Is Mold Covered Under Renters Insurance

What To Do If Your Mold Claim Is Denied

Mold claims can be tricky, particularly if it was caused by a leak instead of a storm. Many insurers will try to argue that the mold was caused by the homeowners faiure to repair a leak in a timely manner.

If your insurer has denied your mold claim and you disagree with your insurer regarding the cause of the mold, you can appeal the decision. Most insurance companies allow policyholders to appeal a decision on a claim, but you will need to provide evidence that supports your claim in order to convince the insurance company you are correct.

If your insurer denies your appeal, there are a couple of other options available to you:

Mold Caused By Negligence

Home insurance companies usually deny claims when the investigation determines that negligence caused the damage. Negligence is not a named peril, and therefore mold damage caused by it would not be covered under your homeowners policy. For example, if your dishwasher is leaking and you do not tend to it right away, any resulting damage from the leak can be denied by your insurer, leaving you to pay out of pocket for the repairs.

What Is Black Mold

Mold is a type of fungus that can grow indoors and outdoors. Mold spores are found in the air and on surfaces. When mold spores land on a wet surface, they start to grow.Mold can be any color, including black. Black mold is a type of mold that can cause health problems. Some people are more sensitive to mold than others. People with allergies or asthma may have more severe reactions to black mold.Black mold grows in damp, dark places. It can grow on walls, ceilings, floors, and other surfaces. Black mold releases toxins into the air. These toxins can cause respiratory problems, headaches, and other health problems.

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Apartment Mold Isnt An Eyesore Its A Potential Health Hazard

To be clear, very few types of mold are toxic. As a matter of fact, not all mold that is black is toxic. Thats a specific type of black mold, and requires professional remediation. But even garden-variety mold in your apartment is problematic for your health. Not because its all toxic, but because it can interfere with your respiratory system.

If youre having trouble breathing, or if youve noticed ongoing symptoms that feel like hay fever but just wont go away, mold may be the cause and youd be well advised to look for it. Remember that mold can and does grow in hidden areas, especially areas with a slow leak.

Just because its growing in a hidden space doesnt mean it will stay in that space, or that it wont impact your health. The spores can travel to interfere with your breathing anywhere in the home. In apartments with poor ventilation or shared ventilation, it can even be a threat to your neighbors.

When Doesn’t Renters Insurance Cover Mold

There are many listed exclusions that your insurance company will not compensate you for when it comes to mold damage. The one we caution most renters about is external floods: those from a storm surge, heavy rains or even overflowing sewage. If mold grows as a result of the first two, you need to have a separate flood insurance policy in order to get claim payouts for those belongings. If your sewer system overflows and results in mold, you’re out of luck unless you purchased a that gives your belongings extra coverage for sewage backup.

Mold also won’t be covered if it can be proven the cause was a result of your negligence. One example would be if there is an internal flood in your apartment and you used towels to dry the area. If you left those towels in the corner of your room for weeks on end, and mold grew, ruining all your other clothing, you would not be covered. Even though technically it was water damage that was the first cause, insurers view your failure to remove the towels as the ultimate cause.

When your landlord may be liable

Mold also affects things that are beyond the scope of renters insurance policies and are instead the responsibility of your landlord. Remember that renters insurance is only meant to cover your personal property and never any structure of the home. Mold caused by a leaky roof, pipe, wall or which pre-dated your move into the rental is the responsibility or the landlord to remediate.

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What Does Renters Insurance Cover

• East Street Insurance

Are you a college student living off campus renting a home or an apartment? Are you a recent graduate living in an apartment downtown or in the suburbs? Are you renting while waiting for the market to slow down in Ohio? If you answered yes to any of these questions, purchasing a renters insurance policy is a great option for you and your belongings.

How Should You Prepare For A Claim

Before contacting the agent, collect evidence of the damage. For example, take photos of the damaged areas from all angles and gather relevant pictures from before the damage to support your claim. If youâre unfamiliar with the coverage, read the policy to make sure you have a good idea of how the conversation and claim will go.

The agent needs to assess the total cost of the damage before approving the claim. If you want to stop further growth, avoid removing anything, even if youâre tempted to clean the impacted areas. Instead, open windows and run a dehumidifier to control the spread.

If you need to eliminate mold in your home, turn to the trusted mold removal experts at Serclean of Savannah, GA. For over 25 years, these environmental professionals have been certified by the EPA to perform cleanup and restoration services throughout Richmond Hill and the Chatham County region. Aside from mold removal, they offer asbestos removal, water remediation, and smoke damage repair. For more information on their top-ranked services, visit the website or call 459-1981 today.

