Buying a home: can you use the seller's wind mitigation report?

Checked Oct 25, 2026

Not insurance advice. General information only. Your insurer or agent decides what it needs.

Short answer: for Citizens Property Insurance, yes, it can. Citizens' Wind Loss Mitigation Guide says that if the property is a new purchase, the wind mitigation form "may be in the name of and signed by the prior owner." The form is valid for up to five years if no material changes have been made to the structure and no inaccuracies are found on it. Citizens sets separate rules for 4-point and roof inspections.

Using the seller's wind mitigation form

Citizens' Wind Loss Mitigation Guide says that if the property is a new purchase, the form may be in the name of and signed by the prior owner. On the signature section, the guide says "the current homeowner, previous homeowner or authorized representative must sign the form." The same section of the guide says the address on the form must match the property address on the policy.

The homeowner's line on the OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26) certifies that the named qualified inspector, or his or her employee, did inspect the home and that proof of identification was given to the homeowner or an authorized representative. Every page of the form carries the note that it is "valid for up to five (5) years provided no material changes have been made to the structure or inaccuracies found on the form."

Older forms and the April 2026 revision

Citizens' guide says any inspection completed on or after April 1, 2026, must be submitted on the revised OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26). It also says the revised form may not be required when the insured has a valid Rev. 01/12 form completed within five years from the date of inspection. See what changed on the 04/26 form.

Check the seller's form before you rely on it

Citizens' guide lists these checks before applying for mitigation credits:

• Right form: acceptable forms vary by version date and building type.
• Signatures: signed by a qualified inspector (for example a home inspector, contractor or engineer) and by the customer.
• Still valid: within five years, with no structural changes since the inspection.
• Photos: the required photos for attributes 2 through 9 are there.
• Paperwork: required product approval certificates, permits or other documentation are included.

The guide says that if something appears missing, inaccurate or inconsistent, the inspector should be contacted to correct it before the form goes to Citizens. It also says mitigation credits will not be granted if the form is completed by an unqualified or unlicensed inspector, and points to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to verify the license. See how to look up a license on DBPR.

When the seller's form may not be enough

Citizens says you may need a new form before five years if you make improvements that may qualify for additional discounts. Its examples of changes that may require a new inspection are changes to the structure of the home or property, such as adding a room or replacing a roof; new wind-damage mitigation features you want discounts for; and insurance claims for certain types of damage to the home or property. See a new roof and your wind mitigation.

When a full new form may not be needed

Citizens' guide lists cases where the revised form may not be required:

• Hip roof credit only: clear photographs can be submitted instead of a full inspection.
• Roof cover credit only: a valid completed roofing permit is available. To find one, see how to find your permits in Palm Beach County.
• Newer homes: the structure was built to the Florida Building Code on or after January 1, 2002, and no additional wind mitigation features exist.

The 4-point inspection on an older home

Citizens says it "requires a four-point inspection for all property owner, dwelling and mobile home applications for properties more than 20 years old." A Florida-licensed inspector reports the age, type and condition of the electrical, plumbing, HVAC and roof, and Citizens says serious hazards or deficiencies, such as exposed wiring or active leaks, should be repaired before an application is submitted.

Citizens' support center says the report "must be dated within the last 12 months prior to the new-business application submission date." For lender-placed coverage in effect within 45 days of the policy's effective date, Citizens requires a 4-point completed within 10 days before the effective date, and for risks with a prior sinkhole claim, one dated within 90 days. The same answer says 4-point inspections do not apply to tenant named insured and condominium risks. See common 4-point problems.

Roof age and the roof inspection

Citizens says roofs older than 25 years (shingle or similar) or 50 years (tile, slate, clay, concrete or metal) need documentation showing at least five years of remaining useful life. When a roof has less than five years left, Citizens says the owner must provide proof of a full roof replacement to the inspector before any policy is written. Citizens' guide also says the OIR-B1-1802 "is not acceptable proof of roof condition or replacement."

For homeowners' policies, Florida Statutes s. 627.7011(5)(b) says an insurer may not refuse to issue or renew solely because of the age of a roof less than 15 years old. For a roof at least 15 years old, s. 627.7011(5)(c) says the insurer must allow an inspection by an authorized inspector at the homeowner's expense before requiring replacement, and may not refuse to issue or renew solely because of roof age if that inspection shows 5 years or more of useful life. Section 627.7011(6) says the section does not apply to mobile home policies. See Florida's roof age rules.

Booking inspections before closing

• Attic access: Citizens says that if the inspector cannot get into the attic, you may not be eligible for roof-to-wall attachment, roof-deck attachment and secondary water resistance discounts.
• If you can't be there: Citizens says you may designate someone 18 or older as your representative, who should know where the attic access and any stored shutters or panels are.
• Documents: Citizens lists receipts with product specifications, work orders and invoices, roofing permits and notice-of-acceptance letters for mitigation products as documentation to give your inspector.
• Compare prices: our Palm Beach County prices page lists wind mitigation, 4-point and bundle prices published by inspectors, and the city pages list inspectors by area.

FAQ

Can I use the previous owner's wind mitigation report?

For Citizens, yes. Citizens' Wind Loss Mitigation Guide says that if the property is a new purchase, the form may be in the name of and signed by the prior owner. The form is valid for up to five years if no material changes have been made to the structure and no inaccuracies are found on it.

Does the wind mitigation form have to be in my name?

Not for Citizens on a new purchase. Its guide says the current homeowner, previous homeowner or authorized representative must sign the form, and the address on the form must match the property address on the policy.

Do I need a 4-point inspection to buy an older home?

Citizens requires a 4-point inspection for property owner, dwelling and mobile home applications for properties more than 20 years old, dated within the last 12 months before the new-business application. Citizens says 4-point inspections do not apply to tenant named insured and condominium risks.

When does the seller's wind mitigation form stop counting?

The form says it is valid for up to five years provided no material changes have been made to the structure or inaccuracies found on it. Citizens says changes such as adding a room or replacing a roof may require a new inspection.

Sources

• Citizens Wind Loss Mitigation Guide (Rev. 04/26): PDF (checked Oct 25, 2026)
• Florida OIR, Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26): floir.gov (PDF) (checked Oct 25, 2026)
• Citizens Property Insurance, Wind Inspection Results (when you need a new inspection): citizensfla.com (checked Oct 25, 2026)
• Citizens Property Insurance, Your Wind Inspection (attic access, representative, documents): citizensfla.com (checked Oct 25, 2026)
• Citizens Property Insurance, Inspections (4-point and older roofs): citizensfla.com (checked Oct 25, 2026)
• Citizens, "What is the acceptable age of a four-point inspection report?" (updated 05/20/2026): securesupport.citizensfla.com (checked Oct 25, 2026)
• Florida Statutes s. 627.7011 (2026), homeowners' policies, subsections (5) and (6): leg.state.fl.us (checked Oct 25, 2026)