It might seem outrageous, but the law generally allows insurers to demand that homeowners pay for expensive changes to their homes – or risk cancellation of their coverage if they don’t.

Q: Our home is about 1 mile away from a large forest that is owned and operated by the federal government. A representative from our homeowners insurance company recently came to our home and said that we would have to replace our wood roof with one that is more fire-resistant, and that our policy would be canceled if we don’t make the change. We have had our policy for about 13 years, and have never made a claim. Is the insurer’s demand that we install an expensive new roof legal?

A: Yes, the insurer has the legal right to demand that you replace the wood roof with composite shingles or other type of fire-resistant material. It might seem unfair, but you likely will face a much higher fee for your insurance coverage – or an outright cancellation of your current policy – if you don’t make the change.

Many insurance companies are making similar demands of homeowners in hurricane-prone areas by requiring extra storm windows, or by requiring those who live in communities that occasionally get hit by mudslides to spend thousands of dollars to shore up the foundation of their homes.

Some state regulators and insurance-industry critics are furious about the costly burdens that many insurers are now placing on their policyholders. They note that State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., the nation’s largest insurance company, saw its profits surge 65 percent last year to $5.3 billion – and that’s after the firm paid millions of dollars to fight (but eventually settle) most of its Hurricane Katrina claims.

Allstate Corp., America’s second-biggest insurer, recorded $5 billion in profit last year.

Critics say that Congress and state legislators alike should step in to protect homeowners from such expensive new requirements.

Q: About a year ago, you published a list of companies that help people make short-term “home-swapping” arrangements to help cut their vacation costs. We are now planning our three-week summer vacation and would like to trade the use of the lakefront cottage we own for the use of a home in another U.S. resort area, or perhaps even Europe. Could you please publish the names of those home-swapping firms again?

A: Sure. Many homeowners have become virtually addicted to home-swapping, which allows them to temporarily trade the use of their own residence for an equal amount of time at a home in an area that they’d like to visit.

Veteran swappers say the trades save them a lot of money by eliminating hotel bills and allowing them to cook their own meals instead of dining at expensive restaurants.

The largest home-exchange services include HomeLink International (800-638-3841, www.homelink.org); HomeExchange.com (310-798-3864, www.homeexchange.com); ExchangeHomes.com (877-256-3323, www.exchangehomes.com); Home Exchange Club (877-795-1019, www.digsville.com); and Intervac Home Exchange (800-756-4663, www.intervacus.com).