Does Homeowners’ Insurance Cover Damage from Pests?

A pest is exactly what its name suggests: a problem, pain, and nuisance. But not only that, if they go undetected for a while or are otherwise impossible to eliminate, they may become quite destructive to your home. In this case, you may wonder whether your homeowners’ insurance policy will compensate you for your necessary repairs, replacements, and even extermination services. Well, please read on to discover whether homeowners’ insurance covers damage caused by pests and how one of the seasoned New York residential property damage claim attorneys at The Law Office of Craig A. Blumberg, P.C., can help you earn the recovery you desperately require.

Does standard homeowners’ insurance cover damage caused by pests?

Generally speaking, your standard homeowners’ insurance policy will likely not cover the cost of damages to your home caused by pests, such as mice, termites, etc. This is likely because most insurance companies deem pest infestations preventable if routine maintenance efforts and effective pest control protocols are taken. In other words, they expect you, as a responsible homeowner, to maintain your property well enough to get ahead of serious infestation damages. This is the same way they may expect you to clean your gutters to prevent water damage in your home, for example. On top of this, they may not cover the cost of your pest extermination services.

What constitutes sudden and accidental damage from pests?

Of note, the only exception to this general rule is if a pest causes “sudden and accidental damage” to your home. This may refer to an unexpected or unintended event that is typically covered by homeowners’ insurance. With that being said, below are some examples of how pests may cause sudden and accidental damage:

• A rodent may chew on an electrical wire, which promptly causes a serious electrical or house fire.
• Insects may clog your gutters and waterspouts, which promptly causes serious flood damage to your home.
• Termites and carpenter ants may tunnel through your wood structures, which promptly causes part of your home’s structure to collapse.
• Honey bees can build large nests inside your walls, which promptly causes honey and wax to weaken your home’s structure and cause leaks.

In these scenarios, it is worth mentioning that your insurance company may be willing to cover the resulting damage to your home, but not the initial pest damage. For example, they may compensate for your fire damage, but they may not pay to replace the electrical wires that a rodent chewed through.

You may desire more clarity before you head into your potential homeowners’ insurance claim. So, please do not wait any longer to reach out to one of the competent New York residential property damage claim attorneys. Retain the services of The Law Office of Craig A. Blumberg, P.C., today.