Compare storm damage insurance options

In Australia, storm insurance is typically included in most policies due to our harsh climate. Compare storm cover and storm insurance to find a home insurance plan that can protect you in the event of an emergency.

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Alex Ritchie

Updated on

05 May, 2024

What is storm damage insurance?

In Australia, standard home insurance and contents insurance policies typically include coverage for storm damage. As the name suggests, a policy that includes storm damage insurance should cover the policyholder for damage to your property caused by wind, hail, rain, lightning, snow or dust.

Oftentimes, insurance policies will group storm damage into the category ‘storm, rainwater and run-off’. According to FinancialRights.org, this typically refers to:

“Storm: a storm, cyclone or severe atmospheric disturbance which can be accompanied by strong winds, rain, lightning, hail, snow or dust.
Rainwater: water falling from the skies that runs off over the surface of the land (many policies include water overflowing from stormwater drains).
Run-off: rainwater that has collected or flowed across from normally dry ground or overflowed from pools or spas.”

What is covered by storm insurance?

The specific events and details that may be covered under storm damage will depend on the insurer and your policy. It’s worthwhile reading the terms and conditions as well as the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before proceeding for full details.

That being said, the following events may generally be covered in a policy that includes storm damage:

Earthquakes
Hail damage, including dents, cracks, and other impacts to your property
Fallen trees and branches
Damage caused by strong wind and debris
Lightning damage
Damage from rainwater (may not include flood damage), including run-off rainwater

What types of cover are available for storm damage?

There are two main types of cover available to choose from:

Indemnity Cover

This coverage involves compensating the policyholder for the actual losses incurred due to a covered event like a storm, up to the ‘sum-insured’ amount.

The "sum insured" is the maximum amount that your insurance company will pay out for your claim. This sum is usually stated in your policy documentation. For instance, if your policy specifies "up to $750,000 for building and $60,000 for contents," these are the maximum amounts that the insurance company will provide for repairs or replacements.

Keep in mind that indemnity cover considers wear and tear, meaning the insurer will account for the age and condition of your property and/or contents when you make the claim. If your building or contents have depreciated in value, the insurance payout might be adjusted accordingly.

Put simply, indemnity cover may see you compensated for the value that the damaged property had just before the storm, factoring in its age and wear.

Replacement Cover

With replacement cover in your insurance policy, the focus is on bringing your damaged property back to the condition it was in before the storm occurred, without considering depreciation.

This means that the insurance company will cover the cost of completely replacing or repairing the damaged building or contents, regardless of their age or wear.

For example, if a storm damages your roof and your policy has replacement cover for your home, the insurance company ideally will pay you the amount it would cost to repair or replace the existing roof with a new one - regardless of its age or wear.

What natural disasters does home insurance cover?

Your home insurance policy might provide protection against a variety of adverse incidents, while the exclusions could vary based on the chosen policy. The potential natural events that could lead to loss or damage to your property, covered by home insurance, may include:

Earthquakes
Toppled trees
Fires
Floods (if applicable)
Lightning strikes
Rainwater, including excess runoff and overflow
Storms

As a general rule of thumb, a home insurance policy typically encompasses your entire property, including permanent structures like garages. However, it's important to note that not all policies will extend coverage to losses or damages caused by floods or storm surges. It’s crucial that you go through a policy with a fine-tooth comb to examine the extent of coverage provided, as well as any limitations or exclusions.

What storm damage isn’t covered by home insurance?

Not all instances of storm damage fall within the scope of home insurance coverage. Some common exclusions may include:

Storms occurring shortly after taking out the policy (typically within a week)
Water intrusion from non-storm sources (i.e. openings or vulnerabilities not directly caused by the storm, such as pre-existing leaks or poor maintenance
External features such as textile awnings, blinds, and shades
Covers for swimming pools and spas

Remember, it's essential to meticulously review your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to ascertain precisely what falls under coverage and what doesn't. If uncertainties persist, it's advisable to reach out to your insurer for clarifications.

Is flood damage covered by storm insurance?

