When does home insurance cover roof leaks?
Dwelling coverage on a standard homeowners insurance policy may pay out for costs to repair or replace your leaking roof. Your policy’s personal property coverage may pay to repair your personal items damaged by the leak, such as furniture and electronics. Perils that may cause a roof leak include a fallen tree and rain or snow damage.
Learn more about how homeowners insurance may cover ice dam damage, fire damage and damage to your home from a fallen tree.
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage from a leaking roof?
If your roof begins to leak, there's a high likelihood that other elements of your home could face water damage. If your roof leak was caused by a covered peril on your policy, then the cost to repair or replace things like furniture, floors, walls, roof and ceilings may be covered. Learn more about how home insurance covers water damage.
Does insurance cover roof leaks from snow and rain?
Homeowners insurance generally covers damage from a roof leak caused by snow and rain, up to your policy’s limits and minus your deductible.
When does home insurance not cover a leaking roof?
Homeowners insurance typically won't cover roof leaks that result from general wear and tear, damage caused by animals, and rot.
How to handle a leaking roof
Leaks can escalate from a minor issue to something more severe in a short window of time. Taking the following steps as soon as you notice a leak in your roof may help minimize the damage:
Document the damage: Take photos of the leak and any items that suffered water damage.
Temporarily mend the leak: Do what you can to prevent the leak from growing or causing additional damage to your home. This may be as simple as strategically placing buckets to catch water or something more hands-on like having the roof tarped.
Contact a roofer: Have a pro inspect the leak to ensure the problem won't intensify. If they advise you to do so, schedule to have the roof professionally repaired or replaced.
Learn more about how homeowners insurance covers roof damage and how roof type can affect insurance.
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Key takeaways
A homeowners insurance policy generally covers sudden, accidental roof leaks — not those due to age or wear and tear.
Your insurance company may not pay the full price of a roof replacement if you have actual cash value coverage for your roof.
If you need to file a claim for a roof leak, report the problem promptly and look for a reputable roofing contractor.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
If a roof leak has you breaking out the buckets, it may be time to file a homeowners insurance claim. But whether the leak will be covered depends on what caused it in the first place. Here’s what you need to know.
Does homeowners insurance cover roof leaks?
Homeowners insurance typically covers roof leaks if they’re caused by a sudden, accidental event such as a storm or fallen tree. Your policy likely won’t pay for a leak that develops because your roof is old or poorly maintained.
Here are a few scenarios in which roof leaks or other damage would likely be covered:
An electrical short causes a fire in your attic, damaging part of the roof.
A blizzard knocks a tree onto your roof.
Massive hailstones puncture a few shingles.
Strong winds blow shingles off the edge of your roof. (Note: While most standard home insurance policies cover wind and hail damage, homeowners in some coastal areas may need to purchase separate wind coverage. Check with your agent to make sure.)
In addition to the roof itself, your policy may cover related damage to other parts of your home. For example, if a covered roof leak ruined a dresser and part of the floor in an upstairs bedroom, your insurer would typically pay for repairs.
Keep in mind that your insurer will subtract your deductible from any payout. A deductible is the amount of a claim you’re responsible for.
The roof falls under your home insurance policy’s dwelling coverage, which pays for damage to the structure of your home. In most homeowners policies, your dwelling is covered on an “open perils” basis. This means your roof is covered for any cause of damage that isn’t specifically excluded in your policy.
Here are some scenarios that many home insurance policies exclude:
Earthquakes. (You may want to buy separate earthquake insurance if you live in a high-risk area.)
Other earth movement, including landslides, mudslides or sinkholes.
Damage from animals, birds or bugs.
Fungus.
Neglect or intentional damage.
Wear and tear.
Faulty workmanship or materials.
Does homeowners insurance cover a roof replacement?
While many leaks can be addressed with minor repairs, severe damage might require a whole new roof. Whether your insurance company will cover a roof replacement depends on the age of your current roof and the type of coverage you have.
Actual cash value vs. replacement cost value
Some homeowners insurance policies cover your roof on a “replacement cost” basis. With this type of coverage, the insurer will pay the full cost for a new roof if you need one after a covered claim. But if you have actual cash value coverage, the insurer will reduce your payout to reflect depreciation, based on how old your existing roof is.
Say you paid $20,000 for your current roof, and it was supposed to last 20 years. Now, only 10 years in, you need a roof replacement. If you have actual cash value coverage, your insurance company would deduct half the roof’s value because it’s halfway through its expected lifespan. That means you’d get only $10,000 toward a replacement (minus your deductible).
Some homeowners choose ACV coverage for their roof in order to save money on their premiums. But it’s not always a choice. Certain insurance companies will give you ACV coverage by default if your roof is past a certain age.
Should you file a claim for roof damage?
Even if you think your roof leak will be covered by homeowners insurance, filing a claim may not always be the right move.
First off, check your deductible. Many homeowners choose deductibles between $500 and $2,000. The average roof leak repair costs $360 to $1,550, according to Angi, a home services website. Once your deductible is subtracted, you could get little or nothing from your insurer if your repair costs the average amount.
Second, keep in mind that filing a claim could cause your insurance premiums to go up for the next few years. Consider whether the payout now will be enough to cancel out these future increases.
Getting quotes from a few roofers can help you decide whether the repair will be expensive enough to make filing a claim worth it.
How to file a claim for roof damage
Once you’ve decided to submit a claim, here are some steps to take:
File promptly. You may be able to file your claim by phone or on the insurer’s website or app. It’s best to file as soon as possible to get the process started, especially if your damage is due to a widespread natural disaster. It can take longer to settle claims if there are hundreds of other nearby homeowners who also need help.
Document the damage, if possible. While we recommend leaving the inspection of the roof itself to a professional, you can take pictures of interior problems such as damaged furniture or water stains on your ceiling.
Hire a reputable contractor. Don’t just choose the cheapest roof repair company and call it a day. Check references, read reviews and make sure the company you choose is licensed in your state.
In particular, beware of roofing contractors going door to door after disasters. They may dangle suspiciously low rates or promise to get you a free replacement roof from your insurance company if you let them file a claim on your behalf. Such offers are often scams.
How to prevent roof leaks
Have your roof inspected regularly to spot small problems before they turn into big ones.
Keep your gutters and downspouts clear.
Trim back tree branches and tall bushes that are close to the roof. This can help keep debris out of your gutters and prevent moss from growing in damp, shady spots.
Check your attic for telltale signs of problems such as mold, blocked ventilation, algae or rust.