At Kent A. Bennett Associates Inc., We’ll Do What We Can for Your Home
To wrap up 2022, Kent A. Bennett Associates Inc. is blogging about what homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover and why. In May, we explained how to understand the terms of your HOI (homeowner’s insurance.) While HOI pays for fire or vandalism repairs, it doesn’t cover destruction resulting from floods or earthquakes. If any government action—like eminent domain—affects your property, that can’t be claimed on HOI either. Neither can you file a HOI claim for expenses related to home maintenance.
Why Won’t HOI Pay for Repairs from Events like Floods or Earthquakes?
Doesn’t seem fair, does it? You pay for HOI, why wouldn’t it cover damage resulting from a flood or earthquake? The answer’s simple: earthquake and flood events require their own insurance policies. Losses and damage from floods and earthquakes tend to be correlated across policyholders.
In California, earthquakes are as common as snow in Minnesota … HOI doesn’t usually cover foreseeable problems like that. The only time HOI covers a flood is if it’s not from a natural disaster, but rather plumbing problems. Of course, if the plumbing problems were as a result of home maintenance, that’s not a HOI claim either.
HOI Doesn’t Cover Problems Related to Regular Home Maintenance
Like flood and earthquake insurance, you’ll need home maintenance insurance to cover issues related to maintaining your home. If any part of your home suffers damage from everyday use, that’s not a HOI claim. Appliances, furnaces, and the like don’t last forever—and HOI companies know this. Home maintenance insurance is commonly referred to as a home warranty. Issues in your home that qualify for a home maintenance insurance claim include repairs for:
- Air-conditioning units
- Ceiling fans
- Dishwashers
- Furnaces
- Microwaves
- Refrigerators
- Sinks, faucets and pipes
- Washers and dryers
- Washing machines
- And more
Losses Stemming from Government Action Aren’t Eligible for HOI Claims
If the government condemns your home or claims eminent domain, that’s government action. In either of those cases, your HOI policy won’t cover any repair or replacement costs. Government action also extends to local building ordinances or law requiring homeowners to bring homes up to code. Sorry to be blunt, but generally speaking, government action isn’t your HOI company’s problem. If the government action is authorities trying to prevent a fire from spreading, though, that’s considered an exception.
Call Kent A. Bennett Associates Inc. Inc at (800) 548-9119 to learn more about insurance. Feel free to like our Facebook for news and information about what homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover and why.
