Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Fences? The Ascent

Table of Content

• Vandalism
• Securely share information with your Claim team.
• How much do I pay if homeowners insurance does cover my fence?

Then, determine if you want to contact your home insurance company. It may want to send a claims adjuster out to look at the fence before you start repairs or ask you to submit photos of the damage via its mobile app or claims website. Here is a quick look at some of the most common causes of fence damage and whether or not you could file a home insurance claim for them. If a fence isn't properly maintained and falls down or is devoured by termites, the homeowner is generally responsible for paying for the repairs.

If this happens and it falls on your fence, then it may be covered by your home insurance. You would still be responsible for the repairs up to $500, and filing a claim can cause the cost of your home insurance to increase. Basically, this means that wood rot caused by an event already covered by your home insurance, like a pipe burst, is usually covered. Homeowners have the responsibility to maintain their homes, and that includes fences, so you want to properly treat any outside wood to repel water.

Vandalism

Your homeowners insurance company holds you responsible for performing the required maintenance around your home. Kacie Goff is a personal finance and insurance writer with over seven years of experience covering personal and commercial coverage options. She writes for Bankrate, The Simple Dollar, NextAdvisor, Varo Money, Coverage, Best Credit Cards and more. She's covered a broad range of policy types — including less-talked-about coverages like wrap insurance and E&O — and she specializes in auto, homeowners and life insurance. The insurance company will evaluate the claim and may send someone to the home to inspect the damages. It may also ask the homeowner to get estimates for the repairs to help determine the size of the payout.

Yes, most home insurance policies will cover you for vandalism or malicious damage, even when you don’t know who the culprit is. Similarly, if you own the tree but you hadn’t taken steps to maintain and ensure its safety before it fell, it’s unlikely your insurance policy will pay out. If the tree is on your property and it fell because of storm damage then, depending on your policy, you may not be covered.

Securely share information with your Claim team.

If your neighbor’s tree was diseased or damaged, your insurance would typically cover the damage. If your neighbor was cutting down a tree and it damaged your fence, you could consider filing a claim against your neighbor’s insurance. In both situations, if you file a claim under your own homeowners policy, your insurer may seek recovery from your neighbor for you. This type of coverage is coverage that you can selectively add to your insurance policy.

But a homeowner may still file a fence damage claim with their insurer. Their insurance company may pay out and go after the driver for reimbursement. If you are cosmetically updating your fence, you probably do not need to notify your insurance provider. Your home insurance policy includes different coverages, like dwelling insurance for your house itself and personal property coverage for your belongings.

How much do I pay if homeowners insurance does cover my fence?

They will want to see the damages up close, as well as in the context of your yard. This may mean taking photos and videos of the fence as well as whatever caused its damage. They may also want to send a claims adjuster to review the damage. “Other structures on your property are typically covered for the same perils as your home. So if your dwelling coverage includes risks like theft, fire, falling objects and vandalism, your fence would likely be covered for those, too,” according to Allstate.

If the cost of the repairs exceeds your deductible cost, it may make financial sense to file a claim; if not, you might want to pay out of pocket. Just like a fence is meant to protect your home from intruders, noise or weather, homeowners insurance is going to protect you from financial loss due to accidents or mishaps. Therefore, any accidental or unplanned destruction to a fence is usually covered by your policy. Your other structures coverage typically extends to the structures on your property that are not attached to your house.

Filing for the claim

Damage caused by mold, fungus, a termite infestation, a landscaping mishap or normal wear and tear to your fence is also not covered by standard home insurance. Roughly speaking, if your house isn't covered for a given peril, neither is your fence. Home insurance typically covers damage to fences, but there are instances when an insurer may reject your claim. Filing for a homeowners insurance claim in cases where your fence becomes damaged has several steps to follow. In this case, damages to your fence may not be covered by your home insurance.

Supply several photos of the damage and, if you can, photos of the fence as it was before it was damaged. Look over your policy to understand when you would have protection — and when you would be without it. To get you started, we also looked at some common instances here. Sewer backups and government seizures are other instances in which a fence wouldn’t have coverage. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey.

When does your homeowners insurance cover damage to a fence?

