With the recent fire activity in California and other areas, we’ve been asked many times,
Does renters insurance cover wildfires? Is there a difference in how it’s treated as opposed to any other fire?
In many ways, this is actually less complicated than it sounds. Let’s find out why!
Does Renters Insurance Cover Wildfires?
This has been a terrible year for wildfires, which leads many people to wonder whether renters insurance covers wildfires. Are they treated any differently from other fires? Learn more with the renters insurance experts!
Does Renters Insurance Cover Wildfires?
Does Renters Insurance Cover Wildfires?
Yes, it’s that easy. Well, almost that easy. If the fire, smoke, or water used to control the wildfire directly causes a loss, that’s generally a covered loss for personal property. For the most part, fire is fire, and smoke is smoke. Covered perils are, well, covered. If you’re forced to leave your home because of an approaching wildfire, the property you leave behind is protected by your policy.
Loss of Use coverage is often forgotten about in a wildfire evacuation situation. If your home is not fit to live in because of the wildfire, loss of use would kick in. But, there’s an interesting provision that pertains directly to a wildfire evacuation situation:
If a civil authority prohibits you from use of the “residence premises” as a result of direct physical damage to neighboring premises caused by a Peril Insured Against under this policy, we cover resulting
1. Additional Living Expenses
2. Fair Rental Value as provided above for no more than two weeks.
Neighboring premises means a premises that is in sufficient proximity to the “residence premises” that there exists a reasonable risk that the peril affecting the neighboring premises could endanger either the “residence premises” or the safety
of its occupants while in the “residence premises”.
To break that down, if a civil authority forces you to evacuate because of a direct and nearby fire which logically puts your own home at risk, additional living expenses coverage may be available to you. This can vary based on the location of the fire relative to your home, but it’s certainly worth asking your carrier about if you find yourself in that situation. What is positively not covered under additional living expenses would be a voluntary evacuation from a wildfire without direction from a civil authority.
Does renters insurance cover wildfires? Absolutely. Personal property is covered against perils like fire and smoke, and additional living expenses coverage may be applicable as well. That’s all in the standard California renters insurance policy.
Effective Coverage works to meet the insurance needs of renters and has a staff of renters insurance experts available to help you with your policy. One phone call to (800) 892-4308 is all it takes to get the coverage your family deserves, or you can click above for free online renters insurance quotes.