Insurance companies consider pest infestations to be a home-maintenance issue.
Most homeowners policies include an exclusion for animal losses, meaning damage caused by birds, vermin, rodents, insects, or animals owned or kept by an insured, says Pat Musick of the Alliance of American Insurers. Insurance companies regard infestations as a home-maintenance issue, explains Musick, the alliance's assistant vice president of property and casualty insurance. For example, an annual termite inspection and treatment would head off a termite infestation that could lead to damage, so it falls upon the homeowner to take care of problems. There are a few situations in which a homeowners policy will cover damage involving pests. For instance, if an animal creates a fire in your house, the fire damage is covered.