Unpredictable weather can wreak havoc and cause irreparable damage to many areas of the province. This can be stressful for homeowners as they go and check out their property after a storm rolls through. One such incident can be fallen trees.
If you have a tree fall on your house, is it covered by your home insurance? There are many factors that come into play such as what caused the tree to fall on your house.
Basically, the extent of the coverage depends on whether the fallen tree was caused by weather or neglect by the homeowner. Insurance companies expect proper maintenance to routinely be done, such as removing dead or rotting trees before they cause damage.
A typical home insurance policy will likely cover you if a healthy tree falls due to weather and damages your property. But, you should consider whether it is worth making the claim. Weigh the pros and cons: the cost to repair the damages vs the cost of your deductible. And don’t forget your rate may increase after making a claim.
Steps to take if a tree falls on your house
Here are a few things to consider if a tree has fallen on your home:
Safety first: evacuate everyone living in the home. Depending on the tree’s size, it can damage or weaken the structural integrity of your home and risk the potential for collapsing. Pack what you need in case you are out longer than expected.
Call for help: Call your local emergency services to inform them of what happened. They can deal with the dangerous situation, do not try to do anything by yourself and risk being injured.
Call your insurance company: Make a call to your insurance company as soon as you can to let them know about the incident. Documenting the damage such as taking pictures would help to show the insurance company if necessary. Only do this if it is safe to do so.
Contact a roofer: Start to contact contractors to get quotes on repairs that need to be done and see what the extent of the damage is. It’s good to know all the information if you need to file a claim. *note sometimes the insurance company will need to send their own contractors so always best to speak with your insurance company on the process.
What if a tree on my property falls on my neighbour’s house?
You will be responsible for the damages if a neglected tree falls on a neighbour’s home or property. On the other hand, if the tree isn’t neglected in any way, shape or form, you will not be responsible for the damages. In contrast, your neighbour will need to file a home insurance claim.
Who has to pay for the fallen tree on your neighbour’s property?
If your tree falls on your neighbour’s property and lands in an empty space in their yard, causing no damage then you don’t have to do anything. But you may be a nice neighbour and offer to split the cost of having it removed.
An insurance provider might be willing to help pay for the costs of the removal, especially if it creates other risks by not being cleaned up, such as blocking the driveway. They could typically help with up to $500 to $1,000, depending on your policy.
What if the neighbour’s tree fell on my house?
If the neighbour’s tree fell on your house, your insurance may cover the damages if it is proven to be caused by a weather-related incident like windstorms, lightning, hail, ice, or snow.
However, if they determine the tree fell due to neglect (rotting, or if it’s dead) your insurance may not help you. You may be able to file a liability claim on their home insurance, which covers third-party events like falling trees.
Who is responsible for cutting overhanging tree branches?
If your neighbour’s tree branches are infringing on your property, you have the right to prune said branches. While pruning the tree limbs, ensure that you don’t physically remove any parts of the tree on your neighbour’s property.
You can remove the tree branches yourself or hire a professional arborist to take care of the task for you.
Here is some helpful information if you think your neighbour’s trees might be damaging your property and the steps you can take to resolve the issue.
Does homeowner’s insurance cover removal of tree debris?
It depends. If the tree damaged your home, a homeowners insurance policy may help cover the cost of repairing your house as well as removing the fallen tree branches. If the tree fell without causing any damage to an insured structure on your property then the debris will most likely not be covered for removal.
Does homeowner’s insurance cover car damage from a tree?
No, your homeowner’s insurance typically will not cover damage if a tree falls on your car, for that you’d have to file a car insurance claim. You’ll be able to file one if you have comprehensive coverage, which typically helps to repair damage caused by falling objects.
How to avoid a tree falling on your home
As mentioned earlier, conducting regular maintenance on your property can reduce the risk of it happening to you. Here are a few preventive measures you can take:
- Cut off dead, cracked or decaying branches before they become a problem.
- Prune branches from your neighbour’s trees that extend over the property line.
- Look for warning signs such as a leaning trunk, cracks at the base or broken limbs. Small things may be more of a problem than you think.
- Hire a professional. You can get great advice from an arborist about dying or dangerous trees on your property.
- Communicate with your neighbours if you’re concerned about the health of their trees that may overhang onto your property.
Home insurance is meant to help when unexpected or unpredictable events occur such as fires and floods. It is not a replacement for home maintenance – so, if a tree falls on your property but doesn’t cause any damage, it is up to you to remove it. This is also the same for dead trees or large branches.
If you file a claim, your home insurance provider can make a case and investigate whether the incident was caused by neglect or other events that were out of your control.
All this can be quite overwhelming, especially if it just happened and you are dealing with all the cleanup and damage. If you are ever unsure, you can always talk to your insurance advisor for any questions or concerns.
Here is a full guide on home insurance coverage and what is and isn’t covered in these common home insurance coverages.
