Is Garden Fencing Covered By Home Insurance?

​Depending on the cause of the damage, your homeowners' insurance may cover the expenses of repairing your fence. Your house insurance policy's "other structures" coverage may cover damage to your fence caused by storms and vandalism, but not dents from a lawnmower or poor landscaping.

Typical Ways Fences Get Damaged
Fences are commonly damaged in the following ways, weather, accidents, vandalism, and normal wear and tear. Here are a few examples:

• A fire on your property or the property of a neighbor
• Stormy weather, which may include hail or lightning storms
• Rotting wood, termite damage, corrosion, and general wear and tear (which is not covered by homeowners insurance)
• Vandalism

What is Not Covered by Home Insurance?
Your homeowners' insurance may cover fence damage based on how it occurred, up to the limits of your policy. Fence damage caused by a flood or earthquake, for example, is not covered because these disasters are excluded from regular coverage.

Mold, fungus, termite infestations, landscaping mistakes, and natural wear and tear on your fence are also not covered by ordinary house insurance. If your house isn't protected against a certain threat, neither is your fence.

Which Fence Damage is Covered by Home Insurance?
If your fence gets damaged, here are the situations for which you may file a claim:

Your tree has fallen onto your fence
Your house insurance may cover the damage if a healthy tree on your property falls onto your fence. If the tree was already compromised due to neglect or lack of upkeep, your insurance provider might refuse to pay for the damage. 

Insurance companies may normally cover accidents, and a weakened tree would be considered a predictable and avoidable hazard. So, it makes it critical to monitor the health of trees on and around your property.

If a Neighbor's Tree Falls on Your Fence
If a tree on your neighbor's property – or part of its branches - falls on your fence and destroys it, your insurance company may hold them liable for the damage caused by their carelessness.

If your neighbor's tree or limbs fall and damage your fence due to a storm, high winds, heavy rain, or snow, your fence is most likely covered by your homeowners' insurance policy.

If Your Tree Breaks Through Your Neighbor's Fence
In cases where your tree falls into your neighbor's fence and causes damage, your neighbor's insurance policy may cover it.

Storms or Vandalism Damage Your Fence
If a storm's wind knocks down or damages your fence, your homeowners' insurance policy may cover the damage up to your coverage limits. Your homeowners' insurance may also cover your fence if vandalized.

Someone's Automobile Collides With Your Fence
Your home insurance may cover the damages if someone drives into your fence. However, by submitting a claim against the driver's automobile liability insurance, you may be able to avoid filing a claim against your house insurance. 

Property liability coverage is needed in all states and typically covers at least $10,000 in damage.

Takeaway
You can't always be certain that a component of your home that you don't regularly notice is secure from damage. As a result, it is advisable to regularly review your homeowner insurance coverage to ensure that all aspects of your property are covered in a disaster.

At AllRisk Auto Insurance, we do our best to make sure that our clients are well-protected with affordable and comprehensive policies. We make sure to go the extra mile to help you with your needs. To learn more about how we can help you, please contact our agency at (360) 693-4044 or Click Here to request a free quote. Any coverage discussed is not guaranteed. Please contact us today to go over your policy to ensure your needs are met! We are here and happy to help.