Most policies should cover damage caused by rainwater run-off, but not for damage caused by tidal flooding or rising seawater. The source of the water damage will be a major factor for the insurance company in determining whether to cover flood damages.

Due to the prevalence of flooding events in Australia, not all insurers will cover homeowners for flood damage. This is particularly true of areas where flooding has a higher likelihood where coverage may not be available, or may be significantly more expensive. In fact, past catastrophic flooding events in New South Wales and Queensland have seen residents push the federal government to intervene where skyrocketing premiums are being referred to as an insurance ‘crisis’.

Many insurance companies will have exclusions for flood damage, including:

Searise events, such as storm surges, high tides and king tides
Flash flooding from creeks, rivers or even heavy rains
Flood water combined with run-off or rainwater
Blocked piping or gutters result in flooding
Structural faults or defects resulting in rainwater entering the home
Rainwater or wind damage through open doors or windows.

This means that it is crucial you compare policies thoroughly to see if flood damage is covered, including the ability to claim repairs to home and contents, replacement of contents, rebuilding costs and even temporary accommodation.

Alex Ritchie

Personal Finance Editor

Alex Ritchie is a Personal Finance Writer and Editor at RateCity, and has been writing about Australian finance for over six years. Her expertise and passion covers loans, credit, superannuation, and closing the gender pay gap, and she aims to help young Aussies to overcome their financial apathy. Alongside RateCity, Alex has been published in numerous publications, including Australia's Money Magazine, Business Insider, Lifehacker Australia, and in health via NPS MedicineWise.

This article was reviewed by Personal Finance Editor Mark Bristow before it was published as part of RateCity's Fact Check process.

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^Words such as "top", "best", "cheapest" or "lowest" are not a recommendation or rating of products. This page compares a range of products from selected providers and not all products or providers are included in the comparison. There is no such thing as a 'one- size-fits-all' financial product. The best loan, credit card, superannuation account or bank account for you might not be the best choice for someone else. Before selecting any financial product you should read the fine print carefully, including the product disclosure statement, target market determination fact sheet or terms and conditions document and obtain professional financial advice on whether a product is right for you and your finances.

What is storm damage insurance?

Oftentimes, insurance policies will group storm damage into the category ‘storm, rainwater and run-off’. According to FinancialRights.org, this typically refers to:

“Storm: a storm, cyclone or severe atmospheric disturbance which can be accompanied by strong winds, rain, lightning, hail, snow or dust.
Rainwater: water falling from the skies that runs off over the surface of the land (many policies include water overflowing from stormwater drains).
Run-off: rainwater that has collected or flowed across from normally dry ground or overflowed from pools or spas.”

What types of cover are available for storm damage?

There are two main types of cover available to choose from:

Indemnity Cover

This coverage involves compensating the policyholder for the actual losses incurred due to a covered event like a storm, up to the ‘sum-insured’ amount.

Put simply, indemnity cover may see you compensated for the value that the damaged property had just before the storm, factoring in its age and wear.

Replacement Cover

With replacement cover in your insurance policy, the focus is on bringing your damaged property back to the condition it was in before the storm occurred, without considering depreciation.

This means that the insurance company will cover the cost of completely replacing or repairing the damaged building or contents, regardless of their age or wear.

What natural disasters does home insurance cover?

Earthquakes
Toppled trees
Fires
Floods (if applicable)
Lightning strikes
Rainwater, including excess runoff and overflow
Storms

Compare storm damage insurance options

On this page

What is storm damage insurance?

What is covered by storm insurance?

What types of cover are available for storm damage?

Indemnity Cover

Replacement Cover

What natural disasters does home insurance cover?

What storm damage isn’t covered by home insurance?

Is flood damage covered by storm insurance?

Share this page

Did you find this page helpful?

On this page

What is storm damage insurance?

What is covered by storm insurance?

What types of cover are available for storm damage?

Indemnity Cover

Replacement Cover

What natural disasters does home insurance cover?

What storm damage isn’t covered by home insurance?

Is flood damage covered by storm insurance?

Share this page

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