Does home insurance cover pest control?

As a homeowner, there's nothing worse than discovering a pest infestation in your home. While homeowners' insurance is meant to protect your property from various risks, many wonder whether they're covered for this type of damage.

The answer may surprise you. Although home insurance is designed to protect you from sudden and unexpected damage, pest infestations fall into a grey area. In this article, we'll explore the question, "Does home insurance cover pest control?" in more detail, giving you insight into what pests are more common in Canadian households and ways you can prevent pest damage in your home.

The most common household pests in Canada

Before we get into the details of standard home insurance policies, we first need to look at what type of household pests are common across Canada:

Ants

Ants are a frequent household pest in Canada—here’s what you need to know:

• Species: Carpenter ants, pavement ants, and odorous house ants.

• Prevalence: Approximately 20% of households in Canada report problems with ants annually. They're found year-round, especially in urban areas.

• Impact: Carpenter ants can damage wood structures, leading to costly repairs.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are one of the most common household pests in Canada. Here’s what you should know:

• Species: German, American, brown-banded, and oriental cockroaches.

• Prevalence: Approximately 15% of homes, especially those in urban areas like Vancouver or Toronto.

• Impact: Can spread disease, trigger allergies, and worsen asthma.

Mice and rats

Across Canada, mice and rats are a common household problem—here’s what to know:

• Species: Bushy-tailed wood rat, Norway rat, and the roof rat.

• Prevalence: Common in Ontario, Quebec, rural areas, and downtown urban areas.

• Impact: They can damage electrical wiring, your home's insulation, furniture, and spread diseases.

Bed bugs

In Canada, arebed bugs a frequent household nuisance—here’s what you need to know:

• Species: Only one species of bed bugs.

• Prevalence: Households in major cities across Canada, with Toronto and Vancouver ranking the highest.

• Impact: Bed bugs cause skin rashes, psychological distress, and insomnia. Treatment costs can vary between $1,00 and $3,000.

Spiders

Spiders are a top household pest in Canada—here’s what you should know:

• Species: House spiders, wolf spiders, black widows, and cellar spiders.

• Prevalence: Found in homes across Canada.

• Impact: Usually, they are not harmful, unless you are bitten by a black widow.

Wasps

In Canada, wasps are a frequent household nuisance—here’s what you need to know:

• Species: Yellow jackets, hornets, and paper wasps.

• Prevalence: High prevalence during the summertime, especially in rural areas.

• Impact: Painful stings and allergic reactions.

Fleas

Fleas are among the most common household pests in Canada—here’s what you need to know:

• Species: Cat and dog fleas.

• Prevalence: Found in homes with pets.

• Impact: Itching, disease exposure, allergic reactions.

Termites

Termites are widespread in Canadian homes; here’s what you should know:

• Species: Eastern subterranean termite, western subterranean termite, and Pacific dampwood termites.

• Prevalence: Especially prevalent in the southern parts of Ontario, BC, and warmer climates in Canada.

• Impact: Termites consume wood. Wood structural damage with average repair costs of $8,000 is common.

Signs of pest damage in your home

Detecting pest infestations and damage in your home early on can save you from expensive repair and replacement bills and prevent long-term damage. Here are some common signs of pest damage to look out for:

1. Droppings

Droppings in your home could be indicative of a cockroach or rodent infestation. The most common places homeowners will notice droppings include under appliances, in cupboards or cabinets, and other dark, hidden parts of the home.

2. Chewed wires, food, etc.

Rodents love to chew on things in order to keep their teeth sharp, and in a house, that could mean chewing on everything from food wrappers to electrical wires.

3. Dried blood spots

Dried blood spots, especially when they are found in your bed linens, are a telltale sign of bed bugs. Bed bugs love to hide in the crevices of mattresses and bedding.

4. Skin sheds or egg casings

Many insects mould, including bed bugs, roaches, and beetles. Moulting is when an insect sheds its skin to become a larger version of itself. When an insect moults, it leaves behind evidence in the form of egg casings or skin sheds, which may include wings.

4. Rotting wood

There could be many culprits for rotting wood in your home, but one of them is pests, specifically termites or carpenter ants. Both of these pests are attracted to humid areas of the home where wood is often softer, like the basement or attic.

5. Strange or strong odours

Specific odours that pests leave behind include urine or ammonia, which is common in mice and rats. Cockroaches are known to leave behind a “musty” smell.

Will a homeowners insurance policy cover pest damage?

The reality is that most home insurance policies do not protect against pests. Why? Pest control is considered routine maintenance, which is not covered by home insurance, seeing as a homeowner's neglect plays a role in pest problems.

When you could file a home insurance claim for damage caused by pest infestations

However, if pests cause secondary damage or accidental damage that falls under a named peril, you may be eligible for coverage. For example:

• Rodents chew through wires, causing a fire. Fire damage may be covered under the dwelling portion of your insurance.

