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Common reasons why home insurance claims get denied
Date updated: 2026-05-11
© TD Bank Financial Group (2026). All Rights Reserved. Authored by: Belle Wong
Learn what can cause a home insurance claim to be denied , so you can spot gaps in your coverage, avoid unpleasant surprises—and ensure any claim you make will go smoothly. Your home insurance is there to help protect you, and understanding how it works helps makes that protection even stronger.
What are some common reasons home insurance claims are denied?
When insurers deny a claim, it's often for reasons that are avoidable once you know what they are. The following are some of the most common reasons a home insurance claim might be denied.
1. Paperwork, filing, or documentation errors
When you find yourself needing to file a home insurance claim, it's often in the middle of an already stressful situation. And chances are, you've probably already had a tough day (or week) doing cleanup, making calls, and generally trying to get life back to normal. With so much happening, it's easy to make small errors that can affect your claim.
How to avoid: Knowing what to double-check before submitting your claim can save you time and trouble later. Keep an eye out for the following:
- Missing or inaccurate information
- Insufficient documentation or proof of damage
- Duplicate claim (i.e. claim for an issue you've already filed a claim for)
2. Unpaid premiums
Whether it's an expired or replaced credit card, a renewal notice that gets missed—or maybe a stressful life event that puts everything else on the backburner — it can be easy to lose track of a premium payment. The problem? A missed premium can result in your coverage being paused (or maybe even cancelled).
How to avoid: Set up automatic payments or reminders to help you stay on top of your home insurance premium payments and ensure your coverage is there when you need it.
3. Improper maintenance or failure to make necessary repairs
Home insurance claims can be denied if the damage was caused because a homeowner performed improper maintenance or neglected to repair a known issue.
For example, let's say you discovered signs of a slow roof leak a few years ago, but you never got around to fixing it—or maybe you applied a temporary DIY fix but forgot to follow up with a proper repair. During an intense rainstorm this spring, your leaky roof caused significant water damage in your attic, and you submitted a claim for this damage. In this scenario, your insurer may deny your claim because the damage resulted from a known issue that wasn't repaired promptly.
How to avoid: Be on the alert for early signs of problems, and address any issues you spot promptly. Consider using qualified professionals for any repairs that might impact your home's structures or systems.
4. Policy exclusions
Every home insurance policy includes exclusions, which are specific events or types of damage your policy doesn't cover. Common exclusions include overland flooding, normal wear and tear, and acts of war or terrorism. And knowing what's excluded under your policy helps you see if you need to consider adding on additional coverage. For example, with climate change adding increased rainfall and more frequent freeze-thaw cycles to Canadian weather patterns—both of which can raise the risk of water entering your home through the roof or walls — above ground water coverage may be worth considering.
How to avoid: Review the exclusions in your policy carefully and if your home is at risk for something that's excluded, talk with your insurer about any optional coverage you may be able to add on to your policy to help cover that risk.
Why didn't my insurer cover the full cost of my claim?
If your claim was approved but your insurer didn't pay out the full amount you claimed, minus the deductible, it's likely because your claim was more than your coverage limit. Coverage limits put a cap on the maximum amounts your insurer will pay for different types of losses. So, if the cost to repair or replace something exceeds your coverage limit, your insurer won't cover the extra amount.
How to avoid: Make sure you review your coverage regularly, so you can increase your limits if necessary to better reflect current rebuilding and replacement costs.
Why didn't my insurer pay for the costs of repairing the issue that caused the damage?
In some cases, the costs of repairing the issue that caused the damage to your home might not be covered by your policy— even though the damage that resulted is covered. If this is the case, while you'll be able to submit a claim for the damage that was caused, your claim will not include the costs of fixing whatever caused the damage.
So, for example, if water from heavy rains gets into your basement through cracks in your foundation and you have extended water damage coverage, your claim would include the costs of repairing the water damage to your basement, but not the costs of fixing the cracks in your foundation.
Common home insurance coverage questions, answered
Understanding what your home policy covers (and what it doesn't cover) can help you avoid unpleasant surprises if you ever need to file a claim. In this section, we'll look at some common coverage questions homeowners ask.
Should I file for smaller claims if I have a high deductible?
