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Johner Images/Getty Images November 10, 2022 Kacie Goff is a personal finance and insurance writer with over seven years of experience covering personal and commercial coverage options. She writes for Bankrate, The Simple Dollar, NextAdvisor, Varo Money, Coverage, Best Credit Cards and more. She's covered a broad range of policy types — including less-talked-about coverages like wrap insurance and E&O — and she specializes in auto, homeowners and life insurance. Angelica Leicht is an insurance editor on the Bankrate team. She is truly passionate about helping readers make well-informed decisions for their wallets, whether the goal is to find the right comprehensive auto policy or the best life insurance policy for their needs. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of how we make money. Our content is backed by LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our Insurance Disclosure. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. A treehouse can be a fun addition to your backyard, and it will probably earn you some big brownie points with the kids. If you have a large, healthy tree in your yard, a treehouse can seem like a tempting proposition. But you should know that putting in a treehouse is not without its risks, and it may also affect your homeowners insurance coverage. Compare rates and save on home insurance today! Get quotes Close X This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions. Compare home insurance rates
Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers. Continue Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249) Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. Quick Facts $382/year average savings through Bankrate 2 out of 3 homes are underinsured 1 out of every 20 insured homes makes a claim each year 100% of homes need insurance before getting a mortgage Bankrate See more providers in Choose from insurers in Show More Mortgage Leaving so soon Your custom quotes are just minutes away
Return to form This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions. Compare home insurance rates
Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers. Continue Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249) Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. Quick Facts $382/year average savings through Bankrate 2 out of 3 homes are underinsured 1 out of every 20 insured homes makes a claim each year 100% of homes need insurance before getting a mortgage Bankrate See more providers in Choose from insurers in Show More Mortgage Leaving so soon Your custom quotes are just minutes away
Return to form Before you start construction on your new treetop hangout, it is important to think through potential insurance ramifications to understand where you may be at risk. Specifically, you need to know if your offers coverage for treehouses, or if constructing one could lead to issues with your policy renewal. Does homeowners insurance cover treehouses
Your homeowners insurance is intended to step in when life presents unexpected losses. It helps you rebuild after a fire or replace belongings stolen by a thief, for example. It offers protections beyond that, as well — ones you may need to rely on if a guest gets injured in your treehouse. Specifically, the your policy offers may be able to help you cover a guest’s medical expenses or a resulting lawsuit after a treehouse-related injury. Additionally, the in your policy may help with repairs if the treehouse is damaged in a storm or fire. All of this depends on your insurance company offering coverage for treehouses, however. Some insurance companies extend protection to treehouses with no exclusions, while others will only do so if you put certain safety measures in place. You should also know that some insurance providers refuse to cover treehouses based on risk presented and may even deny your policy renewal if you put a treehouse on your property. Long story short, before you start building a treehouse, call your insurance company and ask how your policy might address treehouses. While it might seem perfectly acceptable to just build the treehouse and not inform your insurance provider about it, you might end up regretting that decision. If a treehouse-related incident occurs and your insurance company was unaware of the treehouse, the insurance company may deny your claim. When are treehouses covered
Assuming you have some degree of treehouse coverage through your home insurance policy, there are a couple of specific situations in which it can step in to help you with a loss. Treehouse damage
Consider one aspect of treehouses and insurance — damage to the actual treehouse. Does homeowners insurance cover tree houses if they get damaged by high winds, fire or a natural disaster? What about damage caused by vandals? If your homeowners insurance policy can extend to your treehouse, you can rest easy. Per the other structures portion of your policy, the same protections you have for your house should apply to your treehouse up to your policy limit. That is, it should be protected against fire, windstorms, hail, theft, vandalism or any other covered peril listed in your policy. Other structures coverage is generally capped at 10 percent of your dwelling limit, although you may be able to increase the coverage if you need to. Treehouses are a bit of a unique case in the insurance world, though. Before you assume your home insurance will cover treehouse damage, call your insurance company to confirm. Treehouse injuries
