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Does home insurance cover rat damage?

No, home insurance does not cover rat damage.

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By

Peta Taylor

Updated

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Key takeaways

  • Sadly, rat damage won't be covered by your home insurer
  • Rodent damage is seen as preventable and foreseeable, which is why your insurer won't cover it
  • Rodent prevention is key, here's how you can rat-proof your home

Does home insurance cover rat damage?

Sadly, no - home insurance does not cover rat damage. This is because home insurers don't typically cover any events that are seen as foreseeable or preventable, and rat damage falls into that category.

You can find this information in your product disclosure statement (PDS), likely in the exclusions part. Providers will vary but it'll typically state something like: We will not cover loss or damage caused by termites and other insects, birds, lizards, rodents or vermin.

We researched a few popular providers and here's what their PDS says:

ProviderInformation about rodent damage
SuncorpSuncorp Insurance doesn't cover damage caused by insects, vermin or rodents.
Budget DirectWe will not cover loss or damage caused by termites and other insects, birds, lizards, rodents or vermin.
YouiLoss or damage caused by vermin is not covered.
AAMIThere are instances when you are not covered if the damage or loss is caused by:
  • Insects, vermin, or rodents.
NRMAYou are not covered under any section of this policy for loss, damage, liability, injury or death caused by or arising from:
  • rats, mice, vermin, insects, termites, bats or possums;

What's the best way to get rid of rats?

Prevention is better than a cure where rodents are concerned, but if you do end up with a rat infestation, it is possible to bring it under control.

If you think you have a rat problem, you should act quickly because a small issue can quickly snowball into a big one.

You'll often need to take a trial-and-error approach to see what works best, but the two main ways to get rid of a rodent once and for all are trapping and baiting:

one

Old-fashioned snap traps and seal and glue traps can catch mice and rats with the help of different types of attractant – some people swear by peanut butter, others by apple. Trapdoor-style models are an option for those who don't want to kill the animals.

two

Baits are a last-resort option and use powerful rodenticides. They can be a hazard to pets and children and can also harm the environment (e.g. if the poison ends up affecting animals other than the ones you're targeting). You should never use baits inside the house, and if you're going to use them outside, make sure you read the directions carefully.

If the problem still won't go away, it's time to call in a licensed pest professional. Let them know about any animal welfare or environmental concerns you have, so they can factor those into the plan of attack.

FAQs

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Publisher of Insurance

Peta Taylor is a publisher at Finder, working across all of insurance. She's been analysing product disclosure statements and publishing articles for over 2 years. Peta is passionate about demystifying complex insurance products to help users make well educated decisions with confidence. Peta is part of Finder's insurance awards team and works alongside editorial and insights experts to bring users the best insurance products every year. See full bio

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