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Does home insurance cover asbestos removal?

When we purchased our home, the home inspector noted that we have asbestos covering the pipes in our basement. The house is old, so we knew eventually we’d have to have it removed. We were required to purchase a home insurance policy by our lender. Would our home insurance cover the asbestos removal?

avatar
Emily Maracle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Asbestos is common in older homes but is extremely dangerous if disturbed, so only licensed professionals should remove it from your home. Home insurance won’t typically cover asbestos removal as it’s a chemical/pollutant.
Home insurance policies usually exclude chemicals and pollutants from coverage unless a
covered peril
caused damage that then required the asbestos removal. For example, if your home was damaged in a fire, your insurance company may pay for asbestos removal due to the damage the pipes sustained.
That said, every insurer is different. Since your home is old, your provider may decline to cover the asbestos removal but will cover other damage. Even so, your home insurance won’t cover the removal simply because it’s a health hazard. Since you were aware of the asbestos when you purchased your home, it’s your responsibility as a homeowner to take care of it.
If you’d like more information about your coverage, reach out to your current provider or look over your policy’s terms and conditions. It’s also a great time to ensure you’re paying the lowest rate for the coverage you need with
Jerry
.
A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app gathers affordable quotes, helps you switch plans, and helps to cancel your old policy. Even better—Jerry will help you bundle your home and auto policies for maximum savings.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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