If you’ve carefully read the fine print of your home insurance policy, then you should be well aware of the fact that not all damages are covered by your provider. In fact, nearly all home insurance contracts include a specific list of items and damages that are not insured. Most commonly, these damages include costs associated with animals and / or personal neglect.
Animals and Home Insurance
While each insurance contract has its own guidelines and restrictions, most standard policies will not cover damages caused by various animals and pets. Aside from a standard house pet, such as a dog or cat, animals maintained by the owner of the home may fall under a different set of insurance rules. Essentially, as unique animals, such as horses, farm animals, and a variety of exotic pets, can cause varying degrees of damage to one’s home, insurance companies often exclude damages caused by these rarer creatures. For example, if you own a horse on your property, and the horse damages the structure or features of your home, then your insurance contract may not legally need to compensate you for repairs and costs associated with the incident. Surprisingly, some larger breeds of dogs may also be excluded from coverage; check with your insurance provider if you’re concerned that your personal pets may be a potential risk to damaging elements of your home.
Neglect and Home Insurance
In addition to potential damages caused by certain types of animals, an insurance company generally will not cover damages caused by a home owner’s personal neglect. Personal neglect essentially means that a home owner did not engage in the necessary steps to ensure that their property was well maintained, up to date, and in proper condition. Damages often associated with personal neglect may include water damage caused by rusting / rotting pipes, dry rot caused from poor exterior / water related maintenance, flooding caused by improper care of pipes, and vermin infestations. Generally, insurance companies will not be willing to compensate a home owner for such issues and repairs, as home owners need to take responsibility for the maintenance of their own property.
