Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage from Rain?

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Water Damage from Rain?

Many people wonder if homeowner’s insurance covers water damage from rain. The answer is complicated. Homeowner’s insurance does not cover flood damage. To cover flood damage, you need a dedicated flood insurance policy.

If there is water damage from rain, your insurance may cover it. If the water comes in from the top down, then the damage is probably covered. However, if the rain only enters the house through flooding, then even if a rainstorm causes the damage, insurance will not cover it.

Plus, you must keep the water from entering your home. If you know that you have a hole in the roof and fail to remedy it, letting water into your home, insurance will not cover it. However, if storm damage leads to a hole in your roof and there is rain and water damage because of that storm damage, then insurance should cover it.

Standard policies cover water damage from rain if it enters your home because of a covered peril. Generally, the damage must be sudden and accidental. The policy will not cover gradual damage. It will not cover flood water coming into the house from the street or ground level, but if there is a flood in the house as a result of rainwater entering from the roof, it should be covered.

Sometimes, rain enters the house because of high wind-driven rains. Whether that water damage is covered will depend on whether the policy covers high winds or tornadoes. The same is true for roof collapses or other damage from ice dams, which can let in rainwater.

Policies may also cover damage related to rain, like mold, but just like the initial rain damage, it will depend on what event led to it and whether you remedied that problem in time to prevent further damage.

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