Mold Damage and Rental Insurance: What’s Covered?

5/29/2019 (Permalink)

Mold found in a Westchester, IL home

If you have found mold in an apartment or home you are renting in Westchester, IL, it is possible that mold has spread to your personal belongings and caused damage. While the costs of hiring a mold remediation specialist to address the mold issue and making repairs to prevent mold growth is most often your landlord’s obligation, you likely will be responsible for repairing or replacing your affected belongings. If you have a rental insurance policy, there are several situations where you might be covered.

When Will Renters Insurance Cover Mold Damage?

In general, costs associated with mold removal and remediation that you are liable for will be covered by rental insurance if the mold damage is caused by a covered peril. Some common covered perils include:

• Fire and lightning
  
• Falling objects
  
• Damage caused by plumbing, heating, or air conditioning freezing or overflow
  
• Freezing pipes
  
• Damage from the weight of ice, snow, or sleet
  
  

Who Is Liable for Mold Problems?

It is important to remember that both tenants and landlords have a part to play in keeping a rental free from mold. As a renter, it is your responsibility to keep the property clean and do what you can to prevent mold from growing. You are required to tell the landlord about issues that can cause mold growth, such as a leak or malfunctioning HVAC system. You also need to alert them of any mold you find in the home immediately. It is the landlord’s responsibility to quickly make repairs and address mold issues right away to prevent damage, but they are not responsible for replacing your damaged belongings.

The damage mold causes can be very costly to address. While finding mold in a home you are renting can be very stressful, it is important to remember that your rental insurance policy will cover any of your affected belongings if they are the result of a covered peril.