Does Home Insurance Cover My Foundation?
Does Home Insurance Cover My Foundation?
Does Home Insurance Cover My Foundation?
Here’s what happens if your foundation needs repair:
- Your home insurance can cover damage caused by sudden, accidental events.
- These include falling objects, vehicles crashing in and other perils outside your control.
- Coverage for damage from floods — and, in some states, earthquakes — requires separate policies.
- Insurance does not cover wear and tear, like settling and cracking from age.
Question The house I’m about to buy was built over a hundred years ago. It looks great and passed inspection, but I know it’s going to need repairs at some point. If I ever have problems with the foundation, will my home insurance cover the repairs?
Many homeowners have questions about foundation coverage. Here’s Matt Mormile, a Farmers Insurance® agent in Mentor, Ohio, with the answers.
Answer Whether foundation repairs are covered depends on the source of the damage. Every part of your home, including the foundation, is subject to wear and tear over the years. Foundations can settle, develop cracks and lose their ability to seal out water. These problems might be inconvenient, but they come with the territory of home ownership. All homes require upkeep as time goes on. Home insurance isn’t designed to cover normal maintenance and repairs.
However, home insurance should cover damage to your foundation if it’s caused by a sudden, accidental event — like a massive tree falling on your home or a truck crashing into it. You can also get separate policies to cover damage caused by floods and earthquakes. These events are what we call “covered perils.” If your foundation falls prey to one of them, your insurance may provide coverage.
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