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Theft
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Cover for theft or burglary from your home. Most insurers require you to make a police report.
- • Covers theft and attempted theft
• No cover for theft by residents; paying guests; tenants/their visitors or someone entering through part of home under construction, renovation or alteration -
Fire
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Cover for damage caused by fire and its by-products (smoke, soot, ash, etc). Waiting periods for bushfire may apply, unless you are switching from another policy with equivalent cover with no change in sum insured.
- • Covers fire; bushfire; grassfire; and heat, ash, soot or smoke from fire within 100m of address
• Accidental damage option covers heat, ash, soot or smoke from fire over 100m from address -
Flood
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Flood as per the standard industry-wide definition. Waiting periods may apply unless you are switching from another policy with equivalent cover with no change in sum insured.
- • Optional
• No cover for damage to garden borders, driveways, paths, pavers, gardens, jetties, wharves, pontoons, retaining walls, swimming pool/spa liners or covers or tennis court surfaces/spas
• No cover for water in swimming pools/spas
• Fences and gates not covered unless in good condition
• 72 hour waiting period -
Storm and cyclone
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Cover for storm damage, including from wind, hail, snow and rainwater runoff (some insurers cover runoff under flood). Waiting periods may apply unless you are switching from another policy with equivalent cover with no change in sum insured.
- • Covers storm; rainwater; escape of rainwater from water pipes, drains or gutters; and wind caused by storms/heavy rain
• Covers earth movement but must occur as a result of and within 72 hours of storm/heavy rain
• Covers surface run-off rainwater from surrounding areas but must occur within 24 hours of storm/heavy rain
• No cover for due to an opening not created by an insured event caused by dust, hail, rain, snow or wind
• No cover for damage to artificial grass/turf, courts designed for sports with fixed surfaces, garden borders, driveways, paths, pavers, gardens, jetties, wharves, pontoons, retaining walls, swimming pool/spa liners or covers or tennis court surfaces
• No cover for water in swimming pools/spas
• Fences and gates not covered unless in good condition
• 72 hour waiting period for storm (including cyclone) -
Storm surge
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Where the sea level rises as a result of a storm. You may also have to claim for storm damage or flood for this to be covered. Some insurers only cover in the event of cyclone. If this is important cover for you, check the PDS.
- No
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Action of the sea
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This usually covers the normal movements of the sea, including damage from king high tides, water erosion, etc.
- No
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Tsunami
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Products that cover tsunami usually include it under earthquake cover, and often comes with an additional excess of $300 or more. Check your PDS for details.
- Yes
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Explosion
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In some policies the actual exploding object is not covered.
- Yes
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Earthquake
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Earthquake cover often comes with an additional excess of $300 or more. Check your PDS for details.
- Yes
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Vandalism
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May also be called "malicious damage". Some insurers also classify "riot" as a separate event.
- Yes
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Impact damage
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Cover if a tree falls on your house or a car crashes into your front room, for example. Some insurers that cover animal damage do so under this event.
- Yes
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Animal damage
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This cover often comes with a range of exclusions - insect damage or damage caused by your pets typically isn't covered, for example.
- • Covers impact damage caused by animals/birds not kept at address
• Accidental damage option covers impact damage caused by animals/birds kept at address
• No cover for damage caused by animals/birds biting, chewing, clawing or pecking
• No cover for damage caused by insects, lizards, rodents, termites or vermin -
Escape of liquid
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From pipes, tanks, pools, spas, baths/basins, aquariums, waterbeds etc. Excludes faulty workmanship or leaks that cause damage over time.
- Yes
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Breakage
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Damage to easily broken objects like mirrors. Not to be confused with accidental damage, which is a broader level of cover.
- Yes
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Accidental damage
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Cover for accidental loss and damage to your building and/or contents at home. Usually covers damage you didn't expect or intend, subject to the exclusions.
- • Optional
• Covers accidental loss and damage to home and contents
• Covers impact damage caused by animals or birds kept at the address
• Covers scorch marks caused by a hot pan on your benchtop
• Covers ash, heat, smoke or soot when no fire damage has occurred
• Covers melting or scorching when there is heat but no flame
• Covers accidental breakage of glass and crystal items designed to be carried by hand
• Covers accidental breakage of glass in a TV, radio, tablet or visual display unit or that forms part of a radio, clock, vase, ornament or lamp
• No cover for aircraft, drones or model craft and their accessories
• No cover for audio or video tapes or clothing or accessories
• No cover for bicycles; e-bikes; scooters; e-scooters or sporting, recreational or leisure goods or equipment while being used
• No cover for cash, cheques or gift cards or other similar financial items
• No cover for CDs, DVDs, digital storage devices, records, computer software, game cartridges or game consoles
• No cover for items used in business, trade or profession
• No cover for mobile phones, smart phones or smart devices or their accessories
• No cover for swimming pools or spas or any associated equipment
• No cover for damage caused by computer viruses; malfunction to computer systems; loss or corruption of data; tenants living in the home; paying guests staying in the home; intentional or deliberate acts; construction, alteration or renovation work; power surge or fluctuation (unless caused by lightning strike); processes of professional cleaning, repairing, restoring or renovation; or cleaning involving chemicals other than domestic household chemicals
• No cover for other damage caused by animals, birds or their excrement
• No cover for burning or scorching caused by cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• No cover for chipping, denting or scratching caused by normal use
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Out-of-hours claiming
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The easiest ways to begin a claim outside business hours. All insurers have a phone line you can call during the day, and some insurers still have in-branch claiming.
- Online and 24/7 phone
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How the insurer can settle your claim
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Insurers will settle your claim in one of three ways.
