Does Homeowners Insurance Cover a Tree Falling on a House?

Homeowners insurance provides financial protection for your property against unforeseen events. Understanding how your policy responds to a tree falling on your house is important for managing potential repairs and costs, especially given common concerns about trees during severe weather.

Standard Coverage for Tree Damage

Homeowners insurance typically covers damage when a tree falls on your house due to a “covered peril.” These perils often include windstorms, lightning strikes, the weight of snow or ice, fire, and vandalism. If a tree falls on your home because of such an event, your dwelling coverage generally pays for repairs to the structure itself. This protection extends to other structures on your property, like detached garages, sheds, or fences, often with a lower coverage limit (typically 10% of dwelling coverage).

Coverage also includes damage to personal property inside your home, such as furniture or electronics, affected by the fallen tree. Beyond direct damage, your policy may cover debris removal. This coverage often has a specific limit, commonly $500 to $1,000, or a percentage of the total loss. If damage makes your home uninhabitable, Additional Living Expenses (ALE) coverage (also known as loss of use) can reimburse increased costs like hotel stays, temporary rentals, and extra meal expenses during repairs. This coverage usually has a limit, often a percentage of your dwelling coverage (e.g., 20%).

Situations Not Typically Covered

While homeowners insurance offers broad protection, certain tree damage scenarios are typically excluded from standard policies. Damage caused by neglect or poor maintenance of a tree, such as one that was dead, diseased, or clearly unstable before it fell, is generally not covered. Insurers expect homeowners to perform routine maintenance to prevent foreseeable damage.

Furthermore, standard homeowners policies do not cover damage resulting from floods or earthquakes. These events require separate insurance policies, such as flood insurance (e.g., through NFIP) or specific earthquake insurance. Even when damage is covered, homeowners are responsible for their deductible, the out-of-pocket amount paid before coverage begins. The deductible amount is chosen when the policy is purchased and applies to each covered claim.

Damage from a Neighbor’s Tree

When a neighbor’s tree falls on your house, your homeowners insurance policy generally covers the damage. This holds true if the tree fell due to a covered peril like a storm, regardless of whose property the tree originated from. Your policy would pay for repairs to your dwelling, other structures, and personal property, subject to your deductible. After paying your claim, your insurance company might pursue reimbursement from your neighbor’s insurer through a process called subrogation, especially if negligence is involved.

Your neighbor’s insurance would only be involved if you can prove they were negligent in maintaining the tree. Proof of negligence includes evidence the neighbor knew the tree was dead, diseased, or hazardous and failed to take reasonable action to remove it. This might involve documenting visible signs of decay, prior communications with your neighbor about the tree’s condition, or even an arborist’s opinion. If your tree falls on a neighbor’s property due to a covered peril, their policy typically covers their damages unless you were proven negligent.

Filing a Claim

After a tree falls on your house, prioritize safety by ensuring everyone is secure and checking for downed power lines or gas leaks. If necessary, shut off utilities and make temporary repairs (e.g., covering broken windows or tarping a damaged roof) to prevent further issues. Document all damage thoroughly by taking numerous photos and videos from various angles. Detailed notes about the incident, including dates and times, should also be kept.

Contact your insurance company promptly to report damage and initiate the claim process. Provide them with all the documentation you have gathered. An insurance adjuster will likely visit to assess damage; be prepared to show them all affected areas. Obtain multiple repair estimates from reputable contractors to submit to your insurer. Maintain thorough records of all communications with your insurer, receipts for temporary repairs, and any additional living expenses incurred.