Short answer: a standard homeowners or renters policy covers sudden, accidental damage from a listed peril. It excludes gradual damage, maintenance neglect, and flood, no matter the cause of the flood. Several common repairs, sewer backup, water backup, code-upgrade costs, are excluded by default and only covered if you bought a specific endorsement.
Sewer or drain backup: usually no, unless you bought the rider
A standard policy does not include this. It is sold separately as an endorsement, and the Institute says coverage is available from most providers for a nominal cost.
"Some policies cover sewer and drain backups, but many do not; however, you can purchase a sewer backup rider to a homeowners or renters policy for approximately an additional $50 each year, with the policy limits varying depending upon the insurer."
Insurance Information Institute (archived 2014 page)
A failed sump pump is treated the same way, bundled under that same endorsement.
Foundation problems: usually no, if the cause is earth movement
Cracking or shifting from settling, expansive soil, landslide, or earthquake is excluded outright.
Insurance Information Institute: "A landslide is considered an 'earth movement' event so, like an earthquake, it is excluded from standard homeowners and business insurance policies."
A covered peril, like a sudden pipe burst, undermining the foundation may be covered. Earth movement never is, without a separate earthquake policy.
Mold: usually no, unless it followed a covered peril
Insurers treat mold like rot or termites: a maintenance problem, not an insurable event.
Insurance Information Institute: "Mold, like rot and insect infestation, is a home maintenance issue and these are generally not covered by standard homeowners insurance policies. However, in the event that mold growth is the direct result of a covered peril such as a burst pipe, the cost of eliminating the mold may be covered."
Roof damage: usually yes for storms, usually no for age
Wind, hail, and falling trees are covered. Wear and neglect are not, and age counts against you even on a storm claim.
Insurance Information Institute: "Homeowners insurance policies typically cover roof damage resulting from a covered peril, such as wind, hail, or falling trees."
Insurance Information Institute: "If your roof is over 20 years old when you apply for home or business insurance, most insurance companies will require it to pass an inspection."
A tree falls on the house: usually yes, no matter whose tree it was
Insurance Information Institute: "If a tree hits your home or other insured structure, such as a detached garage, your standard homeowners insurance policy covers the damage to the structure, as well as any damage to the contents."
Insurance Information Institute: "You are insured no matter who owns the tree."
If the tree just lands in the yard without hitting a structure, debris removal generally is not covered.
Water damage: usually yes if sudden, usually no if gradual
This is the line that decides slab leaks and burst pipes too.
Insurance Information Institute: "Homeowners and renters insurance provides coverage for burst pipes, wind driven rain and damage resulting from ice dams on your roof."
The burst and its water damage are covered. Replacing the pipe itself is usually not, that's maintenance. A slow, undetected leak is gradual damage: excluded.
Flood: never, without a separate policy
No standard homeowners or renters policy anywhere covers flood.
FEMA (FloodSmart.gov): "Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) can help you find an insurance provider."
Flood coverage only exists if you bought it separately, through the NFIP or a private flood carrier.
Renters insurance: your belongings, not the building
Your landlord's policy covers the building, not what you own.
Insurance Information Institute: "Your landlord may have insurance to protect the building you are living in. But your landlord's policy won't replace your personal possessions or pay for your living expenses while the building is being repaired."
Insurance Information Institute: "Standard renters insurance protects your personal belongings against damage from fire, smoke, lightning, vandalism, theft, explosion, windstorm, water and other disasters listed in the policy. Floods and earthquakes are not covered."
Theft is included, with a common sublimit:
Insurance Information Institute: "up to $1,500 for jewelry or other expensive items that are destroyed or lost to fire, windstorms, theft or other perils that are listed in your policy."
What an endorsement actually does
An endorsement, also called a rider, is an add-on to the base policy.
Sewer/water backup and ordinance-or-law (code-upgrade) coverage are the two most common examples: both excluded by default, both covered only if you specifically bought the endorsement.
- Sewer/drain backup: excluded unless you bought the backup rider
- Foundation (earth movement): excluded, always
- Mold: excluded unless it followed a covered peril
- Roof, storm-caused: covered, age still matters
- Tree fell on the house: covered, regardless of who owned the tree
- Water damage, sudden: covered; gradual: excluded
- Flood: never covered without NFIP or private flood insurance
- Renters belongings: covered per your own policy's listed perils, not the landlord's
Look up a specific situation at the lookup, browse related coverage questions at browse by issue, or ask a specific case at /ask/.
This is general information, not insurance advice; coverage depends on your specific policy, read it and ask your agent about endorsements.