In Texas, crime scene cleanup is usually paid for by homeowners or landlord insurance, by the Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation program (up to $2,250 for crimes on or after July 15, 2016), or by a combination of the two. Police, the medical examiner and the county do not clean the property or pay for it; that responsibility falls to the property owner. The good news is that most families don’t have to figure this out alone.
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The short answer
Homeowners insurance often covers biohazard and crime scene cleanup, depending on the policy.
Landlord or commercial property insurance usually applies when the scene is in a rental home, apartment or business.
Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation (CVC) can reimburse reasonable cleanup costs up to $2,250 when the death or injury resulted from a crime.
Law enforcement and the county do not pay for cleanup, and they do not clean the scene.
Does homeowners insurance cover crime scene cleanup?
Often, yes. Many homeowners policies treat blood and biohazard contamination from a violent event as sudden, accidental damage to the home, which is typically covered. Coverage depends on your specific policy, your deductible and the cause of the damage, so the only way to know for sure is to call your insurance company and open a claim.
When you call, ask your adjuster:
Is biohazard or crime scene cleanup covered under my dwelling coverage?
What is my deductible, and does it apply to this claim?
Do you need an itemized estimate and photos before work begins?
Can the cleanup company bill you directly?
A professional cleanup company should provide an itemized, line-item estimate and before-and-after documentation, because adjusters need both to approve a claim.
How Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation helps with cleanup
The Crime Victims’ Compensation program is run by the Texas Attorney General’s office. It helps victims of violent crime, and their families, with costs the crime caused, including crime scene cleanup.
What it covers for cleanup: reasonable and necessary costs to clean the crime scene, up to $2,250 for crimes that occurred on or after July 15, 2016. The work should be done by a professional cleaning company.
Who can apply: the victim, or a claimant who pays the cleanup expense. That can include a family member who hires the cleanup company after a loved one’s death.
Key requirements:
The crime must have happened in Texas and been reported to law enforcement within a reasonable period of time.
The application generally must be filed within three years of the crime.
Victims and claimants must cooperate with law enforcement and prosecutors. No one has to be arrested or convicted for you to apply.
CVC is a payer of last resort, so other sources such as insurance generally pay first, and CVC can help with what remains.
How to apply: download the CVC application from the Texas Attorney General’s website, or call the Crime Victim Services Division at (800) 983-9933. Your local police department or district attorney’s office often has a victim services coordinator who can help you fill it out.
What if the death happened in a rental property?
If the scene is in an apartment, rental home or business, the property owner is usually responsible for cleanup, and their landlord or commercial insurance policy is typically the first place to look. Family members are not usually expected to pay to restore a property they don’t own. We work directly with landlords, property managers and their insurance carriers.
What about suicide or an unattended death?
Crime Victims’ Compensation only applies when the death or injury was caused by a crime. Suicide and unattended deaths from natural causes generally aren’t crimes, so CVC usually won’t apply. In those situations, homeowners or landlord insurance is the main source of help, and many policies do cover this kind of cleanup.
What if there’s no coverage?
Sometimes a policy won’t cover the cleanup, or the cost exceeds what’s available. Ask for a clear, itemized quote before any work begins, so you know exactly what is being billed, from material costs to labor time. Never let anyone start work without a written agreement.
How Compassion RestoraClean helps
We don’t list prices online because no two scenes are the same, but we make the payment process as simple as possible:
An on-site evaluation and an itemized, line-item bid before any work begins
Photos and documentation your insurance company and the CVC program require
Direct billing to insurance whenever possible
Help completing paperwork, including for families who live out of state
Learn more about our crime scene cleanup, homicide cleanup, suicide cleanup and unattended death cleanup services.
Frequently asked questions
Do police clean up after a crime in Texas?
No. Police and investigators document and collect evidence, but they do not clean the property. Cleanup is the responsibility of the property owner.
How much does Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation pay for crime scene cleanup?
For crimes on or after July 15, 2016, the program can reimburse reasonable and necessary crime scene cleanup costs up to $2,250.
Does someone have to be arrested before I can apply for Crime Victims’ Compensation?
No. A suspect does not need to be identified, arrested, charged or convicted for you to apply, but the crime must be reported to law enforcement.
How long do I have to apply for Crime Victims’ Compensation?
Applications generally must be filed within three years of the crime, with some exceptions for good cause.
Will insurance pay the cleanup company directly?
Often, yes. Many insurers will pay the cleanup company directly once the claim is approved. We work with your adjuster to make that happen whenever possible.
This article is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Program rules and benefit limits can change; confirm current details with your insurance company or the Texas Attorney General’s Crime Victim Services Division at (800) 983-9933.
Sources: Texas Attorney General: Crime Victims’ Compensation overview; CVC benefits quick reference guide.
Call (817) 243-4005, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Compassion RestoraClean, an IICRC Certified Firm with IICRC-certified technicians, serving Dallas–Fort Worth and North Texas. Contact us