If you’re in the construction industry and the building materials for one of your clients get stolen, this won’t be covered, since it would fall under the category of business use. This coverage covers structures on your property that you don’t have attached to your home, as its name implies. This could include a detached garage that is fully finished or a shed. Coverage for other structures usually extends to driveways and in-ground swimming pools. Next, decide if you would like to call your home insurance company. You may be asked to contact your insurance company to have a claims adjuster inspect the fence before you begin repairs.

Filing an insurance claim, however, isn’t always the best route to go. One reason why an insurer may decline a home insurance claim is if the fence wasn’t properly maintained. After giving them details of the incident, they will send you forms which you need to fill out for your insurance claim. You’ll need to have the driver’s name, address, registration number and, if possible, their insurance details. You should take photographs of the scene and report the incident to the police, you’ll also need to let your home insurance provider know.

You should be aware that if you only depend on this sort of limited coverage, you can be left without adequate protection to reimburse you for damages to your detached structures. Your homeowners insurance will almost certainly cover damage to your fence if it was the result of a covered peril. This would pertain to things such as fire, vandalism, or perhaps a storm. The bad news is that if the damage that results is due to ordinary wear and tear or poor maintenance, it probably is not covered.

All of that said, let’s take a look at some common situations that may cause your fence to fall to see what’s typically covered by home insurance. These can give you an idea of how coverage usually works, but you should still read your policy or talk to your agent about your coverage. If it’s covered by your policy, most insurers require that you keep your home well-maintained. So, if there’s any sign of wear and tear on your gate or fence, your claim may be refused. Well, if you’ve chosen Coverage A of $300,000, your Coverage B would be limited to $30,000. That’s the maximum amount your insurer reimburses you for if your fence gets damaged by a covered peril.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Hurricane Damage?

Table of Content

• What are examples of commonly covered homeowners insurance situations?
• Does Home Insurance Cover Flood Damage?
• Which Water Damage Restoration Companies are Covered by Insurance?
• Does homeowners insurance cover mold?
• What are the five basic areas of coverage on a homeowners insurance policy?
• Standard homeowners insurance doesn’t typically cover flood damage.

Since some causes of water damage may not be covered by homeowners insurance, it’s also important to take steps to prevent or mitigate water damage. Homeowners insurance covers a broad range of damages, including fire, theft, vandalism, wind, hail, lightning, and rain damages. Additional flood coverage can help protect against flooding from heavy rainfall, hurricanes, and storms. In most cases, your dwelling coverage will pay to repair damages caused by an overflow of water from appliances, but only when the overflow occurs accidentally and suddenly. For instance, if a sock somehow blocks your washing machine’s water outflow hose and floods your laundry room, your dwelling coverage should cover the ensuing damage. If the water damages other items in the laundry room, like a dryer or cabinets, your personal property coverage should cover the losses.

The insurance company offers an insurance policy with the expectation that the homeowner is being proactive in maintaining their property. Unfortunately, snow that builds up on the ground and causes damage is not covered by homeowners insurance, because it’s technically flood damage. A flood insurance policy would cover both damages from excessive rain and snow building up on the ground.

What are examples of commonly covered homeowners insurance situations?

Call your insurance agent, the same person who sells your home or auto insurance. For example, damage caused by a sewer backup is covered if the backup is a direct result of flooding. If the sewer backup is not caused directly by flooding, the damage is not covered. Take a detailed inventory of all damages to your home and belongings. Take photos or videos — closeup and wide-angle — of all affected structures and personal property.

A homeowner’s car and motorcycle are also not included in coverage, but it’s possible that their auto insurance policy may cover those items. The cost of your flood insurance will depend on several factors. The most impactful aspect of your premium is your home’s flood zone.

Does Home Insurance Cover Flood Damage?

Hundreds of thousands of Florida property owners face requirements to buy flood insurance under a precedent-setting bill approved Wednesday by the state Legislature. Most of what we call natural disasters are indeed natural, though human contributions may increase their likelihood or intensity. If a hurricane slams into land where no one lives, it isn't a disaster; it's weather. While a 2% flood chance may seem tiny, it’s actually very serious, given the massive financial damage floods can cause—on the order of tens of billions of dollars nationwide over the past 20 years. Standard policies provide six different types of coverage; we’ll get into more detail in the following sections.

