SAFECO STOPS WRITING PL PROPERTY

As of July 26, Safeco stopped writing new personal property policies in Florida and notified the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation that at the beginning of 2006, it plans to stop renewing personal lines property policies. Safeco represents 0.6 percent of the Florida personal property market–approximately 30,000 customers, according to Jim Swegle, Safeco’s vice president of Personal Lines Property. This decision will apply to all Safeco residential property policies, including homeowners, dwelling fire, renters and condominium insurance. These lines represent about one-eighth of Safeco’s business in Florida.