In general, renters insurance policies will not cover termite or other pest infestations. The reason for this is insurers believe these infestations to be preventable situations.
Signs Of Termite Infestations
Here are a few common indications of termite activity/damage:
- Sudden appearance of water damage.
- Buckling walls or ceilings.
- Mud tunnels in the home’s foundation.
- Maze-like designs located in wooden structures.
- Visible termite swarming.
Typically, all of these signs mean there is some termite activity going on in your home or commercial property. Advanced termite damage can greatly impact your home’s structural integrity. This includes severe cases of ceilings or floors collapsing.
However, if the damage does not affect the structure of the home, you could still be impacted by damaged walls, flooring, furniture, or carpeting. Immediate action should be taken whenever termite damage is noticed, regardless of how small the problem may appear.
Will Renters Insurance Cover Termite Damage?
As mentioned, renters insurance does not cover the cost of preventable perils, which is exactly what insurers consider pest infestations. If an exterminator is coming to an apartment complex semi-regularly, infestations should not occur.
The landlord is typically responsible for exterminating the pests when there is an infestation. However, it is not the landlord’s responsibility to reimburse the renter for any damage. Renters insurance will only cover a loss when said loss is direct, sudden, or physical.
Because termites infest a home or apartment over weeks and months, insurers do not consider this a sudden loss of belongings like a fire. There are a few scenarios when renters insurance could help out in the event an apartment or belongings are destroyed by these pests. Let’s take look at some factors insurers will consider below.
Termite Damage Exclusions
Most renters insurance policies will explicitly state what is not covered under the insurance. Uncovered perils will be outlined under exclusions.
It is possible for your policy to exclude damage caused by “nesting or infestation” instead of specifically listing termites or pests.
Termites And Loss-Of-Use Coverage
If your apartment or home becomes uninhabitable, the loss-of-use coverage section of the policy will pay for your stay elsewhere. However, a termite infestation may not qualify as uninhabitable conditions.
If there is a major infestation threatening the structure of your building, oftentimes the landlord will be held responsible. When a ceiling collapses due to termite damage, you’ll have to check with your provider to see if this is covered.
How To Get Termite And Pest Coverage
All-risk policies and named-peril policies are the two renters insurance types. If you want the best coverage for termites, purchase an all-risk policy that does not contain any exclusions.
All-risk policies reimburse renters for loss regardless of the cause. These policies do tend to be costly, however.
Termite Control Phoenix Metro Area
Poor Boy Termite Control can solve all of you termite issues. We only deal with termites as the name implies. We use thermal imaging, with no drilling or guessing. At Poor Boy Termite Control we detect termites and treat them. If you have a termite infestation, Call Poor Boy Termite Control at (480) 994-4240 and schedule an appointment before the problem gets worse!
