Top tips for submitting successful insurance claims

We know that making a successful insurance claim doesn’t need to be a hard slog. In fact, as a winner in the 2022 Mansfield Awards for Claims Excellence, we believe we have proved it! Below, we share our insights about claims handling and share guidance on how best to streamline the process…

The first step you should take when something pear-shaped happens at your rental…

First, ask yourself: is the loss even covered?  If you don’t know, that is okay – landlord insurance is complex! If you are unsure, the best thing to do is chat with your insurer about the policy and find out if you are able to claim.

Once you know you are covered and can claim on insurance, you should work to prevent further loss…

Most policies have a section that talks about ‘acting to prevent further loss’. That means the policyholder (or the agent acting on their behalf), need to take steps to prevent further loss, damage or liability (because no one wants to make matters worse!).

When it comes to damage this may mean you need to arrange emergency repairs or board up a window, secure a door or put a tarpaulin on the roof. EBM RentCover does not need to authorise emergency repairs before they are carried out, however some insurers add this step in. So, just double check you don’t need approval before starting to secure the property.  

TIP: Make sure you keep the original tax invoices for emergency repairs to submit with the claim.

When it comes to claiming for rent default (not linked to damage), you need to act quickly and serve the appropriate breach notices. Each state is different, and you should familiarise yourself with the appropriate legislation. Failure to do so can have a big impact on landlord insurance and the termination process (if it gets to this stage).

If the property loss or damage is the result of a criminal act – a burglary or malicious damage by the tenant, or civil unrest like a riot, or vehicle impact – you need to report the incident to police and obtain a crime report number for your insurer.  

When to contact your insurer…

You should notify the insurer ASAP so they can get things under way and ultimately guide you through the claims process. Keep in mind there may be requirements in the policy relating to timeframes for claims, such as making a police report within 24 hours of the loss or notifying the insurer within 48 hours of a loss being reported to police. Just keep this in the back of your mind when tossing up what steps to take first.

In cases where the cause of the damage is not clear, and if the cost of the damage is likely to be high, the insurer will typically appoint an assessor who works to identify the cause of the damage, what needs to be rectified, and the value of the loss. The sooner this happens, the sooner the claim can progress.

It is also very important to immediately contact the insurer if there is a chance a liability claim will be made against the landlord (e.g. someone is injured on the premises).

How to prove loss…

The policyholder (or agent) needs to be able to show a loss has occurred when submitting an insurance claim. For damage, a great way to support the claim is to snap photos or video before the clean-up. If you’re unable to get access to take photos, you may like to ask repairers to take photos before they start work.

If you need to dispose of an item because it poses a health risk, such as saturated carpet, keep samples of the damaged material, which you can later submit to the insurer.

Also, it is a great idea to keep an inventory of damaged items with a detailed description, such as brand, model and serial number.

In addition to snapping photos and keeping a record of items, you should provide the insurer with copies of the property inspection reports. This helps the insurer identify the damage which may have occurred during the tenancy period.

For a loss of rent claim, all paperwork you submit to tribunal or the courts during the termination process – such as breach notices and rental ledger – will help provide the detail of the losses.

Proof of ownership may be asked for…

Sometimes a policyholder will be asked to prove they own the items that have been lost, damaged or stolen. The best proof of ownership is receipts! If receipts are unavailable, other proof may be accepted such as credit card/bank statements from when the goods were originally purchased, valuations, or photographs of items in the premises.                           

A ‘causation report’ is usually a must…

A causation report is pulled together by the repairer and helps insurers to simply identify the cause of damage and make a quick and fully informed decision when it comes to processing a claim. The report typically outlines the cause and impact of damage and loss. For example, if the cause of damage is storm/rainwater or hail, the repairer will describe how and why the rain or hail entered the property. 

Seek quotes for repairs…

Generally, insurers require two repair quotes for damage claims. However, if the loss occurred because of a natural disaster, some insurers may only need one quote (at EBM RentCover, we know natural disasters can cause stress for landlords and property managers, so just one quote is needed to get things quickly underway).

Submitting the claim…

What documentation you need depends on the type of policy. Plus, of course, it depends on what you are claiming for. Typically, you will need:

• A complete claim form
• Pics of the damage
• One-two quotes for damage repairs
• Tax invoices for emergency damage repairs (in relation to damage caused by natural disasters)
• Causation report
• Property inspection report
• A copy of the tenancy agreement

Loss of rent claims are a little different…

Typically, you will need:

• A completed claim form
• A breakdown of the bond deductions
• A copy of the lease agreement
• The rental ledger to show proof of payment of rent
• The tenants original application form for the property
• All breach and termination notices issued

Every insurer has a different process and requires different info. Plus, depending on the reason for claiming, other documents may be required (e.g. when the claim is the result of a sole tenant dying, a copy of the death certificate is needed). So, check with your insurer for a concrete list of items to support your claim.

Need more help?

At EBM RentCover we work with landlords and their agents to minimise the emotional and financial stress associated with making an insurance claim. While we hope you never run into trouble, if you do, we will be there. If you need to make a claim with EBM RentCover, contact our Expert Care team on 1800 661 662.

*While we have taken care to ensure the information above is true and correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances and legislation after the displayed date may impact the accuracy of this article. If you need us we are here, contact 1800 661 662 if you have any questions.