Does home insurance cover pest control? The answer would be ‘No’. Home insurance doesn’t cover pest control or damages caused by pests. Home insurance protects your house, its contents, and accidental emergencies.
What does your home insurance protect against? Damages that are caused by fire, storm, falling trees, accidents, theft, flood, vandalism, etc.
Home insurance is not a legal requirement. However, it ensures the safety of properties and belongings. Almost all insurance companies offer no coverage for pest infestations or pest-caused damage. You should read the policy carefully and discuss pest infestation with the insurer.
Here, we will solve your unspoken queries on why pest management doesn’t get coverage under home insurance, what’s included in it, and what’s not.
Why does home insurance not cover pest infestation and damage?
Home insurers cover only the damages that are beyond human control or happen accidentally. If pests gnaw on the wire and cause a fire, that might be under home insurance as a fire hazard. But pest infestation control is not insured.
According to the home insurer, pests invade due to poor, unhygienic maintenance. They will hold you responsible for the pest infestation or damage caused by pests as you let them in. Home insurance applies to unwanted out-of-control reasons.
Pest invasion is considered a controllable thing that happens due to negligence. That’s why home insurance does not cover pest control.
It’s you who allowed pests to enter the house, keeping the openings and holes unsealed. Even if carpet beetles or rodents damage your expensive rug or customised furniture, it’s totally on you.
What does home insurance cover in the UK?
Often, people ask us, Does home insurance cover pest control or Does home insurance cover wear and tear? The fact is, most people don’t thoroughly understand or inspect their home insurance policy properly.
Let’s discuss what a home insurance policy includes and when it protects.
1. Building insurance
Dwelling coverage is one of the major parts of home insurance. It covers damages to walls, roofs, permanent fixtures, kitchen units, bathroom suites, etc. The coverage is applicable only if a storm, flood, fire, earthquake, or vandalism causes the damage.
2. Content insurance
Home insurance covers damage or loss to personal belongings caused by theft, storm, tree fall, subsidence, fire, earthquake, or vandalism. It covers furniture, clothing, electronic items, laptops, bikes, jewellery, and other belongings.
3. Other coverages in a home insurance policy
- Temporary Accommodation:
If your home becomes unlivable for any insured reason, you can stay in a temporary accommodation. The cost of the temporary accommodation will be insured under home insurance.
- Home Owner’s Liability:
Liability claims accounted for 2.8% of all homeowners’ insurance claims. Home insurance covers homeowners if someone gets injured at the property and takes legal action.
It covers the legal fees when you’re held responsible for the injury. Here comes another standard inclusion of a home insurance policy. It also provides medical payment coverage to help pay for the medical expenses of people who have been injured in your home.
4. Home insurance optional extras
Some optional add-ons are possible with extra charges if your insurer agrees. Here are the extras you may add to your home insurance-
Accidental/Sudden Damages: Some incidents can happen suddenly. For example, if coffee spills on an expensive rug, your insurer will cover it as an add-on.
Emergency Cover: Your insurer may cover emergencies as an add-on service. For example, if there’s a sudden pipe leak and you need plumbing work, your insurer can cover it with extra charges.
Insurers likely don’t insure pest control. However, you can approach for emergency cover for pest infestation. If the insurer doesn’t agree, you might need to hire a professional pest control company.
Legal Protection: For your family’s legal assistance or funding, you can get yourself covered by legal protection through your insurance.
Extra Protection on Expensive Belongings: Jewellery (Gold or Diamond), Laptops, Bikes, etc., may need extra coverage.
What is not covered by home insurance in the UK?
Home insurance typically covers unintentional things that are sudden or out of human control. However, there are so many things that home insurance doesn’t cover. Let’s explore what they are-
i. Normal wear and tear
Home insurance does not cover the usual wear and tear. For example, if a chair breaks down after long use or your sofa is sagging, you must replace it yourself.
ii. Pest infestation
Pest infestation and damages caused by pests are not included in home insurance policies. Sadly, if bed bugs are ruining your sofa or rats are chewing cables, you might need to fix it yourself or hire professionals. For a severe infestation, you can book a residential pest control service for your home.
iii. Absence for a while
Theft can happen if you are out of the home for 30 days or 60 days. In cases of prolonged absence, insurers don’t cover your loss. However, you can ask your insurer if the insurance will remain valid if you’re out for 30 days. Consult before you leave.