Liability for injuries is the primary concern associated with treehouses and insurance. The liability coverage portion of your home insurance does two things for you in the event that a guest gets injured on your property. First, it can help to pay for the resulting medical expenses if you are found negligent or liable. Secondly, if the guest decides to sue you for the injury, it can help with court costs and even cover the settlement, up to your policy limits. If your home policy offers treehouse coverage, you may be able to turn to your liability coverage to help if a guest gets hurt while climbing around in your treehouse or falls from it. If you aren’t found liable for the injuries, your policy’s medical payments coverage may pay. While your liability coverage and medical payments coverage may help if a guest gets injured in your treehouse, you may need to rely on your health insurance — or your health savings account, if you lack health insurance — if one of your family members gets hurt. Treehouses vs trampolines
While the insurance considerations regarding treehouses may cause you to look elsewhere for a form of backyard entertainment, features like a trampoline or swimming pool present similar issues. Insurance companies consider both treehouses and trampolines , which means they may attract a child who can be injured on them. In either case, insurance companies may refuse to extend coverage to the trampoline or treehouse — or even refuse to renew the policy if the homeowner puts one on the property. In fact, trampolines are more commonly excluded from a home insurance policy’s protection. Call your insurance company to see where it stands on both before you decide which one (if any) to put in your yard. How much does treehouse insurance cost
Technically, treehouse insurance as a standalone policy does not exist. But your home insurance may be able to offer coverage to your new backyard addition under your other structures, liability and medical payments limits. When you shop for insurance, you should expect a treehouse to make your go up, but that may not happen in every case. Not all insurance companies increase rates after a treehouse is added to a property, but some do as a way to cover the added risk that comes with the elevated hangout. If you need to increase your other structures, liability or medical payments coverage to account for the added risk, though, you’ll likely pay more. Ask your insurance provider if you would pay more for your policy if you put a treehouse in your yard so you can weigh the potential benefits versus the costs. Additionally, if you need your policy to pay for damage to the treehouse, be prepared to pay your . Fortunately, the deductible does not apply to liability or medical payments claims, so you should not need to cover anything out-of-pocket for treehouse-related injuries any guest sustains. How can you build a treehouse that is safe
Keeping safety considerations top of mind is a best practice if you are thinking about adding a treehouse to your property. If you do have a treehouse, you may want to add a few safety features to reduce the risks associated with it, such as: Cameras: If you build a treehouse, adding a camera or two may be a good idea. This can help you look out for potential safety hazards and eliminate liability in case of an accident. Cameras may also help you monitor the treehouse while you are away and can be a great tool in the event of a burglary. Lighting: Another way to make a treehouse safer is to add lighting. This may help deter crime and reduce the risk of falls. If your treehouse is going to be in use all hours of the day and night, you may want to consider solar-powered lights. Railings: Installing railings on a treehouse can help prevent falls. You can use railings inside and out and may also want to consider a railing along the ramp or ladder. While it will not help with liability, railings may help prevent a child from falling or getting hurt. Gates: You can add a gate to the treehouse or around the tree to keep kids safe. This may also help reduce liability if a child tries to climb up to the treehouse. Safety locks: Safety locks on the doors and windows of a treehouse can deter intruders and help keep the treehouse safe and secure. Weather guards: If you live in an area that deals with a lot of rain, snow and ice, you may want to consider adding weather guards to the roof and walls of your treehouse. This will help keep the treehouse protected from severe weather and prevent leaks and water damage. It may also be beneficial to talk with your local insurance agent about your treehouse plans. Your agent may be able to suggest a few ways to protect your treehouse and reduce liability and homeowners insurance costs. SHARE: Kacie Goff is a personal finance and insurance writer with over seven years of experience covering personal and commercial coverage options. She writes for Bankrate, The Simple Dollar, NextAdvisor, Varo Money, Coverage, Best Credit Cards and more. She's covered a broad range of policy types — including less-talked-about coverages like wrap insurance and E&O — and she specializes in auto, homeowners and life insurance. Angelica Leicht is an insurance editor on the Bankrate team. She is truly passionate about helping readers make well-informed decisions for their wallets, whether the goal is to find the right comprehensive auto policy or the best life insurance policy for their needs. Related Articles