Some policies even have two deductibles, ones for your dwelling coverage and one for your personal property coverage. The deductible you will pay will depend on what type of damage occurred. Typically, you’ll need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy for coverage. You may be able to buy coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program , either directly or through an insurance carrier that sells the coverage, or from a private insurance company. You may also be able to add a flood endorsement to your home insurance policy.

Which Water Damage Restoration Companies are Covered by Insurance?

Keep in mind, too, that some insurance companies may refuse to renew your policy if you file too many claims. So for minor water damage, you may be better off paying for repairs yourself — especially if you’ve already filed other claims within the past five to seven years. Finally, NFIP policies do not include coverage for a homeowner’s additional living expenses while their home is repaired. It's important for homeowners to know what is—and what is not—covered by their flood insurance policy so they can be prepared if disaster strikes.

Most flood policies come with a 30-day waiting period, which means your coverage won’t be effective until 30 days after you make the first payment. There are a few exceptions to this, but keep it in mind when you’re shopping. Additionally, don’t wait until a storm is coming to shop for coverage; many companies put moratoriums on their policies if the potential for damage is imminent. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories.

Does homeowners insurance cover mold?

If you live in an apartment, your landlord insures the building, but you still need to carry insurance for your possessions and additional living expenses. If you live in a state where hurricanes are common, it’s important to make sure you have enough personal property coverage. The requirement applies only to property owners who have coverage through Citizens Property Insurance, which has become the state’s largest property insurer.

Flood insurance will cover certain objects in your basement, such as most personal belongings and appliances. However, it typically will not cover the structure, such as finished ceilings or floors. When you take out a flood policy, you will need to purchase both dwelling and contents coverage to get the maximum coverage for your basement. And unfortunately, too many property owners think they have protection against the peril of flood under their homeowner’s insurance policies; they do not. The biggest concern with private insurers is that unlike NFIP, the insurer is not required to continue selling a homeowner a policy. FEMA frequently redraws risk maps as the landscape and climates change, so if the home falls into a higher-risk area, the private insurer can cancel the homeowner’s policy.

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Many insurers provide personal property coverage of 50% to 70% of your home’s insured value, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I). Flood insurance coverage also has other restrictions that are important to be aware of. A homeowners insurance policy typically covers natural disasters caused by explosion, fire, lightning, hail, windstorm, hurricanes, tornadoes, extreme cold, volcanoes and theft. Homeowners insurance usually does not cover earthquakes, floods, tsunamis or nuclear disasters. Water damage from burst pipes may be covered by your homeowners insurance, but a flooded bathroom after a thunderstorm would not be.

Homeowner’s insurance covers some types of water damage, but not others. Since water damage is so common and costly, it’s important to understand when homeowner’s insurance covers water damage to ensure you have the protection you need. Sometimes coverage is comprehensive, like full coverage policies for cars, while other times you have to opt for additional coverage. Likewise, your personal property coverage will usually cover your furniture.

Depending on your individual policy, it can also exclude pets, vehicles, and airplanes. Once the situation is under control, contact your home insurance company to report the incident. Deductibles apply for each homeowners insurance claim, so confirm the amount you’re responsible for paying toward the water damage. Standard homeowner’s insurance policies may provide limited coverage for certain high-value possessions, such as antiques, artwork, and computers. Homeowners may be able to buy an endorsement or rider to add more personal property coverage for valuables. In homeowner’s insurance, water damage coverage may include leaks, such as plumbing leaks and roof leaks, as long as the leak occurred accidentally and suddenly.

Some carriers offer their own privately underwritten flood insurance, or even a flood insurance endorsement for your home policy, and many others can facilitate the purchase of an NFIP policy. If you are looking to buy a home soon, shop around with multiple insurance companies to compare pricing and coverage. Finally, it could be beneficial to do more than a skim-read of your policy. Take the time to understand what it includes , how to file a claim and any additional coverage you might need to purchase.

What are the five basic areas of coverage on a homeowners insurance policy?