iv. Accidental mistakes
Home insurance won’t cover any accidental mistake you made that could have been prevented. For example, the damage won’t be covered if you keep tea or coffee near your laptop keyboard or smartphone and it spills over. Damages that happen due to negligence won’t be covered.
v. Damage by pets
Home insurance will not cover your pet’s breaking or scratching of furniture. Policies strictly exclude tearing, scratching, fouling, or chewing.
vi. Development of asbestos
If asbestos happens naturally, a home insurer won’t cover it. However, it may be covered if asbestos develops after an insured incident, such as a fire hazard or flood.
vii. Lack of maintenance
A home insurance policy won’t cover damp or mould from low ventilation, broken pipework due to late replacement, etc. Poor maintenance indicates your negligence.
viii. Seasonal damage
Damage from regular events or seasonal reasons won’t be covered. For example, frost damage happens every year, and it’s predictable, so it is not covered under insurance.
ix. Intentional damage
Home insurance covers acts of vandalism. But it won’t cover any deliberate damage done by you or anyone from your family.
x. Theft due to social media updates
If someone is away from home on a holiday and posts it on social platforms, that may alert burglars that the house is empty. In such a situation, home insurance will be invalidated.
Unexpected vs Preventable: When does home insurance cover pest control?
Home insurance covers unexpected damage. However, according to them, pest damage is preventable. That’s why pest infestation and pest damage are excluded from the insurance policy.
Still, there are some events where your insurer will cover pest damage:
- When insured events happen:
Pest control is out of the equation. But what if a window or roof tile breaks due to a storm or an earthquake, and pests invade through it? That’s when pest damage may fall under the insurance.
- Extra addons:
You can ask your insurer if your policy will cover pest control with extra charges. Some insurers offer coverage for pest damage at an additional cost.
- If secondary damage happens:
Suppose a rodent chews on a wire that won’t be covered. However, if that chewing causes a fire hazard, home insurance may cover the damage as a fire incident.
Final words
Sadly, pest control is not directly covered under home insurance. The best part? Still, there are ways to get insurance coverage for pest damage. Pests can cause serious health hazards, and they must be controlled with or without insurance.
A new homeowner who might not have read the policy well may ask, Does home insurance cover pest control? Here is the answer, including how to get pest damage coverage. If you have more queries on home insurance or pest control, contact us any day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Will my home insurance pay for pest control?
What can invalidate home insurance?
Home insurance covers unexpected damage, but some activities or situations can invalidate the insurance. Major structural changes in the home, using the home as a business place, etc., can invalidate home insurance. Leaving the home empty for a long time will also eliminate validation. Leaving the door/window unlocked, pest infestation, poor hygiene, intentional damage, etc., will also invalidate the insurance.
Will insurance pay to replace the entire floor?
Home insurance covers damage from unexpected events such as fire, storm, earthquake, etc. If your floor has worn off due to long-term use, insurance won’t cover it. If any portion gets damaged due to fire, earthquake, or similar unintentional event, that portion will be covered. In short, insurance will only partially cover sudden damage.
What is accidental damage in home insurance?
Accidental damage means unintended damage that happens suddenly. For example, if a football breaks the window glass or your phone or laptop drops or breaks, these are considered accidental damage. Home insurance covers unintentional accidental damage.
What can you claim for on house insurance?
You can claim house insurance when any unexpected or unintentional thing happens. Home insurance usually covers damages that are beyond control. For example, home insurance covers damage or loss from fire, storm, earthquake, theft, vandalism, and other similar events.
Are you insured if you leave a window open?
No. Leaving a window open constitutes negligence and allows a burglar to enter. If you leave your window open and go away from home, your home insurance won’t be valid in that case.
Does contents insurance cover pests?
Content insurance usually covers sudden, unexpected damage to personal belongings. It doesn’t cover pest infestation or damage directly. However, secondary damages from pests, such as a fire incident from chewed wires by rodents, will be covered.
Does home insurance cover a boiler leak?
No, if a boiler leak happens due to long use. A boiler leak is considered a regular wear and tear. However, if a boiler leaks due to a fire hazard, storms, or similar uncontrollable conditions, home insurance will cover it.