For individuals who live by the seaside, seawalls are a must-have piece of infrastructure. Hundreds of miles of seawalls serve as retaining walls and may protect properties from erosion in Florida alone. Most homeowners insurance policies treat retaining walls and privately owned seawalls as detached structures, and may give coverage for damage caused by fire, lightning, windstorms, hail, and cars, depending on the cause of loss.
Homeowners insurance may or may not cover damage caused by freezing or thawing. Typical exclusions include flooding, lack of upkeep, animal damage, and damage caused by foundation settling.
Does homeowner insurance cover docks?
If you own a boat, you may be wondering if your homeowners insurance would cover the dock where you moor it on your property. The most important criterion for whether or not a dock is protected is that it must be on property you own as your permanent residence; a dock or pier you rent at the marina will not be covered. The marina is responsible for ensuring this.
Your homeowners insurance may include supplemental other structures coverage for your dock or boat launch, allowing you to protect the financial worth of your dock against a variety of covered damages. Dock insurance coverage varies depending on the insurance company, so talk to your agent about the specifics of your policy’s available supplementary coverages.
If you have a seasonal pier, dock, or wharf, it may be considered personal property and protected under your personal property insurance policy. Consult your insurance agent to find out what your homeowner’s policy will cover.
Does house insurance cover coastal erosion?
A coastal property with breathtaking views of the sea is a dream come true for many of us. I am fortunate enough to be one of those individuals, so I am aware of how fantastic it can be.
However, three major coastline landslides in three counties have recently made the news, serving as a sobering reminder of how fast that dream may turn into a nightmare.
The recent landslides in Devon, Dorset, and Kent have hit the news, and photos of their dramatic effects on land and property illustrate the hazards and potential concerns for coastal property owners and buyers.
As is customary, there is a lot of speculation about the causes (including the slightly unlikely suggestion that movements at one site were caused by fossil hunting! ), so rather than adding to it, I thought it might be helpful to provide some context on these issues based on my 25 years of experience dealing with slope instability.
Instability has resulted in the formation of sea cliffs.
The coast is eroded and cliffs are formed by the action of waves and storms. This process is gradual for the most part, but it is never-ending the White Cliffs of Dover are white because grass hasn’t had time to grow, and little bits of chalk are constantly dropping down the face. Massive movements eventually occur, either because the sea weakens the faces (as in the recent large rockfalls in Sidmouth, Devon), or because the entire slope becomes unstable in weaker materials, resulting in a landside (such as the landslip in London Clay affecting homes on the Isle of Sheppey).
The erosion of sea cliffs occurs at a variable rate.
The erosion of sea cliffs may be slow over time, but major movements can occur suddenly. This means that looking at cliff stability over the last few years isn’t a good predictor of when houses near them will be impacted. We hear remarks like “I thought we’d be secure for another 40 years” all too often based on this assumption. To fully comprehend the risks, the sorts of movement along a large stretch of coastline over tens or even hundreds of years must normally be examined.
Coastal erosion can only be slowed, not prevented.
Sea cliffs can be protected from erosion with very large sea defences, although even these are harmed by the sea’s activity and require costly maintenance. Often, cliff-protection techniques are primarily intended to reduce the rate of erosion, not to guard against catastrophic events such as major storms. The cost of establishing or maintaining sea defenses is usually out of reach for most homeowners, and the lengthy planning and environmental restrictions may rule them out in any case.
Coastal erosion damage may not be covered by insurance.
Insurance may be denied if there is a history of coastal erosion.
Even when houses are covered, exclusions can make claims difficult because property damage can be classified as damage from erosion, storms, the sea, or a landslide, as a case in Hemsby, Norfolk has demonstrated. It is possible for properties to become uninhabitable or inaccessible without experiencing direct structural damage, which can be claimed on insurance plans, depending on the coverage. Without insurance, homeowners could be held accountable for the costs of cleaning debris that has washed up on the beach.