- • Repair damaged property
• Replace damaged property
• Pay you the property's replacement value, up to your sum insured or other sublimits -
Cash settlement for building claims
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How much will you get in a cash settlement? How a cash payout is calculated can depend on whether you request it or the insurer offers it. Customer cost: The insurer will pay what it will reasonably cost you to repair/replace your property. Insurer cost: The insure will pay what it would cost them. This offer may take into account trade discounts the insurer can access, leaving you out of pocket.
- • Customer cost if insurer offers cash
• Insurer cost if you ask for cash (may be less than retail cost) -
Cash settlement for contents claims
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How much will you get in a cash settlement? How a cash payout is calculated can depend on whether you request it or the insurer offers it. Non-cash alternatives might include gift cards, pre-paid debit cards, store credit, etc. Customer cost: The insurer will pay what it will reasonably cost you to repair/replace your contents. Insurer cost: The insurer will pay what it would cost them. This offer may take into account trade discounts the insurer can access, leaving you out of pocket.
- • Customer cost if insurer offers cash
• Insurer cost if you ask for cash (may be less than retail cost)
• Insurer may offer non-cash alternatives -
New for old contents replacement
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All insurers promise to replace contents with equivalent new items, although some policies have exceptions.
- Yes
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Motor burnout
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Cover for burnout of motors that are part of your building, eg automatic garage doors or air conditioner units. Motors in contents are also frequently covered, eg washing machines. Also called motor fusion.
- • Motors up to 10 years
• Optional -
Keys and locks after break-in
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Cover for replacing locks and re-coding electronic keys after a break-in or theft of the keys. Policies usually stipulate you report the break-in to the police.
- Up to $1000 overall
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Gardens and landscaping
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Typically includes trees, shrubs, etc planted in the ground. Lawns are usually excluded. Potted plants are usually defined as contents, and treated separately.
- No
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Costs to comply with building regulations
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During rebuilding, in the event of total loss.
- • Up to 10% sum insured overall
• Paid on top of sum insured
• Limit combined with debris removal and professional fees -
Professional fees
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Cover the cost of professionals such as surveyors, engineers and architects.
- • Up to 10% sum insured overall
• Paid on top of sum insured
• Limit combined with building regulations and debris removal -
Mortgage discharge fees
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Fees your bank might charge for early payment of your mortgage in the event of the total loss of your building.
- Up to $750 overall
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Debris removal and demolition
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To demolish and remove debris after an insured event. Cover also applies to contents claims unless specified.
- • Up to 10% sum insured overall
• Paid on top of sum insured
• Limit combined with building regulations and professional fees -
Temporary accommodation
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If your home is uninhabitable after an insured event.
- • Up to 12 months or 10% sum insured
• Paid on top of sum insured
• Covers accommodation for you and your pets
• Up to $250 for emergency groceries
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Cover for unspecified portable contents
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Cover for unspecified portable items such as jewellery, phones and sporting equipment. Some insurers will cover general contents away from home, while others cover a limited range of items (check the PDS for specifics). You may be covered for accidental loss and damage, on top of the usual list of insured events. In some cases you will pay a reduced excess.
- • Covers some items for accidental loss/damage
• Choose overall limit from $1000–$5000
• Up to $1000 per item
• Covered anywhere in Australia, New Zealand, and for up to 90 days in rest of the world
• $100 excess
• Optional -
Optional cover for individual portable valuables
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For an extra premium you can insure individual portable valuables against accidental loss or damage. Individually listed items are insured for their replacement value and will be shown on your certificate of insurance. Your insurer may require you to list something if it is worth more than the item limit for "unspecified" portable contents. Some insurers will only cover certain items if you specify them, such as phones.
- • Cover for accidental loss/damage
• Covered away from home in Australia, New Zealand, and for up to 90 days in rest of the world
• $100 excess -
Contents in the open air
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Open air usually includes any area on your property that is exposed to the elements, but may also include unlockable areas like a garden shed. Each insurer has different definitions, so check with them for restrictions.
- • Up to sum insured overall
• Up to $1000 for theft -
Emergency storage
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Covers the cost of commercial storage for your undamaged contents, if they are unable to be kept at your home or temporary accommodation after an insured event.
- • Up to sum insured
• Covers removing/storing contents in commercial storage facility -
Jewellery
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Limits for unlisted jewellery at the home. If you want a higher level of cover or need cover away from home, see listed valuables cover above.
- • Up to $5000 overall
• Up to $1000 per item or set -
Artworks
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Cover for unlisted works of art. If you want a higher level of cover, you may be able to specifically list individual items.
- • Up to $12000 overall
• Up to $5000 per item or set -
Collections (e.g. stamps, coins)
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Cover for unlisted collections (eg coins, stamps). If you want a higher level of cover you may be able to specifically list the collection. In some cases cover may depend on the type of collection, so check the PDS.
- • Up to sum insured overall
• Up to $2000 per item or collection -
Digital media
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Cover for contents such as digital media, software, and storage (e.g. discs, drives).
- Up to $3000 overall
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Spoiled food
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Typically you won't pay the full excess unless it is as a result of an insured event (in which case you'll probably be claiming for other damages).
- • Up to $500 overall
• Cover for insured events
• Optional cover for motor burnout -
Visitors' contents
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Cover for your visitors' belongings if they are lost or damaged in an insured event. Standard exclusions and restrictions will apply.
- Up to $500 overall
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Pet cover
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Some policies will cover your vet bills in certain circumstances.
- No
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Overlapping cover at a new house
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Let your insurer know you're moving house and they may cover your contents at both properties during the moving process.
- Up to 14 days cover at both addresses
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Cover for contents while moving house
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Cover while moving your contents to a new home. Usually only covers your contents while they're in the moving truck, not while you're loading in or out.
- • Up to 20% contents sum insured overall
• Cover for overturning of removal vehicle, collision and fire