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Is a roof leak covered by home insurance?

I went into my attic earlier and discovered my roof has a leak. I’m not sure what caused the damage. Would a roof leak be covered by my home insurance?

avatar
Emily Maracle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Finding a leak is never fun, but I hope the damage isn’t too bad!
A roof leak can have coverage under your home insurance if a
covered peril
caused the damage.
Since you’re not sure what caused the damage, you’ll want to call a roofing company or contractor to look at the damage and determine the cause. If one of the perils covered by your home insurance policy caused the damage, you could submit a claim.
However, if they discover an excluded peril caused the damage, you wouldn’t have coverage. Common exclusions include:
  • Age
  • Normal wear and tear
  • Lack of maintenance
  • Neglect
  • Deterioration
Insurance companies consider it the homeowner’s responsibility to care for their home and property. If your roof begins leaking due to its age, it’s your responsibility to fix the damage or replace the roof.
If the roofing company determines the damage is accidental, you’ll want to take photos and document the damage. You can then call your insurance company to determine your next steps for filing a claim.
Since you’re taking the time to review your policy, it may be worth taking some extra time to ensure you’re not overpaying for coverage with
Jerry
. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app gathers affordable quotes, helps you switch plans, and will even help you cancel your old policy.
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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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