She had no claims for 10 years. Then aerial photos put her insurance at risk

Travelers Insurance told Gartenmann that because of the photo the company would not renew her policy. (Pictures: KUT News) For years, Tracy Gartenmann had insured her Austin home against wildfires, hailstorms and high winds. Then, in January, she received an email telling her that her insurance would not be renewed.The reason was visible in two photographs attached to the message that showed trees near her roof, photographed from high above her house.“I thought it was a scam,” Gartenmann told KUT News. After she realised the email was genuine, she felt like an infringement on her rights.Gartenmann’s case is only one of the wider use of aerial images by insurance companies in Texas. Official records reportedly show hundreds of pages of complaints and state filings. Insurers are widely using images taken by satellites and aircraft to assess homes and decide whether they want to continue providing coverage.Travelers gave Gartenmann two months to cut back the trees or risk losing her insurance. Without insurance, she could face the cost of rebuilding after a storm, while mortgage lenders could also penalise homeowners who do not have coverage.Gartenmann paid a landscaping company $3,00...