Homeowners

HOW TO REPORT A CLAIM Emergency Claims: 1.866.736.9222

What Should I Do in the Event of a Claim?

• Remain calm.
• Ensure that all persons involved are safe.
• Call emergency services, if required.
• Ensure that your property is safe. This point cannot be stressed enough! It is your property and therefore your responsibility.
• Call CDRG promptly to alleviate any problems concerning claim.

Mould from ongoing minor or hidden water damage

Minor or hidden water damage means that you had a leak for a long time before you became aware of it. The water seepage may be, for example, from a water pipe, hot water heater, or a window seal. You almost certainly have mould along with the leak and water damage. The adjuster and contractor will need to deal with issues, the water damage and the mould. Again, the cause of the leak will determine what costs your house insurance will cover. Discuss with your adjuster whether the cause of the minor or hidden water damage is covered by your policy and whether the mould was pre-existing.

Although this information product reflects housing experts' current knowledge, it is provided for general information purposes only. Any reliance or action taken based on the information, materials and techniques described are the responsibility of the user. Readers are advised to consult appropriate professional resources to determine what is safe and suitable in their particular case. CMHC assumes no responsibility for any consequence arising from use of the information, materials and techniques described.
Information provided from the CMHC.


For more information the CMHC website

Spotlight video on indoor air quality

Water Damage, Mould and House Insurance

You've had water damage in your house due to a burst pipe, a roof leak or a heavy summer storm. You hope that your insurance will cover the damage. What to do? First, read about mould below. You may not know the implications of water and mould damage.


Pre-existing Mould

Typically, most insurance policies cover mould damage if it is directly related to a "covered peril" or insured loss. This means that the direct cause of the water damage, and consequently the mould growth, can be identified. Your adjuster will want to determine whether the mould you are reporting is pre-existing. In other words, was mould in your house prior to the water damage? The adjuster may make a visit to your house to assess the cause of the mould. If you have a damp basement already full of furniture and stored items covered in mould, for example, and a water pipe bursts, you cannot claim for the material that was damaged prior to the water damage caused by the burst pipe. A good inspector should be able to tell the difference between pre-existing mould and recently developed mould.

The adjuster may determine that the mould is the result of some factor other than the water damage (the burst pipe) you reported, such as lack of maintenance or poor house design. If the mould was not the result of a specific occurrence that is covered by your insurance policy, the mould damage is unlikely to be covered by your policy.