Landlord Insurance policies vary considerably.
Shop around, check the fine print and make sure you are covered for the areas you need.
Building insurance covers:
If you own an apartment, the Owners Corporation, or company if it’s a Company Title, owns the building. They are responsible for the building insurance, which you pay through your quarterly fees. Wallpaper and paint may not be included and should be allowed for in your contents cover, together with other items added separately, such as air-conditioning, lighting and flooring.
You will need contents insurance to cover:
In an apartment, make sure you know which items are not covered by the strata building insurance so that you can include them in your own insurance. In the event of fire elsewhere in the building, your unit may be affected by smoke and water damage, possibly needing new paint and carpet, or at the very least cleaning.
You do not need to take out contents insurance for the tenant’s belongings, nor can you insist they do so.
There are a wide variety of events that can be covered, including:
Make sure you get the cover you need, and check the policy exclusions carefully.
This covers you for loss of rent in the event that the property is not habitable and cannot be leased due to any of the events listed above.
It also covers any rent default by the tenant. However, there are usually conditions attached to a rent default claim, so check the conditions carefully. Also check the policy for how long the insurance company will pay for loss of rent as well as the default period before a claim can be lodged.
Beware, on some policies you are only covered for loss of rent if the tenant is in a current, unexpired, fixed-term tenancy agreement – you are not covered if your lease has expired and is now a periodic tenancy agreement. This adds unnecessary risk, as it’s not always possible to have a tenant continuously sign a new tenancy agreement.
This relates to your legal liability as the owner in regards to an event at your investment property which results in death or injury to other people or damage to other people’s property in or at your investment property.
PROPERTY QUARTERS
ABN: 84 060 315 513