They say high fences make for good neighbours, but when the fence is damaged who is responsible for fixing it and will home insurance come to the rescue?
WHAT DOES HOME INSURANCE COVER WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR FENCE?
Your fence is most likely included in the list of “other structures or detached private structures” within your home insurance policy (alongside your detached garage, shed etc.,) so depending on what caused the damage to your fence you should be covered!
Below are a few examples of damage to your fence that your homeowner’s insurance should cover:
- Fire
- Lightning strike
- Wind
- Fallen tree (from either yours or a neighbour’s yard)
As a general rule, any of the same perils that can result in a covered home insurance claim to your primary residence typically extends to your fence.
WHEN IS A FENCE NOT COVERED BY HOME INSURANCE?
Even if you have comprehensive coverage as part of your home insurance policy, not all types of damage to your fence will be covered.
Generally speaking, insurance is meant to cover unexpected, accidental and sudden damage to your property which means damage that occurs over time may not be covered.
Examples of fence damage that may not be covered by your home insurance include:
- General wear and tear
- Dry rot
- Damage related to rust
- Corrosion or condensation
There are things you can do from a loss prevention perspective to reduce your risk of experiencing these types of long-term threats to your fence which we cover below.
MAKING AN INSURANCE CLAIM FOR YOUR FENCE
Like any type of insurance claim, there are two key things you should do as soon as possible after experiencing a loss:
- Call your insurance company to get the ball rolling immediately.
- Document everything with pictures and video.
- Secure the scene to prevent further damage and risk of injury.
When making an insurance claim for fence damage, please be aware that in most cases there will be a $1,000 minimum deductible, it will depend on what your policy stipulates.
NOTE: If the damage to your fence was caused by an automobile you can still make a claim but it is often subrogated back against the automobile insurer at fault in the accident.
WHEN IS HAVING A FENCE REQUIRED?
Many homeowners decide to build a fence on or around their property because they enjoy the look and privacy benefits that come with it.
However, in several situations building a fence is a legal requirement of a homeowner as a means of public safety.
- When the property has a pool. Most municipalities require any property with a pool capable of holding a certain amount of water to be surrounded by a fence. This includes ponds. RELATED ARTICLE: Backyard Swimming Pool Insurance.
- When you raise livestock. As a measure of public safety to prevent animals from wandering off, most municipalities will require your property to have a fence if you operate a hobby farm or raise livestock for any other reason. This includes chickens.
- When you have a manure pit. You’d think a little common sense and the smell would be enough to keep people away. Many municipalities require farms to erect a fence to prevent anyone from venturing near or (ew) INTO the pit.
- Other risks identified by your insurer. Whether included within your municipal by-laws or not, sometimes your insurer will require you to build a fence around your property to lower your liability risk for such things are trampolines, skateparks etc.,
HOW TO SECURE AND PROTECT YOUR FENCE FROM LOSS
The best thing you can do to avoid an insurance claim related to your fence is to build it strong enough to withstand the elements.
This is best done by a professional contractor but if you’re a DIYer here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Use fence posts with a diameter of 4×4 or 6×6.
- Choose Douglas fir or oak for the fence posts. (1)
- Fence posts should be 8 feet apart for the best balance of flexibility and strength. (2)
- Stain your fence to prevent water damage, rot and mould. (3)
- Trim away branches from nearby trees that overhang your fence.
Erie Mutual Insurance proudly serves the commercial insurance, farm insurance, home insurance and auto insurance needs of members throughout Southern Ontario including Haldimand, Niagara and Hamilton.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have about this or any other topic related to your insurance.
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SOURCES
1 – agfence.ca
2 – staytuff.com
3 – woodcraftersfencing.com
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