Will Homeowners Insurance Cover Tree Removal?

Your homeowner’s insurance is there to provide you with some of the coverage you need to help protect your property. There are many things that will be covered under the policy, but when a tree falls, you may wonder whether the tree removal is going to be covered or what kind of coverage you will be able to get.

According to a local tree service in Sarasota (https://sarasotatreeremovalservice.com/), if you have a tree fall on your home or on another structure, like your garage or a shed, due to a covered event or a peril, then your insurance should cover the damage to the structure and the removal of the tree.

You may have to pay the amount of the deductible if this has not been reached yet. If the tree falls down and it is in an empty space, like the lawn, your insurance will not pay to remove the tree.

Understanding how your insurance works is going to be an important part in all of this. Let’s take a closer look at how much your homeowner’s insurance will cover and how to know whether the tree removal is something that you will need to pay or someone else.   

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Tree Removal?

Although your homeowner’s insurance is meant to cover storms, when a tree falls on your property due to storm damage, you may not be able to get the coverage that you want all the time. It will depend on the circumstances that are going on around the storm and where the three fell.

If the damage happens because of your own negligence, then the insurance is not going to cover the removal, no matter what happens during the storm. So, if the tree was rotting or aging or you should have removed it earlier as part of your normal maintenance, and it falls during the storm, then you are on your own for getting the removal done.

Then there is a chance that the tree will fall on your home or another structure that is on the property, like your garage or shed.

If this happens due to peril or a covered event under the policy, the insurance is going to cover damage to the home and it can help you remove the tree too. You will need to pay the amount of the deductible if you have not met this yet.

When the tree falls down on an empty space from the covered event, like in the law, the insurance will not cover tree removal. Depending on the insurance company you work with, they may be willing to pay for the cost of removing the felled tree if it ends up blocking a ramp to assist the handicapped or blocking your driveway. It will depend on where the tree falls and the situation around it.

Which Events are Covered Under the Insurance Policy?

The events that will be covered that push the tree down will depend on the policy that you have. Some of the insurance perils that will be covered under most standard policies include:

1. Theft
2. Vandalism
3. Smoke
4. Vehicles
5. Aircraft
6. Riots
7. Explosion
8. Hail or windstorm
9. Fire and lightning
10. Weight of ice, sleet, and snow
11. Volcanic eruption
12. Sudden and accidental damage that happens from short-circuiting
13. Freezing
14. Bulging, burning, cracking, and tearing that happens accidentally and suddenly
15. Accidental discharge or overflow of a stream or other water.

If the tree fell due to mudslides, landslides, floods, and earthquakes, they may not be covered unless you have a special rider on the policy. These are not going to be covered perils for your insurance policy and you may be on your own.

Will Insurance Replace Damaged Landscaping

If a storm or peril causes a tree to fall down and make damage to the landscaping of the home, then the insurance will help to cover the damage, but only to a certain amount. This is usually something that is limited to 5% of the amount of insurance on the structure of the house.

Most will also try to cap the coverage amount per plant, shrub, or tree. The exact amount that is covered will depend on the insurance carrier that you have. This means that it is best to talk to your agent when it comes to the limitations of your policy.

Understanding Your Insurance Policy

Each homeowner’s insurance policy is a little bit different and you need to take the time to read through it and fully understand what it says and what things are covered.

This is the best way to make sure that you are getting the right plan for your needs and that there are no surprises when big events happen. If you ever have a question about insurance, calling your insurance provider will be the best way to help you get these answered as soon as possible.