If a tree falls into your house is that usually covered by homeowner's insurance?

Question

Or is that considered "an act of god". Actually this would be homeowner's and renter's insurance. My sister is the renter so I'm wondering if she'd be covered too. Just wondering what the norm is. She has State Farm.

Answer 1

The owner's insurance should cover damage to the house.  Your sister's renters' insurance would apply only to her personal property if any was damaged.

Answer 2

If you read your policy, you'll notice "Act of God" isn't mentioned.  It's not described as a covered loss, it's not described as an excluded loss.

Your homeowners policy will normally pay for any damage done to the house,  by ANY falling object, including a tree.  Subject to the deductible.   A renters policy will cover damage done by a falling object, if the object first damages the house, then damages the thing inside.  

Your sister covered - does that mean the tree hit her?  If she's a resident relative, then medical payments and liability do NOT apply.  

Otherwise, she collects under her policy for her "stuff" damaged inside the house, by the tree, and you collect under your policy for the damage to the house itself.

Damage to, say, your sister's car, outside the house, would be covered under her auto policy, IF she bought comprehensive coverage.

Answer 3

The owner of the house should have a homeowners policy that will cover the damage to the house.

What your sister has should be a renters policy (HO4) and it will cover her for:

1-Loss of use - helping her afford another place to live if the house isn't livable temporarily

2-Replacement of her personal property that was IN the house & damaged

She probably has a $500-$1000 deductible (pretty standard) which is the amount she'd have to pay before State Farm will start paying for her personal items...

for example if she's lost $1500 in personal property and the house isn't livable & she has a $500 deductible, she'll receive $1000 and the deposit and rent will be paid for a replacement house until this house is livable again.

Answer 4

The home owners insurance covers the tree and damages to the home owners property.

It will not cover the renter in any way.  The renter has her own insurance, renters insurance, and her possessions are covered by that, but not the house itself.