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Q: I recently moved into my first apartment and my friends warned me to watch out for bed bugs. They told me that getting rid of bed bugs can be a hassle and the cost of getting rid of them can add up quickly. I have home insurance but I’m not clear what it covers. Does home insurance cover bed bugs?
A: The answer to your question, “Does home insurance cover bed bugs?” is generally no. Both renters’ and homeowners’ insurance companies consider bed bugs a preventable problem through basic hygiene practices, such as: Examples include using a protective bed bug cover on mattresses, checking used furniture, and regularly vacuuming and decluttering. However, there are instances where your landlord might be required by law to take care of a bed bug situation. Read on to learn if renters insurance covers bed bugs under all circumstances and what types of additional coverage you can purchase that may help.
Renters insurance generally does not cover bed bugs as they are considered preventable.
Basic rental and home insurance provides coverage for specific incidents, also known as perils. Insurance covers certain types of damage, including theft, storm and hail, fire and smoke, vandalism, falling objects and burst pipes. For example, if a tree falls onto the roof of a house during a storm, damaging the roof and contents of the house, that would be a covered incident. If a house caught fire from a lightning strike, that would also be covered by home insurance. However, if the home’s roof is old and improperly maintained and a storm has damaged the shingles, the insurer may deny a claim because the homeowner neglected the roof and made it more vulnerable to damage during a storm.
Like a neglected roof, bed bug infestations are generally considered preventable by most insurers and are typically not covered. There are many ways to prevent bed bugs, which you can read more about below. Just for starters, the best way to prevent bed bugs is to be careful when choosing where to stay while on vacation. Check with the hotel chain if they have had bed bug problems in the past.
In certain circumstances, landlords may have to pay for bed bug control.
How much does it cost to get rid of bed bugs or how much does it cost to treat bed bugs? And how much does a bed bug exterminator cost? The cost of getting rid of bed bugs can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. The good news is that some state laws require the landlord to cover the cost of cleaning up bed bugs and possibly repairing or replacing damaged items. Considering the cost of the bed bug killer, that can be a relief. For example, according to the EPA, Arizona state law prohibits a landlord from knowingly renting an apartment with a bed bug infestation and also requires the landlord to provide bed bug educational materials to the tenants. This means that if an infestation is found on a unit, it is in the landlord’s best interest to take care of its destruction.
Similarly, Florida state law requires landlords to take all reasonable steps to destroy bed bugs found in their rental property. And New Hampshire prohibits a landlord from renting a unit if there is a bed bug infestation and they don’t conduct regular inspections and don’t implement a remediation program. Many other states have similar laws that make landlords responsible for keeping bed bugs off the premises and oblige them to take preventive measures. Landlords may also be required to perform bed bug control if bed bugs were present before the tenant moved in or if bed bugs were found in a common area.
Renters can check their state laws and rental agreement to see what their rights are regarding bed bugs. If the landlord is responsible for cleaning up, this can go a long way in protecting against bed bugs, either as prevention or as treatment when an infestation is present. Otherwise, renters can hire one of the top pest control companies to take care of bed bug extermination.
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The best defense against bed bugs is prevention.
While some state laws hold landlords accountable for helping tenants who are dealing with a bed bug infestation, this is still a highly undesirable situation. Going through the extermination process can mean finding temporary housing, and an infestation can result in damage to irreplaceable items, like an heirloom quilt. Not to mention, bed bugs can cause that telltale itch that can lead to infection and add medical bills to the overall cost of the infestation. Therefore, renters should take preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of bed bug infestations in the first place.
Prevention doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. The EPA offers some simple tips to keep bed bugs out of people’s lives, including investing in protective bed bug covers for mattresses, checking used furniture, and vacuuming regularly. In addition to purchasing a mattress cover, renters may also want to purchase a box spring bed bug cover for even more protection against bed bugs. The cover should be free of tears, cover the entire mattress and be closed with a zipper and reinforced stitching to prevent bed bugs from sneaking through.
A cluttered home can provide bed bugs with a hiding place and even attract them. To reduce bed bug hiding spots, renters can commit to reducing clutter in their home and vacuuming regularly. If renters use shared washrooms, they can transport their laundry to and from the laundry room in a plastic bag and then fold the clothes at home instead of putting them on a communal table, which can harbor bed bugs. Portable heating chambers can also help treat bed bugs if renters are concerned that an item might be contaminated.
Although bed bugs are not usually covered by renters insurance, renters insurance is usually recommended for all renters, even if the landlord does not require it.
Does home insurance cover bed bugs? Usually not, but it usually covers a number of other hazards that make it an important consideration for renters. Landlords are generally required to have insurance that covers damage to the building itself due to covered perils, but renter’s personal property is not covered by this insurance. This is where pension insurance comes into play. Annuity insurance covers personal property damaged or destroyed by an insured peril, such as fire or theft. It also typically provides the tenant with liability insurance, which can protect them if a guest is injured on their property, and loss of occupancy insurance, which can help pay for lodging and other costs if the tenant is forced to move out while on the dwelling or house is being repaired.
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Renter insurance policies vary from provider to provider, but generally cover perils such as storms, lightning, fire, smoke, vandalism, explosion, theft, and some types of water damage. Each policy lists the hazards it specifically covers, so it is important that renters read the policy carefully to understand what is and is not covered. If a renter’s property is damaged by an insured peril, the policy will pay either the actual cash value (the depreciation of the item or items) or the cost of replacing the items at current prices after the excess has been met. Liability coverage can occur if the renter, a member of the renter’s household, or a pet accidentally or negligently causes damage to someone else or their property.