• Termite infestations in your backyard can cause a tree to fall into your home and damage your roof. Falling objects are covered by standard policies, which may be covered in this instance.

Ultimately, you'll want to look at the specific wording of your homeowners insurance policy or speak with your insurance company directly to see whether pest-related damage is covered. Your insurance company will often investigate whether the damage was gradual, preventable pest damage or sudden and unexpected, possibly covered by home insurance.

How to prevent pest damage in your home

When it comes to avoiding serious property damage caused by pests, prevention is key. Here's a checklist to prevent infestations:

• Seal cracks along doors, windows, and your foundation.

• Install door sweeps and weather stripping around all windows and doors.

• Store food properly in airtight containers to prevent food contamination.

• Remove garbage regularly and keep bins sealed to prevent access to food waste.

• Clean up crumbs and spills immediately after eating.

• Trim any trees and shrubs in your yard.

• Store firewood at least 20 feet from your home to prevent termite damage from spreading.

• Replace damaged weatherproofing or screens if applicable.

• Conduct regular home inspections, especially in your home's attics and basements.

What home insurance typically covers vs. pest damage

Use this table to see, at a glance, what a standard home policy typically covers versus what’s usually excluded as pest damage:

Home insurance and pest damage coverage

As you'll recall, home insurance protects you from damage caused by sudden and unforeseen events listed in your insurance policy. In contrast, pest issues are seen as gradual and preventable, making them ineligible for reimbursement by your insurance provider. That said, some property damage may be approved by your insurance adjuster, though these cases are rare. For example:

Scenario 1: Sudden negative consequences

A rat chews through wires, causing a fire in your home. While fire damage is covered by your home insurance, the pest infestation itself is not.

Scenario 2: Weather-related infestations

If pests enter your home and damage your attic due to a fallen tree caused by high winds, your provider will approve your claim, as the tree caused a hole in your roof unexpectedly, which provided access to pests.

Tips for your insurance claim process

Next, we’ll share tips to help you through the insurance claim process:

• Document any damage to your home with numerous photos and videos.

• Do not throw away damaged items, as your adjuster may ask to view the damage in person.

• Provide inspection reports from pest control services to submit during your insurance claim.

How BrokerLink can help

Pest-related insurance exclusions can be confusing. While most home insurance policies won’t cover pest control or damage caused by gradual infestations, those that lead to covered perils may receive compensation.

When in doubt, talk to your insurance company or speak with a broker like BrokerLink. Our insurance brokers can review your current policy and help you understand what is and isn't covered.

We'll walk you through the process and help you explore options that give you more comprehensive protection against damages with customized insurance plans tailored to your needs and budget, including:

• Garden and tree insurance

• Tenant insurance

• And more!

To work with us, contact BrokerLink directly over the phone to speak with a broker. You can also get a free insurance quote using our online quote tool at any time!

Get a home insurance quoteCall Us 1-866-724-2372

FAQ on homeowners insurance and pest damage coverage

Will a pest damage claim increase my property insurance premium?

A pest damage claim could increase your insurance premium. However, it depends on several circumstances, like the type of claim filed, the number of home insurance claims made, and whether the pest damage was unexpected or preventable. It is worth noting that the more claims you make, the likelier it is that your home insurance rates will go up upon renewal. If you aren’t happy with your current policy and it is set to renew soon, we recommend speaking with an insurance broker about changing house insurance. A broker can review your policy and advise you on whether you should think about purchasing additional types of coverage or raising or lowering your coverage limits and deductibles to better suit your needs.

How do I know if I have a pest infestation in my home?

The most common signs of pest infestations in Canadian homes include droppings, tiny blood spots, rotting wood, chew or gnaw marks on food, boxes, or wiring, nests, strange or strong odours (specifically the smell of urine, ammonia, or musty smells), skin sheds, egg casings, and wings, and small gaps or openings near the foundation of your home. If you notice these telltale signs, contact an exterminator quickly to nip the problem in the bud and avoid the many risks that come with large-scale infestations.

What will my insurance company want to know about my pest damage home insurance claim?

If you choose to file a pest damage home insurance claim, you should be prepared for the insurer to ask questions about whether the damage was unexpected or preventable. This is the main issue they will want to get to the bottom of as the answer to it will determine whether they will approve or deny your claim. For example, you should expect an insurance adjuster to ask you questions surrounding your knowledge of the pests in your home. They might ask when you first noticed signs of pests in your home, when exactly the damage occurred, and what steps you took to prevent the damage or infestation in the first place.

Does tenant insurance cover pest damage?

As tenant insurance is a form of home insurance, no, it does not cover pest damage. Tenant insurance is designed to protect those who rent their homes.

If you have any questions, contact one of our local branches.