Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Tree Removal?
Embracing the Beauty and Challenges of Trees
A stately, mature tree gracing the front yard adds character and charm to any home. Trees offer shade during scorching summers, attract melodious songbirds, and adorn landscapes with vibrant foliage each fall. They become enduring companions to the residence. However, there comes a time when tree removal becomes a necessity.
Whether a recent storm has rendered a tree precarious or its roots have started to intrude upon your foundation, the question arises: Will your homeowners insurance assist in covering the costs? Let’s delve into specific scenarios to find out.
Preventative Tree Removal: Not Usually Covered
Despite a tree’s precarious condition, homeowners insurance typically does not extend to covering the costs of preventative removal. Addressing leaning, decaying, or otherwise hazardous trees falls under your responsibility. Nevertheless, the expense associated with removing a potentially dangerous tree is a prudent investment.
It’s important to note that damages resulting from fallen trees, which were not removed due to homeowner negligence, might not be covered by your policy. This could lead to bearing the costs of damages, injuries, and legal expenses. If a tree on your property seems hazardous, taking proactive steps sooner rather than later can save you both money and future troubles.
Tree Removal After Storms: A Case-by-Case Basis
Storms can abruptly transform healthy trees into imminent hazards. Powerful storms may even thrust trees directly into your property. But when such an event occurs, does your homeowners insurance step in? Does it cover tree removal post-hurricane, microburst, or other natural disasters?
The answer hinges on where the tree landed or whether it was uprooted entirely. Since homeowners insurance typically excludes coverage for preventative tree removal, a tree damaged but not completely toppled by a storm may not be covered.1 It becomes your responsibility to remove such a tree before another storm or gravity completes its work. If the storm completely uproots the tree and it doesn’t damage or land on any property, its removal might not be covered either.
Yet, one might wonder how tree removal is incorporated into storm-related claims. For tree removal to qualify for coverage following a storm, the tree must have caused damage to a structure covered by your insurance. For instance, damage to your home’s roof or front porch might be covered in this scenario.
Additionally, your insurance could cover tree removal if the tree obstructs a driveway or handicap assistance ramp. However, if a tree poses no threat and is mere debris on your property, you’ll likely need to address its removal independently.
Removal of Damaged Trees: Coverage Varies
Despite the potential risks posed by damaged trees, your homeowners insurance might not cover removal if the tree hasn’t fallen and harmed your insured property. Furthermore, if your insurer concludes that the tree should have been removed earlier due to negligence on the part of the property owner, coverage might be denied in such instances.1 Proactive measures to eliminate or trim damaged trees before they evolve into serious hazards are advisable.
When reflecting on property-related concerns, consulting an insurance agent can provide clarity about your policy coverage. Some insurance companies offer additional coverage that covers trees, shrubs, and plants, offering protection against losses caused by fire, lightning, explosions, vandalism, theft, building collapse, and more. To learn more, contact an insurance agent.
The removal of damaged, diseased or potentially dangerous trees is an essential preventive measure. However, every homeowner should also have insurance coverage to protect against the unforeseen, such as damage to the trees in their residence. Get a free quote today to understand how homeowners insurance can offer comprehensive protection for both you and your home.