Typically, any storm damage due to rain, wind, or hail is covered under a standard homeowner's policy. But damage due to floods, earthquakes, and volcanoes are generally not covered. Many things that aren't covered under your standard policy typically result from neglect and a failure to properly maintain the property. Termites and insect damage, bird or rodent damage, rust, rot, mold, and general wear and tear are not covered. If you’re still on the fence about flood insurance, an independent insurance agent can go over the pros and cons with you. Flood insurance usually costs only a few hundred dollars per year, making it the right decision more often than not.

Coverage may be obtained with a separate flood insurance policy or, occasionally, by an endorsement to your home policy. Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. Handerhan of the insurance reform group said he hopes homeowners will buy flood coverage even if they live outside of flood zones and feel they are not at risk. Luckily, there's flood insurance, which is especially designed to cover damage from floods.

When Does Homeowners Insurance Cover a Flooded Basement?

Table of Content

• Does homeowners insurance cover tree root damage?
• What IS typically covered with home insurance?
• Cash vs. Replacement Homeowners Policies
• What Else Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?
• What are examples of commonly covered homeowners insurance situations?

Getting flood insurance may be a good idea—and may even be required. Flood insurance does not cover some kinds of damage, such as some mold and mildew growth, outdoor structures, and more. Start by clearing your roof, cleaning your gutters, and checking your sump pump to lower your home’s chances of flooding if terrible weather rolls into your area. If you’re at risk of losing power in the coming days, charge your cell phone so you can easily stay connected during a big storm. Invest in a couple of portable back-up power banks, and make sure they’re fully charged as well. This way, you can access a few days of battery life in a pinch.

If you do get the coverage, you will need to get a sewer backup valve installed, otherwise, it would be seen as “poor maintenance”. You can purchase flood insurance for your property, but eligibility depends on the community where you live. Our advisors would be happy to help you learn more about your options. The adjuster will thoroughly inspect the damage to determine its cause and how much the insurance company will pay for your claim. But if leaking pipes cause damage due to improper maintenance, the insurer will deny the claim.

Does homeowners insurance cover tree root damage?

You just need an expert independent insurance agent on your side. For instance, let’s say your neighbor is over at your house and your dog bites them. If your neighbor goes to the hospital to get their wound addressed, your medical payments coverage would pay for the medical bills incurred as a result of the dog bite.

When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Flood policies are sold and administered by both the private market and the federal government’s National Flood Insurance Program . Can help with mortgages, refinances and other home-related loans. By following this link, you’re leaving Gate City Insurance Agency to visit an external site. While this site has been known for being completely safe, please know that we’re ultimately not responsible for its content.

What IS typically covered with home insurance?

Rest assured, we’ll find you the best rates and comprehensive plan options to fit your needs. If you live in a cold climate, install an emergency pressure release valve to the plumbing system to prevent pipes from bursting during winter’s frigid temperatures. Inspect hoses that connect to appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines.

For example, if your pipe freezes and bursts, it’s likely your pipe and the water damage are covered under insurance . Sewage overflow is not something you want to think of after a hurricane, but it could happen as a result of flooding. Water backup coverage helps protect your home and personal property from water damage if sewage water backs up into your home through your plumbing or sump pump. Most standard homeowners insurance policies offer a minimum coverage limit of $100,000 and a maximum coverage limit of up to $500,000, depending on the insurer. Flood insurance is a separate policy that offers coverage for water-related losses due to river overflows, storm surges, and other types of floods. Homeowners can buy it from private insurance companies or from the federally backed National Flood Insurance Program .

Cash vs. Replacement Homeowners Policies

The average water damage claim amounts to $11,098, and these issues cost a total of about $20 billion per year, making it a serious, and expensive, issue for homeowners. As soon as you discover the problem, act quickly to keep it from getting worse. This could include shutting off the water to that part of the house or dehumidifying the room to prevent mold. Below are some typical causes of water damage and how your homeowners policy might be able to help.

Additionally, NFIP flood insurance premiums must usually be paid for upfront and in full, rather than in monthly increments. Many private carriers also offer flood insurance now as well, and the waiting periods may differ from NFIP-backed policies. Flood insurance covers your home's structure and your property if they're damaged by floodwaters.

What Else Does Homeowners Insurance Cover?

