Disaster Restoration: Does Your New York City Homeowners Insurance Cover It?

Mold is a pretty severe problem, and having mold growth in your home can lead to structural issues in your property and affect your health to a great extent. It is not worth living in the agony of having to deal with mold in your home. The minute you realize you have mold growth at home, it is best to contact a New York mold cleanup company and get the mold removed. In some cases, where the growth is severe, it would be best to restore that part of your home after mold removal to prevent further growth.

Mold removal involves cost. If you are a homeowner, you may wonder if your NYC homeowner's insurance covers disaster restoration, in this case, repair of your property damaged by mold. Many homeowners' insurance policies in New York may cover mold removal and restoration, but there may be many conditions involved. 

When Does An Insurance Policy Cover Mold Damage?

Many insurance policies cover disaster restoration because of mold only if a "covered peril" causes the mold. This means that the original cause of the mold should be covered in the policy. Water damage is an example of a covered peril. 

Insurance companies in NYC will cover mold removal and property restoration if the mold is caused due to a sudden problem like a burst pipe. This is because the pipe burst is the original cause for the insurance claim, not the mold itself. 

Where Disaster Insurance Falls Short

If the problem persisted for a long time or has developed over a period of time and you did not notice it, then your insurance company will likely not cover the damage. For instance, mold caused because of small leaks that can cause issues over a period of time, humidity issues, and similar causes will not be covered by the insurance policy. Insurance companies will also not cover mold caused by flooding. 

This is because insurance companies expect homeowners to regularly check their property and maintain it properly, including proper ventilation and periodically checking for leaks. 

Filing A Restoration Claim With Your New York Homeowners Insurance

Once you notice the damage caused by the mold in your property and decide to restore the entire area affected by it, one of the first things you should do is find out if you need New York City permits for emergency restoration.

Once you get that information, the next step would be to check your insurance policy and see if it covers the mold damage. This is important because many homeowners' insurance policies are limiting the coverage on mold. This means the insurance company can limit the amount that is paid for the disaster restoration or an increase in the premium for a mold-related coverage.

If your insurance policy does not cover the mold removal and disaster restoration, you will have to purchase an endorsement that covers mold damage as well.