Renter’s Insurance Covers Mold in Common-Sense Situations

9/11/2018 (Permalink)

Moldy wall damage

Defense against mold in a multiple dwelling is a team effort. It’s you, your fellow tenants and your landlord vs. the mold. Your role is to make mold unwelcome in your living space. Rental insurance is your partner but there are some simple but important rules to remember.

1. If You See Mold and Plan to File a Claim, Contact Your Agent Immediately

Relatively speaking, mold damage starts small and gets worse in slow motion. If you deal with a mold problem right away, it’s probably an easy cleanup. If you are slow to file a claim, the mold will continue to grow, and the delay will increase the risk of having the insurance company deny it. Their position will be that any increase in damage from the time that you first observed it to the time you filed the claim is your responsibility. (Hint: When you file the claim, take pictures of the mold so that the adjuster can see the extent of the damage at the time you reported it.)

2. Mold Cleanup Is Covered If the Original Water Damage Was Covered

If your space has experienced water damage, and if the repair of water damage was covered by your rental insurance, then any mold that grows because of the residual moisture is also covered. This, of course, assumes that you report it to the insurance company right away.

3. Some Mold Cleanup Is Not Covered

Not all rental policies are alike. Your agent can help you understand under what circumstances mold removal is and is not covered. One example of mold damage probably not covered is mold that results from flooding. Another is mold that appears in bathrooms and other areas that are inherently moist.

Mold Cleanup Needs to Happen Quickly

It should be removed quickly and completely, and your rental insurance is there to help. Local mold removal specialists are available in Ft. Myers, FL, to do the work and get it right the first time.

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