Water damage, including damage from freezing, is one of the most common types of property damage claims filed by homeowners, along with wind and hail, theft, and fire and lightning. Water damage home insurance claims accounted for 28.4% of the claims filed in 2019 and 19.9% in 2020. Because of the difficulty to determine what came first, your insurance provider may ask that you pay for both types of coverage. Valuables such as jewelry and antiques may need to be scheduled separately. Cash value policies are typically a bit cheaper because they assess the value of your home and possessions based on their depreciated value. If your TV gets broken and is covered by insurance, for example, the payout from your insurance would be the TV’s depreciated value.

The requirement applies to properties across the state, regardless of whether they are in high-risk flood zones and will cost some homeowners thousands of dollars a year. A war exclusion clause in an insurance policy specifically excludes coverage for acts of war, such as invasions, insurrections, revolutions, military coups, and terrorism. Anyone can have a catastrophic loss at any time, but a catastrophe claim refers to single-event, widespread losses expected to be more than $25 million. These claims can be difficult to process as insurance adjusters may have trouble getting into disaster zones to meet with policyholders.

After explaining the flood risks in their area, use these talking points to break down what is and isn’t covered by a typical flood insurance policy for homeowners. Generally, yes, but you may want to consider that there are numerous ways for ice or snow to damage your home. “The weight of ice and snow” is considered a named peril and is covered by most home insurance policy types. This means that if a snowstorm piles on enough snow to cause the collapse of your roof, the resulting damage — water and otherwise — is likely covered.

If the leak is caused by a natural occurrence, such as a windstorm or hail, then your homeowners insurance should cover the damage. It will help cover the cost of repairs or replacement for things like your roof, foundation, floors, doors, windows, and walls. It will also cover attached property such as garages, porches, cabinetry, decks, and built-in appliances.

A home insurance policy typically covers sudden and accidental water damage from causes such as burst pipes or failing appliances. It usually won’t cover water damage from flooding or lack of maintenance. Because the risk of flooding is present across nearly the entire country, most homeowners should at least consider buying a flood insurance policy. If you have a mortgage and you live in a high-risk flood zone, you’ll likely be required to carry a policy.

While it’s something you hope you never have to use, but you’ll be grateful to have it when you need it! After all, water can cause a lot of damage very quickly, and the repairs can be costly. And even if you don’t live in a high-risk area, you still need to keep flooding on your radar. The bill was approved two months after Hurricane Ian caused catastrophic damage in parts of Florida where almost no one has flood coverage (Climatewire, Oct. 1).

Types of coverage include dwelling, personal property, other structure, and loss of use coverage. Should you face water damage from rain, make sure you call a water damage restoration company that will work with your insurance company during the claims process. And be sure your home is covered from rain damage by entering your zip code below and filling out a quick questionnaire to receive free home insurance quotes for the lowest rates in your area. A standard homeowners insurance policy can be essential to protecting a home against damage caused by multiple types of perils like fire. However, when it comes to water damage, it’s not as easy as yes or no.

This provides your insurance company with proof of water damage. Each company listed above works directly with the insurance provider throughout the claims process. There are several things to look for when finding a water damage restoration company. Make sure they are licensed by either the local or state government.

Does Home Insurance Cover Fences and Sheds? Interstate Insurance Agency

Table of Content

• Garden insurance
• What if a car hits your fence?
• When are fences covered in my home insurance policy?
• Find Cheaper Homeowners Insurance
• Does Homeowners Insurance Cover a Fence?
• What part of a home insurance policy might cover fence damage?

This is an amount of money necessary to rebuild the house itself following a total loss. The limitation on other structures coverage, however, is that it will only pay up to a certain percentage of your dwelling coverage limit. Therefore, if a severe storm causes damage to your home’s roof, and a tree falls on your storage shed, then your homeowners insurance will usually pay for both losses. Each will include separate terms and conditions on how much they will pay you for your loss.

Did your healthy tree collapse due to ‘natural’ reasons, such as a heavy windstorm? Your insurance company likely will cover the damage to your fence. If your fence happens to collect rain and breaks under its weight, your homeowners insurance won’t cover the damage.

