Questions & answers · Renters insurance
I have bed bugs in my apartment. Will renters insurance pay, or is it my landlord's job?
Renters insuranceWho paysMaineNew JerseyTexasChecked Nov 7, 2026
From K.Actuary, founded by Sangmin Kwon, ASA · sources checked 2026-11-07 · Source: Texas Department of Insurance · Home insurance guide · What risks does a home policy cover? View original ↗
In short
- Most renters policies do not cover damage from insects.
- Tell your landlord about the bed bugs in writing today.
- In Maine, the landlord must inspect within 5 days of your notice.
What this means
Texas says most home policies do not cover damage from termites, insects, rats or mice [1]. New Jersey's renters summary lists insects and other vermin as a cause it does not cover [2]. Bed bugs are insects, so a renters claim for them will likely be turned down. Check your own policy to be sure.
Who must treat bed bugs depends on your state's landlord laws. In Maine, the landlord must inspect within 5 days after a tenant tells them [3]. If bed bugs are found, the landlord must contact a pest control agent within 10 days [4]. Maine also says the tenant must tell the landlord promptly [5]. The tenant must also let the landlord in to inspect for or treat the bed bugs [7].
Maine's law does not make the landlord pay to replace your things [6]. Other states may have their own rules, so rules in your state may differ.
Your next step
Tell your landlord about the bed bugs in writing today and keep a copy. In Maine, the landlord then has 5 days to inspect [3] and 10 days to call a pest control agent after finding them [4]. Read the exclusions in your renters policy before you file.
Check it yourself
Open your renters policy and look in the exclusions for insects or vermin. These sources are from Texas, New Jersey and Maine, so rules in your state may differ. Your own state's bed bug rules for landlords: "Don't know yet" — ask your state or local housing office, or a lawyer.
Where this comes from (7)
[1] Texas Department of Insurance · Home insurance guide · What risks does a home policy cover? · checked 2026-11-07
Termites, insects, rats, or mice" (listed under "Most policies don’t cover damages from:")
[2] New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance · Renters Insurance summary (Exhibit C) · Your Policy Does Not Cover Losses Caused by · checked 2026-11-07
Termites, insects, rats, mice, birds or other vermin
[3] Maine Legislature · 14 M.R.S. §6021-A · subsection 2, paragraph A · checked 2026-11-07
Upon written or oral notice from a tenant that a dwelling unit may have a bedbug infestation, the landlord shall within 5 days conduct an inspection of the unit for bedbugs.
[4] Maine Legislature · 14 M.R.S. §6021-A · subsection 2, paragraph B · checked 2026-11-07
Upon a determination that an infestation of bedbugs does exist in a dwelling unit, the landlord shall within 10 days contact a pest control agent pursuant to paragraph C .
[5] Maine Legislature · 14 M.R.S. §6021-A · subsection 3, paragraph A · checked 2026-11-07
A tenant shall promptly notify a landlord when the tenant knows of or suspects an infestation of bedbugs in the tenant's dwelling unit.
[6] Maine Legislature · 14 M.R.S. §6021-A · subsection 2, paragraph F · checked 2026-11-07
This paragraph may not be construed to require the landlord to provide the tenant with alternate lodging or to pay to replace the tenant's personal property.
[7] Maine Legislature · 14 M.R.S. §6021-A · subsection 3, paragraph B · checked 2026-11-07
a tenant shall grant the landlord of the dwelling unit, the landlord's agent or the landlord's pest control agent and its employees access to the unit for purposes of an inspection for or control of the infestation of bedbugs.
How we found this
We matched your question to 7 official sources, quoted the exact lines, and re-checked each quote against its source on 2026-11-07.
What we don’t know yet
Your own plan or notice may say something different. If your letter cites another rule, send it and we will look again.
Every answer is checked against the official rule it quotes.
Information only — not legal advice. Your plan, insurer or agency decides.
This answer quotes the official sources listed above, with the date we checked them. Your own policy, notice and state rules control. We are not your lawyer or your insurer. We don’t file, argue or negotiate claims for you — you send any letter or form yourself.
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