Water damage insurance claims are on the rise due to extreme weather conditions
The NRMA reports to have received 19,600 insurance claims nationally related to wild weather events in the summer of 2023-24. With a rise in water damage insurance claims, there is also increased scrutiny, and it is important that property owners are prepared to achieve the best outcome from their insurance claims should an extreme weather event strike. Below are some tips to aid in the preparation for storms and for successful outcomes from water damage insurance claims.
Tip 1 – Understand your insurance policies
The NRMA Insurance Wild Weather Tracker, Autumn 2024, refers to research that has uncovered that 4 in 5 Australians feel anxious about the impact of extreme weather. To reduce some anxiety relating to unexpected weather events it is important to understand your insurance policies and to make sure you have the right insurance cover for the possible weather events that you are at risk of experiencing, based on where you live and the surrounding environment. All too often we find people do not understand their insurance policies well enough and are surprised to find out they are not covered for things they believed they were covered for.
Tip 2 – Property maintenance is critical for a successful water damage insurance claim
Your best chance to avoid or limit damage to your property during extreme weather is to keep your home and property well maintained and in good condition. A property that is well kept is more likely to experience a successful outcome from a water damage insurance claim.
Here is a list of things you should do before bad weather strikes;
- Keep an eye on your gutters and keep them in good condition, clean and free from debris and blockages.
- Routinely check for roof damage that could cause leaks in severe storms and have any damage repaired promptly.
- Regularly remove debris from your drains and clear any that are blocked.
- Trim back tree branches near the house and clear any dead or weak branches. You will need to ensure you follow the requirements of your local council.
- If you live in a cyclone-prone area or experience severe winds, consider getting permanent shutters or other strong screening on your doors and windows.
- If you are expecting severe winds and storm activity, bring in outdoor furniture if you can, or securely tie it down. If you have a trampoline, or other loose items in your yard or on your balcony, secure them before wild winds hit your property, and only if it is safe to do so.
Example: Water damage carpet insurance claim after severe storm:
If you have a water damage carpet insurance claim it is generally covered under ‘escape of liquid’ in your policy. Your insurance policy will most likely cover you for any sudden and unexpected event, like water ingress from your roof or gutter overflow, after a storm.
However, if it is found that the wet carpet damage was caused by wear and tear or from gradual water ingress, that you should have known about, then your claim may be questioned or rejected. For instance, if it is found that your gutters are rusted and corroded and they were the cause of the leak after heavy rain, your claim may be questioned.
Tip 3 – Document proof of damage and Makesafe activity after storm damage
Take photos and videos of all the damage, as this may help your claim.
Often when wild weather events occur insurance companies cannot keep up with claim enquiry volumes. If this occurs, it is important to call a certified Water Damage Restoration Company to assess the damage and to undertake immediate MakeSafe work to limit ongoing damage. By keeping the right records and engaging certified and professional water damage restoration providers you can generally go ahead and undertake the necessary Makesafe.
Call Capital on 1300 554 418 if you have any type of water damage emergency, we document and keep records needed to help with water damage insurance claims.
