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Does renters insurance cover water damage from a washing machine?

I have a washing machine in my apartment. I’d normally consider myself really lucky, but the washing machine just flooded my apartment! A lot of my stuff is damaged. I have renters insurance and am considering submitting a claim. Will renters insurance cover water damage from a washing machine?

avatar
Emily Maracle · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
That’s super unfortunate, but know washing machines are an incredibly common cause of water damage. The good news is your renters insurance should cover the water damage from your washing machine.
There are
16 perils
home and renters insurance cover, including accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam. Since the damage your washer caused was accidental and not related to a recurring issue, your renters insurance will likely cover the water damage for your personal property.
That said, your renters insurance won’t cover any damage to your actual apartment. If you have carpet that needs to be repaired or any of the building’s structure is compromised, your landlord will need to file a claim with their property insurance.
Since you likely have coverage for your damaged property, you’ll want to call your insurance company and file a claim. They’ll likely request photos of the damage and ask you questions about what happened. From there, you should receive the actual cash value of your damaged property.
If you’re worried making a claim will cause your rates to rise, consider exploring your options with
Jerry
. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app gathers affordable quotes, helps you switch plans, and will even cancel your old policy once you’ve found new coverage.
MORE: Does renters insurance cover mold?
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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