Written by Kirk Wallace
Reviewed by Adrian Taylor
Last updated 23/11/23
Australia is no stranger to storms. While some areas bear the brunt of storm season more so than others, wild weather can occur anywhere. Fortunately, home and contents insurance can help. Here’s what you need to know about cover for storm damage:
Our resident home and contents insurance expert, Stephen Zeller, has helpful tips for protecting your nest during a storm.
Ensure your gutters are clear of leaves and other items that would prevent the rain from draining effectively. If you live close to large trees, you should consider installing leaf guards to ensure your gutters and downpipes can work effectively.
See that all outdoor furniture is secured or can be stored away quickly if a storm approaches, and ensure indoor furniture (such as cabinets and bookshelves) are anchored to the wall so they won’t fall.
Regularly check trees to ensure any dead or overhanging branches are removed and any dead trees are removed or made safe to prevent damage if there are high winds.
Make sure you’ve accurately evaluated the cost to rebuild/replace your home and its contents if they’re destroyed so the sum insured on your insurance policy is adequate.
Keep an eye on the weather and news reports so that you have time to act when needed. If your home insurer provides SMS alerts, make sure you pay attention to these and act accordingly.
Home and contents insurance does cover damage caused by storms since they’re considered a defined event. This type of cover can offer financial protection for damage or losses to your property and belongings caused by storms, hail, strong winds and rainwater runoff.
Your home and contents policy’s Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) outlines the exact events you may receive financial cover for if your property suffers storm damage; this is called a defined event.
Storm cover included in your policy can cover a range of weather and natural events that could:
Insurers may each have their own definition of storm damage, but it’s usually damage and loss caused by:
However, while home and contents insurance can cover a wide variety of events and damages, there are some exclusions where your claim might be rejected, including:
This list isn’t exhaustive and different insurers may cover different things, so you should always read the PDS of any policy before you buy it.
If you live near the sea, you might also want to consider whether your home faces the potential for additional risks. These can range from king tides and coastal erosion to subsidence and building collapse. If you do live in a coastal area, you might not be covered for storm surge-related damages. If your home could be at risk of storm damage, you should review the terms and conditions of your home and contents policy, which you’ll find listed in your PDS.
Keep in mind, though, that flood damage cover is not the same as storm damage cover. Flood cover isn’t always available or included in standard home and contents insurance policies, but it may be an optional extra that you can add at an additional cost.
You should also review your policy and assess your level of cover regularly to make sure your property and assets are adequately insured against unexpected events, like a storm.
The cost of your home insurance will depend on a range of factors. You may pay more for your home and contents policy if you live in an area prone to natural disasters (e.g. floods, storms, bushfires) Your premiums may also vary between insurers and policies.
Premiums can be impacted by factors like:
Most home and contents insurance policies will also usually cover earthquakes, floods, storms, lightning strikes and hail damage. However, flooding, actions of the sea and landslides, for example, may be excluded. Always read the PDS for all the inclusions and exclusions of your policy.
Generally speaking, storm season in Australia is November to March. Realistically, however, weather events like heavy rain, strong winds, hailstorms and even thunder and lightning can happen any time throughout the year. So, if you wait until a major storm is imminent or already impacting your area, it may be too late to properly protect your home from that event. That’s why storm cover is essential to have as a ‘financial umbrella’ for your home and contents.
If your property has been damaged during a storm, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) advises following these simple steps:1
After you’ve lodged a storm damage insurance claim, your insurer may send an assessor to inspect your property. They’ll provide the insurer with their findings, which will help the insurer decide whether to accept or decline your claim.
If the assessor can’t determine whether the damage was caused by a storm or flood, they may organise a hydrologist (a water specialist) to assess your property and the surrounding area to determine the exact cause of the damage.
Many insurance policies also include cover for temporary accommodation if your property is uninhabitable because of storm damage, so be sure to check your PDS for this benefit should a storm hit your area.
As Compare the Market’s home and contents insurance expert, Stephen Zeller works to make the protection of a homeowner’s most significant financial assets an easier and more efficient process.
Stephen has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is an Allied member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) and ensures any information about insurance products that we publish is accurate and comprehensive.
1 Queensland Fire and Emergency Services: Storm (2022).