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An Exception To The Mold Damage Exclusion

When damage caused by mold, fungus, rot, or bacteria is excluded in your renters insurance policy, there is usually a caveat for such damage when its not within your ability to fix. Typically, that means mold within the walls of your home, beneath the floors, or within and above the ceiling. Mold resulting from water discharge, which would otherwise be excluded, may be covered if its hidden from view.

It is your landlords responsibility to deal with mold in the structure of the building. When mold within the within the walls, ceiling, or floors of your home causes damage to your stuff, you may have to file a claim with your landlords insurance and receive reimbursement through his or her coverage.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Mold

Home insurance covers mold damage, but only if a covered peril caused it. To file a mold insurance claim, you must document it with photos and provide the home insurance company with an explanation of how the mold started.

Homeowners insurance usually covers damage to your house from fire, vandalism, smoke, or weather events such as lighting, wind, or hail.

In the past, mold damage was covered as part of homeowners insurance, and insurance companies spent thousands of dollars on claims. Now, mold-related damages are likely covered only if caused by a peril covered by the policy.

Mold is a fungal growth and there are many types that come in various colors, such as white and black mold. But none will grow without moisture, according to the Environmental Protection Agency . And, in a home, that moisture is often a result of water damage.

Below, you will find everything you need to know about how and when mold-related damages are covered by your homeowners insurance. Read on to learn more.

• Home insurance covers mold damage caused by a covered peril. Otherwise, an insurance company will likely not cover mold damage.
• Your home insurance wont cover you for mold damage if mold forms in your shower or a burst pipe in your basement goes unnoticed and results in mold.
• Mold endorsements will cost you more if you live in humid areas and your home is made with materials more prone to mold.

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Water Damage And Mold

Mold is caused by excess water or moisture containing small spores and bacteria. Many types of water damage are covered by your renters insurance, such as water forced in through the roof and walls by windstorms or hail, the weight of frozen water, and the accidental discharge or overflow of water from an appliance or pipe inside your home.

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Some types of water damage are excluded, if your policy is the named-perils type. Excluded water damage includes floods and sewer overflow.

Mold caused by any of these perils, whether covered or not, may be excluded from coverage under the basic terms of your renters insurance policy. That means if the damage or loss to your belongings was caused by mold, but not by the covered water damage itself, your claim will be denied.

When mold damage is referred to in a renters insurance policy, the terms usually also include damage caused by fungus, wet rot, dry rot, and bacteria. The terms may be tucked away under the coverage for accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam, a common named peril that also frequently excludes mold damage.

Commonly Asked Questions Regarding Usaa Renters Insurance Coverage

Does Renters Insurance Cover Moving?

No, renters insurance does not cover moving costs. However, you can get coverage for damages to personal property while moving. There are certain stipulations here, and damage incurred due to weather-related activities is not included in the USAA renters insurance.

Does Renters Insurance Cover Storage Units?

Yes, USAA renters insurance does cover storage units. No matter where you are your belongings are safe, even if they are in a storage unit miles away. However, some storage units require proof of valid storage insurance, so make sure you have it handy.

Can I Add Renters Insurance to My Homeowners Policy?

You can add renters insurance to your homeowners insurance policy, but you dont need to in most cases. Refer to your provider to know whether its necessary before making a decision.

Do College Students Need Renters Insurance?

Its not mandatory to have renters insurance for college students. However, you should definitely consider this option, especially if you are a first-time renter. The insurance policy covers all your belongings if they get damaged or stolen. Thus, it is an essential option for most people. It also covers all legal expenses in case you are found responsible for someones injury or damage to your property.

How Can I Save Money on My Premium?

What Is Not Covered in Renters Insurance?

Quite a few situations are not covered by renters insurance. They include:

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When Does Homeowners Insurance Not Cover Mold

Home insurance policies typically wont cover mold caused by neglect or a lack of regular upkeep. This includes mold damage from:

• Poorly sealed doors or windows.

• A leaky faucet that you havent fixed.

• Lack of ventilation in a moist room, like a bathroom.

Below are a few other common causes of mold damage that a standard home insurance policy usually wont cover.

Sump pump failure and water backup damage. Damage caused by water backup or a sump pump failure can be costly, and standard home insurance policies usually wont cover it. However, many insurers offer sump pump failure and water backup coverage as an optional add-on.

Flood damage. Standard homeowners policies generally exclude flooding. If youre at risk, consider buying separate flood insurance.

