The Truth About Squirrel Damage & Insurance

Squirrel damage ... It can be extensive, destructive, and terribly costly to resolve; but is it covered under your home insurance?

It's definitely an important question, and one that should be asked about any pest animal infestation. Certain animals, particularly rodents (rats and mice), are sometimes NOT covered by typical homeowner insurance policies. Luckily, squirrels aren't actually rodents, so whatever vermin clause might be stated in the small print will not apply to your problem. Well, unless you have rodents living with you too. 

For the majority of unexpected squirrel infestations, homeowners insurance would cover the damage. This is because it was:

1. a) unexpected
2. b) not your fault
3. c) one of those things that happens, but that's what you pay your insurance for

There will be cases where you might not be covered, however. These are usually for obvious reasons:

1. a) you knew the hole in the attic was there, but you didn't want to go up there and fix it, thus leaving the nuisance wildlife free to do pretty much whatever it wants
2. b) you didn't resolve the situation appropriately — using removal methods that don't work for 3 months, but refusing to try another approach
3. c) you actively encouraged the infestation and resulting damage

As the property owner, it will be YOUR responsibility to not only prevent but also remove any nuisance wildlife of pest control issues you may encounter. If you have tenants in that building, it is their responsibility to let you know if they encounter any problems. It is then your responsibility to get the removal and repair job done as quickly as possible. It is also down to the tenant to help keep the property wild animal-free too, including not leaving garbage bags hanging around which could then act as an attractant. 

The more regularly you inspect your building, the more prepared you will be for any potential problems. You will spot holes and patches of damage before they have the chance to get chewed wider, into a much larger entry point. When you take care of your building, maintaining it and inspecting it as you should, the chances of you having nuisance wildlife problems at all are greatly reduced. These measures will also help to ensure any damage or necessary work is then covered by your homeowners insurance. 

Ignoring the problem will not only prove much costlier — you may then need to pay out for the whole lot — but you will also find that the animal in question has more time to cause more damage still. 



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