Does your insurance cover against rats?

Rats can be a real headache in the home, and their ability to gnaw on wires, destroy insulation and spread diseases makes them more than just an annoying neighbor. If you suddenly find yourself in the middle of a rat invasion, you are probably thinking: “Does my insurance even cover the vandalism of these rats?”

In this blog post, we’ll take you through what your insurance typically covers when it comes to rat injuries, so you can have peace of mind (and in the house).

Are rats covered by your insurance?

The coverage of the insurance varies depending on the insurance company and the type of policy, but in general, there are some common features of insurance coverage for rat damage:

• Home Insurance / Building Insurance: Building insurance typically covers damage to the building itself, but damage caused by rats is often exempt. Insurance companies usually consider rat damage as a result of lack of maintenance, which is why they are not covered by standard policies.
• Home insurance: Home insurance usually covers damage to your personal belongings. But when the rats decide to take a bite out of your precious belongings, it’s a different matter. As with building insurance, damage caused by rats is rarely covered because the insurance companies believe that it could have been avoided.
• Rat control: This is where a potential lifesaver comes into the picture. Some insurance companies offer coverage for the cost of rat control as an additional cover. This can include expenses for professional pest controllers. It’s worth researching whether your policy offers this option and considering adding it to your current policy.
• Rat prevention: Many insurance companies offer to provide subsidies for the installation of a rat blocker, at the same time giving a discount on the insurance. Contact your insurance company for more details.

Who should pay if you have rats?

When it comes to paying for the control and repair of damage caused by rats, it often depends on the specific situation and the insurance policy:

• The owner of the property: If you own your home, you are usually responsible for paying for rat control and repairs of any damage. It’s important to read your insurance policy carefully to understand what’s covered and what isn’t.
• Tenants: If you rent your home, contact your landlord immediately if you notice rats. The starting point is that you as a tenant are only liable for the bill if you have acted irresponsibly and in this way directly contributed to the extent of the damage caused by the pests. Check your lease for specific details.
• Housing associations: In multi-storey buildings and housing associations, it can be the housing association’s responsibility to deal with rat problems, especially if the problem originates from common areas or the structure of the building. Contact the housing association to report the problem and get information about who has to pay.