Guide
Who pays for biohazard cleanup?
There are four usual sources: insurance, South Dakota's victim compensation program, the landlord or property owner, and the estate. Which one applies depends on what happened and who owns the property.
Answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
1
Homeowner, renter and auto insurance
Many property policies cover sudden, accidental damage to the home, and some treat biohazard cleanup and repairs as part of that. Whether yours does depends on the policy wording and the cause.
Call your agent or the claims line before work starts. Ask what is covered, whether you need their approval first, and what documents they need. Ask the cleanup company for photos and an itemized invoice. This site does not handle claims and cannot promise what any policy will pay.
2
South Dakota Crime Victims' Compensation
Victim compensation can pay for homicide scene cleanup
South Dakota's Crime Victims' Compensation Program, run by the Department of Public Safety, lists homicide scene cleanup among the expenses it can pay. State law limits it to a home or a vehicle.
Source: SD Department of Public Safety · SDCL 23A-28B-1
Cleanup by someone outside the family
It pays for cleanup done by people who are not immediate family of the victim and did not live with the victim.
Source: SDCL 23A-28B-1(13)
It pays last
In most cases it pays only when there is no other source, such as insurance. There are no income requirements.
Source: SD Department of Public Safety
Deadlines
Apply within one year. The crime must have been reported to law enforcement within five days of when it reasonably could be.
Source: SDCL 23A-28B-25
Where to get the form
Law enforcement agencies investigating a crime hand out application forms. The program's number is (605) 773-6317.
Source: SDCL 23A-28B-12 · SD DPS
No conviction needed
An award can be made whether or not anyone is prosecuted.
Source: SDCL 23A-28B-23
3
Landlords and property owners
In a rental, the owner is responsible for keeping the home fit to live in (SDCL 43-32-8). Talk to the landlord or property manager before arranging cleanup. They may already have a company and an insurance claim in progress.
For landlords covers what owners usually need to know.4
The estate
If the person who died owned the home, the cleanup is often paid from the estate, sometimes through the estate's own insurance. The personal representative or the family's lawyer can tell you how that works.
Cost
What drives the price
- How large the affected area is and how many rooms are involved
- What has to be removed: carpet, pad, subfloor, drywall, furniture
- How long the area went untreated
- How much waste has to be packed and disposed of
- Odor treatment and any repairs afterwards
Ask for a written scope and price before work starts.