Will Renters Insurance In Chandler, AZ Cover Damage From A Leak?

We’re often asked if there’s coverage for a specific type of loss.  If the loss has occurred, claims can tell you more about that, but one of the most frequent questions we get is whether renters insurance in Chandler, AZ will cover damage from a leak.  Commonly, that leak is the result of a washing machine with valve problems at the wall or a poor connection, but it could also be a sink or bathtub.  Is damage from leaking water covered by Chandler, AZ Renters Insurance?

If a washing machine has a leak, will renters insurance in Chandler, AZ cover it?  Will the landlord’s homeowners policy cover it?  That’s an excellent question.

Renters insurance in Chandler is designed to cover certain types of losses.  Specifically, losses that are sudden and accidental and so large that a person could not reasonably handle them on their own.  A leak from a washing machine generally doesn’t fall into the latter category, and an ongoing leak is not sudden and accidental.  As the resident, you have a duty to be aware of the condition of the home and solve problems (or have the landlord solve problems) as they arise.  An ongoing leak that causes damage over a period of time is going to be excluded from coverage because you knew or should have known it was there and had the opportunity to mitigate the loss.  The same would apply to the landlord’s insurance.

Gushing water, of course is another story.  Burst pipes are a covered peril on your renters insurance in Chandler, and generally anywhere else as well.  You should, if you have access, shut off the water as soon as possible.  If you don’t have access, you should have the landlord shut off the water.  Water damage from a sudden and accidental breakage of a pipe would often be covered, as long as you kept the dwelling heated enough to prevent freezing.  In Chandler, that’s not generally a problem.

If there’s mold damage from a slow, ongoing leak, there’s not going to be coverage for that for the same reason the damage from the leak isn’t covered.  It’s not sudden and accidental.  Mold is excluded from the policy, and then a small amount of coverage for remediation is carved back with a standard endorsement that’s a part of just about every policy.  If you see mold, you should stop the source of water, if any, and immediately take steps to remove it.

If you have additional questions about coverage on your Chandler, AZ renters insurance, or if you need to get coverage, just call (800)892-4308 or click to get covered - whether you need Chandler renters insurance quotes online or coverage anywhere else!

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