Will Homeowners Insurance Pay for Raccoon Damage?
Wrong! The property damage done be raccoons in the United States is, uh, unknown because the US government doesn’t keep records just on raccoons. But common sense says that the removal and repair of the damage raccoons cause on a yearly basis must be quite high. This is because many property insurance policies include something called a “vermin clause” and uses it to try to deny claims for this type of damage. However, until 2007, “vermin” wasn’t clearly defined, which turned out to be a good thing for homeowners.
All this was based on 2 lawsuits filed in 1984 and 1988 that ruled that insurance had to pay for this type of damage. That was great, until 2007 when the American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS) redrafted the language of the vermin clause to reads “an animal of a type that is prone to enter or burrow into or under a structure to seek food or shelter, including raccoons.” Wow! That is a blow to homeowners.
Raccoons can chew holes in roofs, or under the eaves, destruction of insulation and drywall, and HVAC systems; not to mention that their droppings can get into that HVAC system and cause major health problems for the proper occupants of the house. The health risks associated with raccoons can be everything from rabies to roundworms and parasites found in their poop. The good news is the chance of actually catching anything from them is very small. The bad news is that in order to clean up your attic, you need Hasmat gear.
To protect yourself from having a claim denied, read your policy thoroughly and find out what you are actually covered for and what is not covered. Some insurance companies do cover the damage, but some do not because the problem can be caused by poor home maintenance. In some cases, if you live in an area that is highly populated with raccoons, you may be able to get a rider to cover this. Read it carefully! Know what you are covered for; and keep your house in good repair. Raccoons are cute from a distance, but not when they move in uninvited.
If you need help, we service the entire USA! Click here for a wildlife removal specialist in your town!
Go back to the main How To Get Rid of Raccoon page for more information about Will Homeowners Insurance Pay for Raccoon Damage?. Will Homeowners Insurance Pay for Raccoon Damage?
