Understanding whether your homeowners’ insurance can cover your fences will help you manage your property more effectively. While your insurance is designed to protect you from financial hardship caused by structural damage to your home, basic coverage also includes other buildings on your property, such as fences.
However, the details of this coverage may vary based on the cause of the damage. This article will assist you navigate the subtleties of fence policy and understand the coverage that your insurance may give.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Fences
Generally, homeowners insurance can cover fences under your policy’s other structures coverage, as long as the fence is well-maintained and the damage is not caused by negligence. For example, if a well-maintained tree fell and destroyed your fence, your provider would very pay for the damage. However, if the tree that caused the damage was diseased or improperly maintained, your insurance provider may reject the claim.
Policies of Homeowners Insurance That Can Cover Fences
When evaluating your homeowners’ insurance coverage, it’s critical to comprehend how it could apply to buildings other than the primary living area of your house, like your fence. Below is a breakdown of the particularly relevant policy components:
Other structure coverage
This part of your insurance is intended to financially safeguard structures on your property that are separate from your house. Fences, sheds, and detached garages are common examples of this. For example, if your house is covered for $400,000, up to 10% of that amount (or $40,000 in this case) can be used for repairing and replacing additional buildings, such as fences, when the loss is caused by a covered peril.
Covered perils
It is important to understand which risks are covered by your insurance. Standard plans often cover losses due to fires, theft, and windstorms. However, insurance frequently excludes natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes unless supplemental coverage is acquired. As a result, your normal insurance is unlikely to cover your fence in these situations.
Named perils vs. open perils
Policies are frequently classed based on the sorts of risks they address. Named peril plans only cover losses caused by the occurrences stated in the policy, but open peril insurance can cover any type of damage until excluded. The two kinds of policy include a deductible, which means a specific amount will be withheld from your claims check that you must pay out of pocket.
By becoming familiar with these components of your home insurance policy, you will be able to better navigate your coverage and understand how it pertains to fence damage, ensuring that you are prepared to make a claim.
How Much Does Homeowners Insurance Cover for Fence Damage
Fences are often classified as other constructions and are insured for up to 10% of your home’s coverage limit. The majority of insurance providers attach depreciation to the amount they will pay for fixing or replacing a fence, and your deductible will be applied.
When Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Fences
Knowing the reason for your fence’s damage is critical in determining whether or not your insurance provider will cover you. Before we begin, if you own a condominium, your fence may not be considered part of your property. In that case, fixing fences would be the duty of your homeowners’ association. Here are some typical situations that homeowners may encounter:
- Damages by fire, windstorm, or vandalism
- Stolen parts while your fence was being constructed
- Neighbor’s trees collapse on your fence.
- Damages caused by your home collapsing
- Collide to your fence with your car
- Someone else hit your fence with his or her car.
When Does Homeowners Insurance Not Cover Fences
Let’s be completely honest with each other so that you are ready for any situations involving fences that your home insurance may not cover.
- Insects or vermin damage.
- Water and ice.
- Use of defective materials.
- Faulty strategy.
If your fence collapses over or has a large hole in it, you will need to take action as soon as possible. If your circumstances include the theft of building supplies for a fence that you plan to claim later, submit a police report right away.
How to File a Claim for Fence Damage
Before beginning any repairs or cleaning debris, homeowners who need to file a claim for fence damage should first photograph the damage. Additionally, send these photographs to your insurance provider. If the homeowner has any invoices for the cost of the fence, they should provide these as well.
Furthermore, while submitting a claim, follow the steps outlined by your provider. Most big insurance providers let you do this online. However, some carriers may require homeowners to call an agent to register a claim. If the insurance company has a local presence, residents may be able to get in-person help by going to a nearby facility.