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Renters Insurance Does Renters Insurance Cover Bed Bugs?

Does Renters Insurance Cover Bed Bugs?

No, renters insurance doesn’t cover bed bugs or other pests, except in rare cases. Read on for more info about bed bug infestations and whether you or your landlord is responsible for them.

Robert Jellison Robert Jellison February 8, 2021 Get a Renters Insurance Quote
Bed next to lamp in the corner of the room

Table of Contents

  1. Does renters insurance cover bed bug infestations?
  2. Why doesn’t renters insurance cover bed bugs?
  3. How can I get bed bug insurance as a renter?
  4. Is my landlord responsible for bed bugs?
  5. Does renters insurance cover theft during fumigation?

Get cheap renters insurance quotes from insurers near you!

Does renters insurance cover bed bug infestations?

No, renters insurance doesn’t usually cover bed bugs or any other kind of infestation. There are rare exceptions — for example, Assurant and Jetty offer bed bug coverage in their renters insurance policies.

However, most policies exclude damage from animals that insurers classify as pests or vermin.

What is a pest?

Insects (and other arthropods like spiders and scorpions) are considered pests. So are rodents.

This means that, in addition to bed bugs, renters insurance also doesn’t cover:

  • Cockroaches
  • Termites
  • Silverfish
  • Mice
  • Rats
  • Moths
  • Fruit flies
  • Ants
  • Centipedes
  • Millipedes
  • Spiders
  • Scorpions

Your renters insurance provider won’t pay to replace items ruined by these animals or cover the cost of pest control. They also won’t cover your hotel stay if you have to leave your home for a few days while it’s being fumigated.

Why doesn’t renters insurance cover bed bugs?

Renters insurance doesn’t cover bed bugs because it’s meant to protect you from sudden and unavoidable perils like fires and tornadoes. According to insurers, bed bug infestations don’t qualify because they take months to develop and can be prevented at any time.

If that explanation sounds flimsy to you … well, you’re right. After all, most people have no idea they have a bed bug problem until it’s too late. Also, renters insurance covers mold, which takes just as long to grow, and almost never covers earthquakes, which happen very suddenly.

The real explanation is that insurance companies don’t cover bed bugs because they’re a very common peril and it wouldn’t be profitable for them to do so. It doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that.

How can I get bed bug insurance as a renter?

To get bed bug insurance, you need to find a provider that offers:

  • A bed bug rider that you can add to your renters insurance policy, or
  • A separate bed bug insurance plan

Unfortunately, finding either of those can be difficult.

Which providers offer bed bug coverage?

Jetty, a small insurance company, automatically includes a bed bug rider (which they call a “power up”) in their renters insurance policy. However, it only provides coverage up to $300.

Assurant also offers a bed bug rider in several states, but not all of them. You’ll need to call your local office for more details.

None of the other major insurers offer bed bug coverage of any kind, including:

  • Progressive
  • GEICO
  • Allstate
  • State Farm
  • USAA
  • Lemonade

Ultimately, you might not be able to find a provider that covers bed bugs, which means you need to be proactive about preventing infestations from happening at all. If your home does get infested, tell your landlord right away so that they can help you deal with the problem before it spreads to other units.

Is my landlord responsible for bed bugs?

Your landlord is probably responsible for dealing with your bed bug infestation unless you’re the one who brought them into the apartment.

If there’s evidence that the infestation predated your residency (for instance, if the previous tenants complained), or if there are bed bugs in multiple units or in common areas, that suggests that you didn’t cause the problem.

In that case, your landlord is probably obligated to get rid of them for you. However, this varies by state — check your local bed bug laws.

If you can prove that your landlord was at fault, they might also be liable for your ruined property. If you’re thinking about trying to collect damages, talk to an attorney.

If you’re responsible

In most states, if the evidence suggests that you caused the bed bug problem (e.g. if your unit is the only one that’s infested), you’re responsible for getting rid of them, which means hiring an exterminator. The exceptions are Maine and Florida, where landlords are always obligated to deal with bed bugs themselves.

Check your local bed bug laws

Several cities, including Philadelphia and New York City, also require landlords to deal with bed bug infestations. If you're not sure what the law is in your area, check with an attorney.

If you’re responsible for bed bug removal but can’t afford to hire an exterminator, don’t panic — there’s a good chance your landlord will help you work something out. After all, they don’t want bed bugs in their building any more than you do, and it’s in their best interests to deal with the problem before it spreads.

Does renters insurance cover theft during fumigation?

Yes, renters insurance will cover it if one of the exterminators steals something from your home during fumigation. Even though infestation isn’t a covered peril, theft is. Some good news at last!

Takeaways

  • Renters insurance doesn't cover bed bugs, cockroaches, termites, mice, or rats
  • Most insurers do not offer bed bug riders, although several smaller companies like Jetty offer limited coverage
  • If you brought bed bugs into your home, you're probably responsible for getting rid of them
  • On the other hand, if you can prove you weren’t at fault (or if you live in certain jurisdictions), your landlord might be obligated to pay for exterminating them

Related Questions

  • What is guest medical coverage in renters insurance?
  • What is a sub-limit in renters insurance?
  • Does renters insurance cover home-based businesses?
  • Does renters insurance cover gold or silver bullion?
  • What does "dependent in the care of" mean in renters insurance?
  • Does State Farm renters insurance cover hotel stays?

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