If a homeowner does not maintain their home, what could be a potential impact on their insurance?

When a homeowner neglects to maintain their home, it can have serious implications for their insurance coverage, particularly in how claims are handled. If the insurance company finds that a claim is related to the homeowner's lack of maintenance, such as damage from a roof leak that could have been prevented with regular upkeep, they may choose to deny the claim. This occurs because the homeowner has a responsibility to take reasonable steps to maintain their property, and failing to do so can lead to increased risk for the insurer.

Focusing on the other options, while higher premiums can sometimes result from claims history or increased risk, they do not necessarily relate directly to maintenance neglect. Immediate policy cancellation is typically a more drastic measure and would often require clear violations of the policy rather than simply a lack of maintenance. Increased coverage limits do not relate to maintenance but rather to the amount of insurance coverage chosen by the homeowner, which would not be a direct consequence of maintenance issues.

Thus, the possibility of a claim being denied due to the homeowner's inadequate maintenance is the most pertinent outcome of neglecting property upkeep.