Before submitting a claim, make sure it's worthwhile, especially if you have a high deductible. Here's why: Filing a claim can affect the cost of your premium when you renew your policy. So, it's important to weigh the impact of filing a claim carefully, especially if it's a smaller claim where the cost of repairs is not much more than your deductible. In such cases, it often makes more sense to pay for the repairs yourself rather than filing a claim. Read more about home insurance deductibles here.
Will my insurance cover flooding from outside my home?
Standard home insurance policies often don't cover floods from outside (also known as overland flooding). If that's the case with your home insurance, and you live in an area where floods are a risk, check with your insurer to see if you can purchase an optional add-on to give you the coverage you need.
Are you a TD Insurance home insurance customer? Our Extended Water Damage coverage, which includes sewer backups and overland flooding, is available on our standard home policy.† Learn more about our water damage coverages here.
Am I covered for extreme weather events?
Your coverage for weather-related damage will depend on the type of damage or loss that occurs, rather than on the specific weather condition involved, such as extreme weather events.
To better understand your coverage for weather-related damage, take a look at your coverage limits and exclusions. Are you covered for damage that's often caused by extreme weather situations that are common to your area? For example, intense, heavy rainstorms can often cause overland flooding or sewer backups, which some standard home policies might exclude. If you have any questions or if there's a coverage gap you need to fill, reach out to your insurer about coverage add-ons you may be able to purchase.
What happens if my home is damaged by animals or insects?
Standard home policies usually don't provide coverage for pest or rodent damage — unless the damage is a result of an event that your policy does cover. For example, if mice get into your home through a crack and gnaw through your furniture, you likely won't be covered. But if they decide to chomp on your electrical wiring instead, causing a short that sparks a fire, you'd be covered for any fire-related damage, because fires are events covered by home insurance.
Is wear and tear covered by my home insurance?
Insurance is meant to cover sudden, unexpected risks, so damage caused by normal wear and tear or gradual deterioration is typically excluded in standard home insurance policies. Examples include damage from pipes that have corroded over time and damage resulting from system failures due to old equipment. Since the exact exclusions and definitions will vary, it's a good idea to review your policy to see how terms like "wear and tear", "maintenance", and "neglect" are defined and determine the specific exclusions that apply.
To help protect your home from this type of damage, it's important to perform periodic inspections, keep up with any necessary home maintenance and repairs, and replace or upgrade older systems or equipment as needed (for example, plumbing systems, water heaters, and roofs).
Will my home insurance policy cover damage from illegal activity?
While home insurance policies won't cover damage that results from illegal acts committed by the homeowner or other residents covered by the policy, most policies typically provide coverage for theft or vandalism by a third party. So, for example, if someone breaks into your home and steals your belongings or spray paints graffiti all over your walls, you'll be covered.
Keep in mind, though, that standard policy limits might be not be enough to cover the costs of replacing stolen high-value items like artwork or jewelry. If your belongings include such high-value items or collections, consider talking with your insurer about purchasing Personal Valuables Coverage to help provide sufficient coverage for these items.
Can poor home maintenance lead to the denial of a claim?
Yes, poor home maintenance (or not performing any home maintenance at all) can potentially lead to a home insurance claim being denied. Insurance is designed to help protect you from sudden, unexpected risks—which means it won't cover damage caused by long-term neglect or regular wear-and-tear.
As a homeowner, you're expected to take reasonable steps to keep known issues from getting worse. This is where regular maintenance steps in. Staying alert to early problem signs and addressing them as soon as possible helps protect both your home and your coverage.
Will keeping up with my home maintenance help reduce my chances of a claim?
While home maintenance won't prevent many common causes of insurance claims, such as theft or damage from hail or fire, keeping up with regular maintenance can reduce the likelihood of certain types of claims by enabling you to spot and fix small issues early, before they turn into preventable damage.
Can documenting my home maintenance help my claim?
Yes, documenting your home maintenance can often help support your claim. Repair invoices, inspection reports, and before-and-after photos show you've been staying on top of routine upkeep and necessary repairs, and can help prevent delays or disputes about the cause of the damage.
Already a TD Insurance home insurance customer? Download the TD Insurance app now to review and manage your coverage right from your smartphone.
The content on this page is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Coverages described herein may be subject to additional eligibility criteria, limitations and exclusions. In the event you make a claim, potential indemnification is also subject to the receivability of the claim and the type of coverage you bought.
In the case of conflict between the content on this page and your policy wordings, your policy wordings shall take precedence.
†All add-on coverages are subject to eligibility and have a separate premium.