Does Renters Insurance Cover Mold?

Typically, renters insurance covers mold damages to your belongings under your policy’s personal property coverage.

Personal property coverage is a standard part of renters insurance that protects the furniture, electronics, clothing and other personal possessions in your rented dwelling. This coverage helps pay to repair or replace your personal effects if they get damaged under a covered peril, such as mold.

MoneyGeek broke down instances when mold damage is and is not covered by renters insurance.

The personal property coverage in your renters insurance usually covers mold damage to your belongings when caused by water damage from plumbing or air conditioning overflow. Some examples include:

Mold damage to your possessions is covered by your renters insurance if a covered peri causes it. However, mold damage to the dwelling’s structure is your landlord’s responsibility — they should deal with mold on your apartment’s walls, roof or pipes. If your landlord’s neglect is the cause of the mold, damages to your belongings may not be covered by your renters insurance.

Renters insurance does not cover mold if your negligence caused the damage. For example, if water spills in your closet and you leave it for several weeks until it creates mold, your renters insurance won’t cover damages to your clothes or furniture.

Additionally, you won’t be compensated if the mold is the result of an external flood, such as those caused by storm surges, heavy rains or sewer overflow. You’ll need separate insurance policies and endorsements to cover such perils.

Lastly, renters insurance only extends to your personal property. It doesn’t cover your dwelling’s walls, floors, roof and overall house structure.

It’s reassuring to know that your renters insurance policy protects your belongings from mold. However, it’s better and cheaper to prevent a mold infestation from happening in the first place. Since mold grows in moist and warm areas, it’s good to ensure your plumbing system is leak-proof and your rooms are well-ventilated.

You can buy renters insurance from most major insurance companies. Likewise, smaller insurance providers, such as Lemonade and Toggle, can also fulfill your insurance needs.

MoneyGeek found that the average cost of renters insurance is $13 per month, but your rate can vary based on your personal property’s value. You can use our personal property calculator below to estimate how much coverage you’ll need.