Does home insurance cover tree root damage?

In Australia, the presence of trees on your property is all part of the Great Australian Dream. However, it’s not uncommon for trees to cause a range of problems for homes, including tree root damage or fallen branches from storms.

You may have even noticed that your pipes and septic systems have been blocked by tree roots (particularly common for homes with older pipes) or that there are cracks inside the foundations. 

Generally speaking, insurance policies do not often specifically cover you for tree root damage.

Instead, if your home is insured your policy may include coverage for tree damage contingent on it being caused by a storm, or other event covered by insurance - even if the tree is not on your property. 

This is why it’s always worthwhile going through an insurance policy Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) with a fine-tooth comb before you sign on the dotted line. 

What tree damage does your home insurance cover?

A simple way of checking if your policy will cover tree-related damage to your home is to assess if the damage could have been prevented by maintenance or watchfulness on your part. If this is the case, chances are your insurer may not cover the costs. 

In Australia, tree damage coverage in home insurance policies may include:

Damage Caused by Tree Roots 

Unfortunately, home insurance policies will typically not cover you for damage caused by tree roots if they impact your home or its surroundings, such as structural damage to floors and walls, or the foundations being damaged by thick root systems. 

Fallen Trees and Branches

Damage caused by fallen trees and branches are typically included by insurance policies for homeowners, particularly if they fell as a result of a covered incident such as storms or floods. It’s best to check the policy ahead of time to understand the extent that you may be covered for related costs, such as removing the fallen trees and branches or uprooting tree stumps. 

That being said, if a tree suffers root rot causing it to fall fully or partially onto your home, your insurance policy may not cover the resulting damage as this may have been preventable. Also, if a tree is uprooted in a storm but does not affect any part of your home, your insurer may not pay for removing it from your property. In this case, you’ll typically need to pay an arborist to take care of the tree out of your own pocket.

If the tree stood on someone else’s property, and their home insurance policy includes liability coverage, you may be able to have them to cover the damage to your home.

Damage to Pipes or Drains 

A common problem caused by tree roots is blockages to your pipes and drains if the tree roots grow inside of them. If your insurance policy includes ‘Escape of liquid’, this specific tree root-related event may be covered, as the trees have resulted in water from pipes or plumbing to suddenly “escape” into your home. Escape of Liquid due to tree roots in your pipes may fall under a water damage claim, depending on the insurance company

Tree Lopping or Pruning

Unfortunately, damages resulting from tree lopping or pruning (whether done by yourself or through local council approval) may not be covered by your insurance policy. Any damage that happened while you were cutting or trimming parts of the tree is seen as your responsibility.

What to keep in mind about tree damage

The actual coverage you have will depend on your specific insurance policy. It's important to carefully review your policy documents to fully understand the extent of coverage and any exclusions that apply.

Even if you spot a potential problem tree ahead of time, removing it is no easy feat. Homeowners will typically need to obtain approval and/or a permit from their local council. A severe storm can even uproot a tree altogether, posing an even greater danger. 

If you have trees growing in the vicinity of your home, you should consider monitoring the trees from time to time for any signs of ageing or rotting. 

For example, a tree branch may begin to stress a wall or window and you may not realise the potential for damage until there’s an actual crack. If you feel a tree is likely to damage your home, and cutting or pruning it will not minimise the risk, you should talk to your local council about removing the tree.

When should you file a tree root damage insurance claim? 

The first thing you need to do if your home suffers damage due to a tree is to assess and document the damage, as you’ll need to add the details to your insurance claim. For instance, a falling branch may cause a pipe to burst, in which case you may have to file a claim for water damage.

If a branch fell on your home due to an incident covered by your home insurance policy, your claim may be considered as, say, storm damage. If it fell when you were trying to trim it, your insurer will likely deny your insurance claim.

While you may receive a settlement that covers removal of debris from your home, you may need to pay for clearing or removing the damaged tree. Usually, your insurer will seek to verify that the damage caused to your home could not have been predicted or prevented, before processing your insurance claim.

As always, you should consider reading the insurance provider’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to understand the coverage limits for the various incidents that are likely to result in tree damage to your home.

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