I'm thinking about switching renters insurance companies, but I want to find out which companies will cover Aquariums and/or damage caused by Aquariums.
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I'm an insurance adjuster in NC. It can vary depending on your state, but here anybody's home owners insurance would cover the resulting damage from the aquarium, just not the aquarium itself. Contents coverage is usually covered by named perils, the aquarium would be considered contents. If the seals go bad, all the resulting water damage is covered but not the tank. Now if you had a fire that destroyed the aquarium, the tank and it's components would be covered, because fire is a peril insured against for contents. The livestock would not be afforded coverage.
Generally renters insurance will cover your personal property, like an aquarium if something like a fire occurred or a tree fell into the house and then damaged the tank, your general liability coverage could possibly be triggered and offer some coverage for the owner of the apartment or house you are renting.
You're mostly correct. If damage occurred to an adjacent unit, and that damage was caused by your negligence then your liability coverage could be triggered. Like if you were rubbing a bathtub and forgot and it overflowed, or you fell asleep smoking and caused a fire. Under most circumstances, like a pipe rupturing, it's considered a sudden occurrence and not caused by your negligence. Now if there was a leak and your neighbor noticed it on their side and they put you on notice and you fail to do anything about it, this could also trigger your liability coverage.I own in an apartment-style condo building and the way my policy is written, water damage from almost any source is covered. There are a few strange exceptions, but I'm surprised by how much my basic homeowner's policy will cover. This is just to my belongings and my property though. I don't believe the coverage would cover anything in adjacent units, as I don't believe I have an insurable interest in other peoples' property.
This is incorrect. The tree example is the best scenario. I tell people it always matters who's "stuff" is damaged. Everybody's homeowners policy insures the structure on the property and gives liability coverage for your negligence.Not so sure about that @chipmunkofdoom2...
I would think that if your tank caused damage to an adjacent unit - you'd be on the hook for that. Just like if a tree from your yard fell on your neighbors house - you'd be responsible for that.
This is incorrect. The tree example is the best scenario. I tell people it always matters who's "stuff" is damaged. Everybody's homeowners policy insures the structure on the property and gives liability coverage for your negligence.
If mother nature decides to come through and blow a tree over it's nobody's fault and the homeowner of where the tree originated from usually isn't found liable. There is the rare case of a dead tree, now if you've put your neighbor on notice that you are concerned that it may fall and damage property on your side then they could possibly be considered negligent if they do nothing about it. Make sure you have a letter you send them and keep a copy.
So I'm the instance of a tank failure causing damage, if it happens suddenly and you are not aware of any issue , negligence would be very difficult to prove.
Hmm... That's hard to believe. Negligence or not, if the one of my neighbors had a tank failure, and water came flooding down into my apartment and damaged my floors, walls and furniture - why should "my" insurance have to cover that when it was someone else's stuff that caused the damage.