Does Renter’s Insurance Cover Water Damage?

Both owners and tenants may find it frustrating when their home or apartment sustains water damage. Particularly if it happens suddenly and damages your personal property. Tenant, you must be aware of the circumstances in which water damage is covered by your insurance.

This article explains what types of water damage aren't covered by insurance, when renter's insurance covers losses, and when it protects you against additional living expenditures.

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Personal liability and water damage

Renter’s insurance is a policy that protects tenants from risks by covering expenses related to unforeseen and unexpected circumstances. Insurance covers you in multiple instances when it comes to a water damage claim through protecting your belongings, reimbursing additional living expenses, and covering the cost of damages caused by an event.

Your policy's list of risks determines what is and is not covered for water damage claims. You cannot file a claim for any damage brought on by a risk that isn't covered by your policy. Though coverage may not always apply, the following are instances where water damage is covered under policies:

1. Water damage resulting from leaks is covered by a typical renter's insurance policy. It also covers accidental overflow and water discharge damage to your personal property. Your insurance will pay for repairs if your ceiling leaks or if a washing machine or other home appliance leaks and causes damage. Costs related to a toilet overflow are covered by your insurance coverage as long as it happens only once.

2. A burst pipe that leaks into your place of residence and causes damage is covered by your insurance policy. Additionally, if your pipes freeze and cause damage to your belongings, this is a covered peril under your policy. This coverage also applies to heating and cooling systems, pipes, plumbing, and sprinkler systems. However, if you intentionally caused the burst pipe these instances are not covered.

3. APOLLO’s renter’s insurance covers flood damage. Additional coverage, such as the national flood insurance program, will also ensure coverage for losses from floods. If you live in an area where the risk of flooding is considerable, this additional policy is worth the extra cost.

4. The liability coverage of your renter’s insurance will cover court costs, up to your policy limit, in the event you are sued by your landlord for water damage. Your insurance also protects you from the liability of damage caused to someone else’s belongings, such as when water from your apartment or leaks into your neighbour’s home.

5. Insurance policies will also cover water damage from rain, windstorms, or hail, as long as you could not have prevented it. Some higher tiered renter’s insurance policies will also include coverage regardless if a window breaks during a storm or you accidentally left a window open.

6. Your insurance also covers water leaking from under a building or sewage backups. You should not worry if wastewater seeps back into your apartment; your insurance will take care of any harm to your personal belongings.

7. If you have to move out of your rental because of the amount of water damage to the point it became unliveable, the additional expense of rental costs is covered by your renter’s insurance policy. Depending on your policy, it may also cover costs of relocation and commuting if you need to move farther.

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When doesn’t renter’s insurance cover water damage?

Renter’s insurance policies won’t cover damages caused by flooding, sewage backups, negligence, or water damage that occurs while subletting.

Below are some scenarios when you won’t be able to claim renter’s insurance in the event of water damage:

1. Your policy will not cover losses caused by your negligence. Your renter’s insurance won’t cover damages if you left a window or a door open. If you forget to turn off a faucet or leave a toilet clogged, causing flooding to your home, then your policy won’t reimburse you for the damage. Your insurance is intended to cover accidental and sudden damage, not perils you created.

2. Renter’s insurance won’t cover water damage that occurs while you are not living in your place of residence. It will also not cover any damages in the event you have sublet the unit you rent.

Learn: What Does (And Doesn’t) Renters Insurance Cover? & How to claim renters insurance?

Takeaways

Water damage is often an unforeseen and unexpected event that can cause costly expenses for you. However, renter’s insurance covers most claims for water damage depending on the kind of loss.

Renter’s insurance can protect you from personal liability and alleviate financial costs occurring from water damage. In short, renter’s insurance is worth purchasing to help protect you against costly repairs or replacing damaged personal property.

Related: The importance of home or renters’ insurance before holiday travels

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