Garden insurance

But while buildings and contents insurance policies usually protect your home against storm damage, you might find some exclude damage to structures in your garden. Typically, your gates and fences will be covered for damage from unexpected events like fire or vandalism, but policies will vary so you’ll need to read the small print. Let’s take a closer look at how your homeowners insurance is designed to offer you protection beyond the coverage it already provides for your primary dwelling. In all cases, keep in mind that you’d be responsible for your deductible before receiving any additional claim compensation. That means if your fence damage is minor, and the costs are less than your deductible, you’d be responsible for handling them out-of-pocket.

You should be aware that if you only depend on this sort of limited coverage, you can be left without adequate protection to reimburse you for damages to your detached structures. Your homeowners insurance will almost certainly cover damage to your fence if it was the result of a covered peril. This would pertain to things such as fire, vandalism, or perhaps a storm. The bad news is that if the damage that results is due to ordinary wear and tear or poor maintenance, it probably is not covered.

What if a car hits your fence?

If a tree falls on a fence and no one is around to hear it, will it be covered by insurance? If the tree fell because of a storm or fire, coverage will come from your insurance. However, if the tree fell because of rot or neglect, you’ll have to pay out of pocket for tree removal and fence repair.

If someone defaces or knocks down your fence, insurers will usually pay for it. That's because vandalism is listed as a covered peril in most homeowners policies. After the adjuster's inspection, the insurance company will inform you of how much money it will provide to cover repairs. Keep in mind that you can negotiate if you feel the insurer is not offering to cover enough. This is where having an estimate from an independent contractor can come in handy.

When are fences covered in my home insurance policy?

Call your agent — Alert your insurance agent or insurance company. They will walk you through every step of the way and should be able to answer any questions you have. As is the case with any insurance claim you file, you need to get every detail correct so that you can present a full picture and get the full extent of what you are owed. Maybe a tree falls on a fence during a hurricane or just a bad rainstorm.

If this happens and it falls on your fence, then it may be covered by your home insurance. You would still be responsible for the repairs up to $500, and filing a claim can cause the cost of your home insurance to increase. Basically, this means that wood rot caused by an event already covered by your home insurance, like a pipe burst, is usually covered. Homeowners have the responsibility to maintain their homes, and that includes fences, so you want to properly treat any outside wood to repel water.

What to do if your fence is damaged

As for the amount of coverage, most policies cover fence damage up to a certain percentage of the policy's total coverage — usually 10%. Still, though, you do not get blanketed coverage for fence repairs from your homeowners insurance provider. The protection it extends to depends on why the fence was damaged, so it can be helpful to review your policy details. To make that easier, Bankrate summarized the key things you need to know about home insurance coverage for fences. Finally, someone running a vehicle – whether it be their car or a riding lawn mower – into your fence is also a cause of damage commonly covered by homeowners insurance.

As you look over your policy, it can also be beneficial to review to the covered perils, which are the instances in which your homeowners insurance will cover expenses. Almost all home insurance policies will provide coverage for fire, theft and windstorm claims, for example, but usually exclude coverage for floods and earthquakes. If a tree on your neighbor’s property – or some of its limbs – falls onto your fence and damages it, you may wonder how to deal with that damage. Your homeowners insurance provider does not provide blanket coverage for fence repairs.

We will analyze your needs and compare proposals to find you the best coverage at an affordable price. Kara McGinley is a former senior editor and licensed home insurance expert at Policygenius, where she specialized in homeowners and renters insurance. As a journalist and as an insurance expert, her work and insights have been featured in Forbes Advisor, Kiplinger, Lifehacker, MSN, WRAL.com, and elsewhere. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.

If you’re on the fence about purchasing extra coverage, you should know that a standardhomeowners insurance policywill cover damage done to your fence. Though if you have a particularly expensive fence, or just want to be prepared for more unique perils, extending your coverage may be a good idea. Termites, along with all other pests and infestations, are not covered by homeowners insurance.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover a Fence?

Then, determine if you want to contact your home insurance company. It may want to send a claims adjuster out to look at the fence before you start repairs or ask you to submit photos of the damage via its mobile app or claims website. Here is a quick look at some of the most common causes of fence damage and whether or not you could file a home insurance claim for them. If a fence isn't properly maintained and falls down or is devoured by termites, the homeowner is generally responsible for paying for the repairs.