Effective September 1, 2025, Tower Hill Specialty will no longer accept Agent of Record (AOR) change requests, with the exception of the State of Georgia and Louisiana, where Agent of Record changes will continue to be honored in accordance with regulatory requirements.

If RPM is unable to validate the address, the address must be validated using latitude and longitude coordinates.

All RPM entries must match the signed application. Keep signed copies on file and submit any updates through RPM. E-Signed documents are automatically saved in RPM for the life of the policy.

Billing & Payments
Policies are billed directly to the policyholder or lienholder with multiple pay-plan options. Agents can view invoices under the Billing tab in RPM.

Pay in Full Discount: Available when the policyholder is the payor.

Lienholder Billing: Invoices are automatically sent to both the lender and policyholder—agents should not bill them directly. Payments from lenders or title companies must be payable to Tower Hill Specialty and mailed to:

Tower Hill Specialty
P.O. Box 71365, Charlotte, NC 28272-1365
(Overnight: 6125 Lakeview Rd, Suite 800, Charlotte, NC 28269)

Guidelines:

• Agencies cannot use their own bank account for recurring payments.

• No additional agency fees allowed.

• No “Agency Sweep” payments.

• Premium financing not accepted (except SC & LA per regulations).

No restrictions on burglar bars or bars over windows.

Coastal and wind eligibility varies by program, state and capacity restrictions. To determine if a risk can be written including wind coverage, quote the risk in RPM. The validation process will map the location and determine if it qualifies for wind/hurricane coverage. If the risk does not qualify for wind/hurricane coverage, the risk may be eligible for X-Wind coverage.

• Frame: Wood or other combustible materials (includes stucco, aluminum, Hardiplank/Hardiboard, or metal siding).

• Masonry: Brick, stone, concrete, or similar materials with combustible floors/roof.

• Masonry Veneer: Frame walls with brick or stone veneer.

• Mixed (Masonry/Frame): Classified as frame if over 33% of exterior walls are frame; otherwise, masonry.

• Log Homes: Commercially manufactured eligible for all programs; hand-hewn eligible for DP1 (ACV) if built 1999+.

• EIFS: Eligible only for homes built 2002+.

• Tiny Homes:

  • Mobile Home: Non–site built, <400 sq. ft., stationary, and connected to utilities.

  • DP1: Site built, <400 sq. ft., stationary, and connected to utilities.

Deductible options vary by state / program and capacity restrictions. Deductible limits can only be decreased at renewal. The following optional coverages have separate deductibles:
- Water Backup Deductible: $250
- Equipment Breakdown: $500
- Earthquake: 15% (Applicable to each coverage individually)
- Service Line: $500
- Identity Fraud Expense: $250

Animal Eligibility
Animals with a bite history, vicious tendencies, or wild/exotic/farm animals are ineligible unless Animal Liability is excluded and approved by underwriting.

Restricted Breeds: Akita, Doberman, Chow, Rottweiler, Pit Bull, wolf or wolf-hybrids (state rules may vary).

Hobby Farming: Up to 5 large animals (e.g., horses, cows) allowed with Hobby Farming endorsement. More than 5, or animals like emus, ostriches, or llamas, require Animal Liability Excluded. Goats, sheep, and chickens are not considered large animals.

HO3 risks are inspected; other programs may be based on application responses. Include a daytime contact and notify the insured. Exterior-only inspections require no contact. If renovations within 20 years are noted, an interior inspection will be scheduled. Reports are posted to the policy’s Documents tab in RPM within about 30 days.

Trampolines and tree houses are acceptable with liability limits up to $300K; trampolines must be netted, secured, and in good condition. Diving boards and slides are excluded from coverage. Bicycle ramps, empty pools, zip lines, and similar hazards are ineligible if liability is included. Liability limits vary by state/program and can only be changed at inception or renewal.

Prior Losses
Tower Hill Specialty can consider risks with losses in the past 3 years, but all must be disclosed. Undisclosed claims on the CLUE report will block binding. Claims history impacts premiums.

Underwriting Review: Be prepared to confirm repairs, prevention measures, and customer status. Fire losses require a Fire Dept. report with cause details.

Prior Risk Claims: Losses from previous owners don’t affect rating but may require proof of current roof or plumbing condition.

Roof Guidelines
Ineligible materials: Aluminum, Tin, Vinyl, and Wood Shake Shingles.

• Hip: Sloped on all sides; gable features must be ≤10% of perimeter.

• Gable: Inverted “V” ends; >10% gable features = classify as gable.

• Flat: Pitch ≤3:12.

Roof age or claim history may require higher deductibles or limited settlement options. Refer to ineligibility messages for exceptions. Acceptable proof includes recent inspections, appraisals, permits, or closing documents showing roof condition.

Roof Exclusion
Roof Exclusion endorsement is only available in the DP1 program with ACV Loss Settlement and Water Damage exclusion. The roof exclusion endorsement is available for 1 policy term and requires a signed exclusion form. The roof must be replaced within the 1st Term.

Vacant homes are eligible in our DP1 program with no term limit.
Vacant manufactured homes must also be written in the DP1 program. Vacant homes valued over $500K must be submitted to Underwriting to confirm current conditions. Additionally, vacant homes over $500K will require proof of a central station burglar/fire alarm or a property/estate manager who visits regularly.

Completely renovated homes will continue to use the original year of construction for rating purposes, unless the county assessor has updated the year of construction. Manufactured Homes: The "Year Built" should reflect the year the home was constructed. The "Model Year" can be entered under the "Model" field on the Underwriting tab.