The Terrafirma Ground Report contains records of big landslides, as well as information on coastline erosion and measures to maintain sea defenses, which may be found in the local Shoreline Management Plan.
If this information raises any worries regarding long-term stability or if there is any evidence of ground movement, professional geotechnical advice should always be sought.
Finally, as usual, make sure that insurance is available to cover the risks of coastal erosion, landslides, sea damage, and storm damage.
Is a bulkhead covered by insurance?
First, unless the collapse is caused by the collapse of a structure: (2) through (6) above, unless the loss is a direct result of the collapse of a building or any component of a building, coverage for collapse does not apply to bulkheads, piers, wharves, and docks.
Are docks considered other structures?
With the recent storms in Northern Wisconsin, we’ve noticed some confusion about how boat docks and lifts are covered. Coverage may fall under Other Structures or Personal Property, depending on where the docks and lifts are placed and if they are stored. The following is a list of how your docks and lifts should be protected.
A boat dock and/or lift may be designated as Section I Coverage B or Coverage C property under the Homeowner Policy.
If the boat dock or lift is not taken from the water and stored, it is almost certainly covered by Coverage B.
If it is taken out of the water and kept, it is most certainly covered under Coverage C.
If the boat dock and/or lift are permanently attached to the property and are not removed from the water to be stored, it is most likely covered under the Homeowner Policy’s Other Structures (Coverage B).
The policy deductible, as well as the hazards covered by Coverage B, would apply.
Because boat docks and/or lifts are not considered buildings, they are covered as real cash value.
Docks that start on-site and extend off-site are termed on-site.
If the boat dock and/or lift are permanently tied to the water and are not housed on the residence premises, they must be covered under an inland marine policy.
The Inland Marine policy would be covered at actual cash value, with policy dangers and exclusions as well as a deductible.
The HO0492 Specific Structures Away from the Residence Premises endorsement can be added to the homeowner insurance to cover the boat dock and/or lift.
The policy deductible would apply to this type, which provides coverage at actual cash value.
If the boat dock/lift is rented or held for rent to anybody who is not a tenant of the dwelling or from which any business is conducted, this coverage is not an option.
An Inland Marine Policy can be prepared for the boat dock and/or lift if a reduced deductible or water damage is needed.
Surface water, waves, tidal water, overflow of body water, or spray from any of these, whether or not pushed by the wind, is considered water damage.
The address must be specified on the primary homeowner’s policy under the Other Residence section for liability coverage for boat docks and/or lifts (not rented to others) away from the residence premises.
Does boat insurance cover boat lift?
Boat insurance often covers damage from collisions, any liability or wrongdoing on your part, and damage if your watercraft is stolen. However, unless you have a premium package or specifically request coverage, most boat plans do not cover other equipment like lifts and hoists. However, it is critical to understand the terminology of your policy and what is and is not covered. It’s a good idea to keep a hard copy of your insurance policy on hand. If your insurance does not cover your boat lift, you should add it to your existing policy or seek a quote for a separate policy as soon as possible.
Does insurance cover soil erosion?
Because erosion isn’t among the stated risks, the damage it causes to your home or property isn’t covered by your homes insurance. Earthquakes, erosion, sinkholes, and landslides are all considered “earth movements,” and are often not covered by a homeowner’s insurance policy.
Does insurance cover garden walls?
While some insurers specialize in garden insurance, most typical house insurance policies include limited coverage for your garden and its contents as part of the package.
Buildings insurance will normally cover structural items such as your shed, conservatory, and any garden fences, gates, or walls that are inside the borders of your property.
Contents insurance can cover movable goods like garden furniture and plant pots, but this is a little more tricky, as we’ll explain below.
Why don t insurance companies cover retaining walls?
Homeowners insurance will not cover damage to your retaining wall caused by freezing and thawing water, or the weight of water, ice, or saturated soil. Other exclusions include failure to maintain the retaining wall, animal damage, and damage caused by the foundation sinking.