Renter’s Insurance and Mold – What You Should Know

1/31/2022 (Permalink)

Black mold growth in Hammond, WI.

Whether you rent or own, hearing that you have mold in your home can be especially stressful. If you’re in an apartment, one of the first things you may wonder is if your rental insurance will cover any damage and removal. This can be a tricky question depending on the policy. Here are a few pointers to help you know when to expect a policy to cover damage to your Hammond, WI apartment, and when you shouldn’t.

What Renter’s Insurance Covers

Many apartment buildings require tenants to carry renter’s insurance as a prerequisite for renting. It’s designed to protect the landlord but also the tenant by covering things like

• Clothing
  
• Furniture
  
• Electronics
  

It can also cover other personal belongings inside an apartment. That’s a broad concept, however, and it can be especially hard to maneuver when it comes to mold.

When Rental Policies Do Cover Mold
Rental insurance does cover damage from mold, but only if it’s the result of a situation that is already covered under the policy. For instance, if your policy covers burse pipes, and one leads to mold damage in your apartment, you should be covered. The same is true for fire, wind, etc. as long as it’s under your policy and is directly related to the mold.

When Rental Policies Don’t Cover Mold
An important exception to mold coverage is related to floods. Many times, renters need separate flood policies. If your policy doesn’t cover flood damage, and mold is a result of floodwaters, you won’t likely get coverage. Also, if mold is a result of your own negligence, you can’t tap into your policy.
Rental insurance can be a huge lifesaver, but only if it covers your particular crisis. Check with your insurance carrier to confirm coverage and call a mold removal specialist to get rid of the mold in your apartment as soon as you spot it.