Leaks, floods, humidity, burst pipes, water overflow—there are a number of reasons why mold could strike in a home. But once an inspector has discovered mold damage, is it possible that homeowners insurance will cover it? Luckily, in certain cases, homeowners insurance does cover mold damage.
When Homeowners Insurance Will Likely Cover Mold
Once mold has been detected, it's important to find out exactly what caused it in the first place. Not only will this make it easier to prevent more mold in the future, but it will also determine whether the damage will be covered under homeowners insurance policies. Insurance usually covers mold if the original cause of it was "covered peril," which is any sort of home-damaging event that is already covered under the insurance policy.
"Covered peril" situations include fires, lightning strikes, objects falling onto the home, icy pipes, and, perhaps most importantly, accidental water overflow from plumbing, air conditioning, or appliances. So, for example, if a pipe gives out while the homeowners are away and douses a wall with water, then any ensuing mold should be covered. The key to "covered peril" situations is that they are sudden and unavoidable, not long-term and preventable.
When Homeowners Insurance Won't Likely Cover Mold
In cases where regular maintenance or
scheduled mold inspections could have prevented the mold problem, it is far less likely that homeowners insurance will help. For example, if a homeowner neglects broken shingles on an old roof for several years, and ensuing rain leakages cause a slow-growing mold problem in the attic, then homeowners insurance likely won't cover the damage. Additionally, standard homeowners insurance policy probably won't cover mold as a result of flooding—a separate flood policy will be needed for such protection.
ASAP Environmental, Inc. has been serving homeowners in the Boston area for 25 years. Our team performs mold and lead inspections and risk assessments, as well as other health, safety, and environmental services.
Schedule an inspection with us today or call 800-349-7779 to receive a free estimate.
