Insurance, the state and the estate
Who pays for biohazard cleanup?
There is no single answer. It depends on what happened, where, and what cover is in place. These are the places to ask, in the order most people try them.
Homeowner, renter and business insurance
Many property policies are worth a call. Some pay for cleanup after a crime, an accident or a death, and some do not. The policy wording decides.
Call before work starts. Ask what is covered, whether there is a limit or a deductible, and which photos, reports and invoices the insurer wants.
Nobody can promise what a policy will pay, including a cleanup company. Ask the company what paperwork it gives you, and keep copies of everything.
Wisconsin Crime Victim Compensation
After a crime, the Crime Victim Compensation Program at the Wisconsin Department of Justice can pay reasonable and necessary costs for securing and cleaning a crime scene.
It only pays what insurance or another source does not. The crime must be reported to police within five days, and the claim filed within one year of the crime. Both can be waived in some cases.
Intake can take 90 to 120 days, so keep every invoice and receipt. The program's number is (800) 446-6564.
Other people who may pay
The landlord
In a rental, the property owner usually arranges and pays for the cleanup of the unit, often through the owner's insurance.
The estate
After a death, the person's estate may pay for cleaning the home. The executor or a lawyer can advise.
A business
If it happened at work, the business's own insurer is the first call.
Auto insurance
For a vehicle, ask whether comprehensive cover applies.
Other guides
- After a death at homePolice, the coroner or medical examiner, the funeral home, then the room.
- Who cleans up after the police leaveA plain answer to a question many families are left with.
- For landlords and property managersA death or injury in a rental unit: the order of things.
- How a referral worksWhat happens when you call, and what to ask the company.
- Questions and answersShort answers to what people ask most.
Appleton and the Fox Cities
Talk it through before you decide
You do not need to know the right words. Describe the room and what happened, and ask what the company would do first.
When the home has been released
Call and say what happened, in your own words. An independent cleanup company will explain what the work involves. You decide whether to go ahead.
Call (920) 555-0110Phone answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Calls may be recorded. See the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.