Does Renters Insurance Cover Bed Bugs?

Do you have renters insurance, but your residence is infested with pests like bed bugs? Would you like to know if your insurance can help you with bed bugs? Then keep reading through this article. Many people specifically ask, “Does renters insurance cover bed bugs”? Well, you are about to find out if it does.

In the meantime, renters insurance is a quote that helps you cover some natural disasters, theft, water backup damage, bodily injuries, and more. So, if you have a home, dorm, or apartment, you can get a renters insurance policy to protect your belongings and space in case of an unexpected event like an accident.

However, if you rent a home and you discover it is invaded by bed bugs, it is ideal to get rid of them. Besides, exterminating and getting rid of bed bugs costs around $300 to $5,000. But this depends on the severity of the infestation and the size of your home. Nonetheless, you might be unable to cover the entire cost.

Does Renters Insurance Cover Bed Bugs?

Renters insurance does not cover bed bugs. This is because renters insurance is not designed to cover pest invasion. They can only cover unexpected or sudden disasters like hurricanes or fires. But if your home is infested with mice, bedbugs, and other pests, this is considered home maintenance, and it is not a coverage option in most quotes.

Thus, the only expense your policy will not cover is extermination. For instance, an infested mattress will not be replaced by renters insurance, and if you want to stay elsewhere, your renters insurance will not cover your hotel bills.

Nevertheless, there are still some helpful options. Bedbug power-up is part of the renter’s insurance by Jetty. For this coverage, you will have to pay $300 for the cost of exterminating these bedbugs. On the other hand, this policy can only be accessed by people residing in the company’s partner properties.

But you can ask your landlord if this is a choice. Additionally, some ePremium and eRenterPlan policies have bedbug remediation coverage. However, this depends on where you live.

What Does Renters Insurance Cover?

Renter’s insurance provides different coverage options. Many people are still confused about the coverage options they provide. This is why I would like to show you what renters insurance covers:

• Personal liability coverage.
• Additional living expenses.
• Personal property coverage
• Medical payment coverage.
• Water backup.
• Debris removal.
• Temporary repairs.

And many more, but it all depends on the insurance company you are using and what services and policies they offer.

Worst Cities for Bed Bugs

Here are some of the worst cities for bedbugs in the United States:

• Indianapolis.
• Denver.
• Chicago.
• New York.
• Raleigh, North Carolina.
• Cincinnati.
• Pittsburgh.
• Columbus, Ohio.
• Baltimore.
• Charlotte, North Carolina.
• Philadelphia.
• Charleston, West Virginia.
• Atlanta.
• Cleveland, Ohio.
• Detroit.
• Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• Dallas-Ft. Worth.
• Washington, D.C.
• Los Angeles.
• Champaign, Illinois.

Is My Landlord Responsible for Getting Rid of Bedbugs?

If you are residing in a multi-unit building, in most cases, it is your landlord’s responsibility to help get rid of bedbugs. However, it depends on the severity of the infestation and your location. But, you can check your lease to find out who is supposed to be responsible for it.

In states like New York City, Florida, and Maine, it is the responsibility of the landlord to eradicate bedbugs if they are found in the apartments of his or her tenants. Hence, if you find out that on your lease your landlord will be responsible for eradicating bedbugs if found in your apartment, then you have the right to let him know.

How To Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Since you have figured out that your renter’s insurance does not cover bedbugs, here are some tips that you can follow if you would like to get rid of bedbugs at home:

• Ensure that your bedding is not touching the floor, and move your bed away from the wall.
• To prevent bed bugs from hitchhiking, vacuum.
• Inspect secondhand furniture like couches and beds for signs of infestation before purchasing or bringing them home.
• When traveling, use the luggage racks to keep your bags off the floor, and check the bedding for signs of bedbugs. When you return home, check your luggage and do not keep it under your bed.
• Install crevices, Door sweeps, and seal any cracks around light sockets and baseboards if you reside in a multi-unit home.
• If you using a shared laundry facility, move your items into plastic bags, and when you remove the clothes from the dryer, put them directly into the bag. But if you have an active infestation, use a new bag.

If you are not able to manage the infestation alone, get in touch with a pest management professional to help exterminate them.