However, even if you have flood insurance, your policy may not cover mold damage. The countrys biggest flood insurance provider, the National Flood Insurance Program, covers mold damage only if you can’t access your home after a flood.

Mold damage coverage varies by the flood insurance policy. If youre not sure what your policy includes, talk to your insurer.

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Stopping Mold Before It Starts

These tips can help prevent mold from growing in your home:

• Inspect your pipes, faucets and hoses regularly, and fix leaks right away.

• Make sure that rainwater is directed away from your home.

• Keep humidity low in your house by using air conditioners and dehumidifiers.

• Shore up your bathroom and kitchen ventilation by installing exhaust fans.

• Avoid installing carpet in areas at risk for collecting moisture, such as a basement or bathrooms.

• Regularly inspect your roof for leaks and keep your gutters free of debris.

• Consider replacing the hoses to your dishwasher, washing machine, refrigerator and other large appliances every five years.

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Why Your Renters Insurance Company May Not Cover Mold Damage

Whether or not mold is covered depends on your renters insurance policy and the situation that caused your mold damage. However, in most cases, it is unlikely your insurance company will cover your damage.

Insurance companies will sometimes exclude mold coverage from renters insurance policies altogether, which makes it that much more important to carefully read your policy before signing.

Insurance companies will generally cover mold damage that is connected to covered perils, something we will cover later, but will fight back against any other cause. Even small leaks that you are unaware of can be blamed on negligence, so be sure to stay aware of any potential causes of mold while renting.

Some common causes of mold that you might assume are covered perils, but usually arent, include:

• Structural issues or deficiencies
• Mold from other apartments spreading to yours

Even if your policy does cover mold growth, it will likely only pay for mold remediation, meaning it will only cover the work necessary to prevent it from getting worse. Other costs, including cleaning up any water damage and working with your landlord to get existing mold removed, will be considered under your duty of care. If your personal property is damaged due to mold, you may have to file a claim with your landlords insurance company for compensation.

Mold And Your Landlords Duty To Provide You With A Habitable Rental

Whether or not your city or state specifically addresses mold and your landlords level of responsibility, landlords are responsible for maintaining the building premises in a safe and livable condition. That means if a mold problem is in the building or in your apartment that is beyond your abilities to control or remove, they are responsible for ordering a mold inspection and hiring mold removal professionals to get rid of it. Here are a few ways to tell if mold has gotten itself into the bones of the apartment complex you live in.

Read our article on Landlord repair responsibilities to learn more about talking to your landlord about mold issues.

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Are There Caps On The Payout For Mold Damage

Most insurers have a cap on the amount they will pay for mold damage. While it varies by insurance company, its usually capped anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000. While this may be enough to cover a small to moderate mold incident, if you have severe mold damage in your home these coverage caps will leave you underinsured.

One way to stretch your limited mold coverage is to ensure that only mold mitigation costs are applied to policy limits. Blumkin advises homeowners to make sure that only the additional cost for mold remediation above what would normally be charged if mold were not present is applied toward your policys mold limitations rather than the full repair cost.

For example, if restoration crews are cutting out wet or burnt drywall, only the additional cost for handling moldy drywall rather than regular damaged drywall should be placed into the mold remediation category.

The fact that it was moldy doesnt mean that 100 percent of the removal cost goes into the policy mold limits only the increased cost to deal with mold on the drywall should go into the mold limitation amount, Blumkin says.

How Does Mold Grow In Your Home

Mold is found just about everywhere, but it can actively grow on surfaces in your home that have been exposed to moisture. That includes ceilings, walls, floors, windows, insulation, HVAC systems and air ducts, and even your furniture and clothes. Mold can also grow behind your walls if youve had a water leak. If an area of your home has experienced excessive moisture, commonly from a flood, humidity or a water leak, there is a potential for mold growth.

There are many different types of mold, and some are more harmful to your home and health than others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , some species produce toxins and can cause people to become ill from exposure and others can cause allergic reactions, including asthma attacks.

You may hear harmful mold referred to as black mold. When mold is actively growing in your home, it can damage the surface its growing on, requiring repairs. Additionally, mold releases spores into the air which can be problematic to breathe in, causing allergic reactions to many people.

Some homeowners prefer to spray Lysol or other similar products around their bathroom on a regular basis. Once mold starts growing, though, you need a professional to deal with your problem. Its not just about appearance. Professional services protect you from serious health consequences. Youll want to take care of your mold problem as soon as you detect it to avoid getting sick and to prevent home damage from worsening.

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