Does Renter’s Insurance Cover Mold Damage?

12/2/2019 (Permalink)

A tenant’s personal property is usually not covered by the insurance policy of their landlord. For that reason, many tenants choose to purchase rental insurance. However, renter’s insurance doesn’t cover every cause of loss that might damage a tenant’s property. Whether the damage is covered depends primarily on the cause of the mold and the policy exclusions.

1. Cause of the Mold
If the tenant can trace the cause of the mold that damaged their property to a covered cause of loss, their renter’s insurance may apply. For example, if the roof of their rental was damaged by a storm and that storm damage caused a leak that resulted in their property getting wet from rain and molding, then that damage might be covered.

2. Policy Exclusions
Most rental insurance policies contain exclusions for certain types of damages. A common exclusion is damage caused by an external flood. In order to get coverage for this peril, most renters will need to purchase separate flood insurance. Another commonly excluded peril is negligence. For instance, damage to property caused by a leaky toilet may be covered. However, if the tenant noticed the leak months ago and never reported it to their landlord, the damage might be excluded if it’s determined that the tenant's negligence in reporting the leak lead to the property damage.

Whether property damage caused by mold is covered by rental insurance depends on the specific policy and the cause of damage. Because of the limitations of renter’s insurance, it may be wise to avoid extensive mold damage by contacting a professional in North Miami who can assist with mold removal or storm cleanup before mold develops or spreads beyond the limits of what a renter’s insurance policy can address.