paid. If the contract is canceled by the association for any reason other than for fraud or misrepresentation, a return of premium shall be based upon 100 percent of unearned pro rata premium, less any claims paid on the agreement. A home warranty association may effectuate a refund through the issuing sales representative.
(6) By July 1, 2011, each home warranty contract sold in this state must be accompanied by a written disclosure to the consumer that the rate charged for the contract is not subject to regulation by the office. A home warranty association may comply with this requirement by including such disclosure in its home warranty contract form or in a separate written notice provided to the consumer at the time of sale.
History.—s. 1, ch. 77-339; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-148; s. 2, ch. 81-318; s. 3, ch. 83-265; ss. 32, 33, 34, ch. 83-323; s. 1, ch. 84-94; s. 2, ch. 86-75; s. 46, ch. 88-166; s. 19, ch. 90-119; s. 20, ch. 93-195; s. 4, ch. 95-245; s. 4, ch. 97-74; s. 46, ch. 99-7; s. 3, ch. 99-293; s. 17, ch. 2001-281; s. 1464, ch. 2003-261; s. 6, ch. 2006-272; s. 23, ch. 2010-175; s. 5, ch. 2012-77; s. 2, ch. 2014-111.
Structure Florida Statutes
Chapter 634 - Warranty Associations
Part II - Home Warranty Associations (Ss. 634.301-634.348)
634.302 - Powers of department, commission, and office; rules.
634.3025 - Part exclusive; applicability of other laws.
634.304 - Qualifications for license.
634.305 - Required deposit or bond.
634.3051 - Levy upon deposit limited.
634.306 - Application for and issuance of license.
634.307 - License expiration; renewal.
634.3076 - Prohibited investments and loans.
634.3077 - Financial requirements.
634.3078 - Assets and liabilities.
634.308 - Grounds for suspension or revocation of license.
634.309 - Procedure to suspend or revoke license.
634.310 - Order, notice of suspension or revocation of license; effect; publication.
634.3112 - Administrative fine in lieu of suspension or revocation of license of association.
634.312 - Forms; required provisions and procedures.
634.3123 - Noncompliant forms.
634.313 - Tax on premiums; annual statement; reports.
634.3135 - Office records required.
634.314 - Examination of associations.
634.317 - License and appointment required.
634.318 - License and appointment of sales representatives.
634.319 - Reporting and accounting for funds.
634.3205 - Rebating; when allowed.
634.3225 - Duration of suspension or revocation of license or appointment.
634.324 - Disposition of taxes and fees.
634.325 - Insurance business not authorized.
634.326 - Fronting not permitted.
634.327 - Applicability to warranty on new home.
634.328 - Penalty for violation.
634.329 - Dissolution or liquidation.
634.331 - Coverage of property for sale.
634.335 - Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices prohibited.
634.336 - Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices defined.
634.337 - Power of department and office to examine and investigate.
634.338 - Prohibited practices; hearings; procedure; service of process.
634.3385 - Unauthorized entities; gifts and grants.
634.339 - Cease and desist and penalty orders.
634.34 - Appeals from orders of the department or office.
634.341 - Penalty for violation of cease and desist order.
634.342 - Injunctive proceedings.
634.344 - Coercion of debtor prohibited.