April 4, 2025
- A homeowners insurance policy protects your residence against significant risks in three primary ways. Firstly, it offers basic coverage for the physical structure of your home against fire and specific perilities named in the policy. Secondly, it safeguards both the structure and the belongings within your home against both natural and manmade disasters. The third form of protection is against additional risks such as loss or damage during transit.
- What about the external structures surrounding the home, like the fence or garage? These are not included under the home’s structure or contents coverage. Nevertheless, many homeowners insurance policies include them under ‘Additional structures’, depending on the damage’s cause. Therefore, it is advisable to review the policy details regarding fence damage coverage. Here are some key points you should know about fence coverage within your homeowners insurance.
- Coverage for Additional Structure
- Additional structures refer to those outside or attached to the home but part of the property. These might include boundary walls, fences, main gates, garages, pools, or other similar structures. Additional structures are not included in the home insurance plan’s building coverage. If you desire coverage for these structures, you must allocate an extra insured sum for additional structure coverage in your policy.
- It is crucial to note that coverage is granted if the cause of damage or loss is detailed in the policy. Any damage due to reasons not specified will not be covered.
- Causes of Fence Damage Covered by Home Insurance
- Here are some of the most typical reasons for fence damage for which you can submit a homeowners insurance claim:
- Damage due to Tree Fall:
You are entitled to file a claim for damage caused by a tree falling under your homeowners insurance plan. Keep in mind that if the fallen tree was already compromised due to lack of maintenance, the insurance provider will deny the claim as it resulted from negligence and could have been avoided. If the fallen tree originates from a neighbor’s property, the insurance company will determine how the tree fell. If it fell due to the neighbor’s failure to maintain it, your claim will be recovered through the neighbor’s insurance. - Storms:
Additional structure coverage also includes damage to fences resulting from windstorms, hailstorms, or lightning. Such damage is covered up to your policy’s coverage limit. However, if you’re in an area susceptible to storms or cyclones, your insurer might not cover these damages. - Vandalism:
Acts of vandalism are also incorporated within additional structure coverage. Any intentional human actions aimed at causing damage fall under this additional coverage. - If a Car Crashes into your fence:
If a vehicle collides with your fence, it leads to significant destruction. In this situation, you can either submit a claim through your homeowners insurance policy or through the driver’s property liability coverage. If neither your homeowners insurance nor the driver’s liability coverage fully compensates for the damage, you can submit a claim under both to cover the entire expense of repairing the fence. If you run your vehicle into your own fence, you are unable to file a claim.
Causes of Fence Damage Not Covered by Home Insurance - Wear and Tear:
No home insurance will cover any wear and tear of any section of your residence. It is your obligation to regularly maintain your home to prevent any damage entirely. Even if you file a claim for damage resulting from circumstances that are eligible for coverage under your policy, your claim may be rejected due to lack of maintenance. If your insurer determines that your fence was not in good condition and was ruined by a storm, your claim may be declined. - Termites:
In India, termites or any type of pest infestations are quite prevalent but are not included in home insurance coverage. Termites inflict considerable damage, especially to the woodwork in your home, which can be costly since you’ll need to invest in eliminating a termite infestation as well as the repair work. Home insurance providers view it as a maintenance concern and therefore do not offer any protection for termite infestations. - Torrential Rain:
Any destruction caused by severe and persistent rain is exempt from insurance coverage. This is again categorized as a maintenance concern since a sound and well-maintained structure should not collapse from heavy rainfall.
Raising a Claim for Fence Damage
As soon as you observe damage to your fence, here are the steps to submit a claim:
● Collect evidence, take photographs, or utilize CCTV recordings if you have a CCTV camera installed on your premises. If the damage results from a vehicle accident or vandalism, you must report it to the police and obtain a copy of the FIR.
● Contact the contractor to assess the damage and estimate the repair costs.
● Reach out to your insurer and furnish them with evidence, a copy of the FIR if necessary, and the repair estimate.
● The insurer will appoint a surveyor to evaluate the damage.
● Once your claim is confirmed and approved, you will receive the reimbursement. If it does not cover the full repair cost, you can negotiate.
Conclusion
When you buy homeowners insurance, always look for coverage for additional structures if there are extra structures on your property. Fixing or replacing these structures after they are damaged can be costly. Having them included in your home insurance policy will help you save a significant amount of money. Additionally, review the types of damages covered in your policy, as any damage not listed will not be included. If you possess valuable structures, inquire with your insurer about options for increasing the coverage.
Disclaimer:
The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. For further details, please consult the policy wordings and prospectus prior to finalizing the sale.
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