Everyday Landlords Insurance from Woolworths.

Landlords insurance is an insurance policy designed to help protect property owners who rent out a property in Australia. 

Unlike standard home insurance, it can cover risks specific to rental properties, such as malicious damage by tenants, loss of rental income, and legal liability.

If you own a rental or investment property, landlords insurance can be considered to help protect your property. While your tenants have obligations, unforeseen events can still lead to significant financial losses. Landlords insurance can help provide financial protection against:

Property damage: can cover damages to your building and/or your contents caused by events like fire, storms, floods, or even malicious damage by tenants.

Loss of rental income: potential reimbursement for lost rent if your property becomes uninhabitable due to an insured event.

Legal liability: can help protect you from legal costs and compensation claims if a tenant is injured on your property and you are deemed liable.

Building Insurance primarily covers the physical structure of your property, including walls, roof and permanent fixtures (like plumbing, electrical systems, and built-in appliances). It can help protect against the financial impact of insured events.

Landlords Insurance is specifically tailored for rented properties. While it often includes building coverage, its key distinction is protection against tenant-related risks and loss of rental income, which standard building insurance typically does not cover.

If you own a standalone house, you could consider taking out a landlords insurance policy with building cover, or combined building and contents cover.

If you own a strata-managed apartment or townhouse, your body corporate usually has building insurance for the common property and the building's structure. 

However, you might also consider taking out a landlords policy with contents cover to help protect contents within the property, loss of rent and malicious damage by tenants.

Landlords insurance could cover damage from a wrongful act which was vindictive, deliberate, or intentional caused by tenants or their guests. This is a significant difference from standard home insurance, which usually excludes damage caused by someone you've given permission to be on the property (like a tenant).

However, it's important to understand the distinction between "damage" and "wear and tear." Landlords insurance generally does not cover normal wear and tear that occurs over time with regular use of the property. 

Always check your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to understand specific inclusions, exclusions, and limits for tenant damage coverage.

Landlords insurance premiums can be tax deductible. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) usually allows property owners to claim deductions for expenses directly related to earning rental income, and insurance costs may fall into this category.

It's always important to consult with a tax professional or refer to the ATO's guidelines for the most up-to-date and specific information regarding tax deductions for your investment property.

The cost of landlords insurance varies widely, as premiums can be influenced by several factors, including:

Property location: areas prone to natural disasters (e.g. floods, bushfires, cyclones) or with higher crime rates may have higher premiums.

Property value and type: more expensive properties and houses (compared to units) may incur higher costs due to higher rebuild or repair expenses.

Coverage level: policies with higher limits and additional features might have a higher cost.

Excess amount: choosing a higher excess could lower your premium, but you might pay more out-of-pocket if you need to make a claim

While policies vary, depending on the cover selected, landlords insurance policies may cover:

Building damage: structural damage to the property from events like fire, storms, floods, impact, or vandalism.

Contents damage: damage or loss to the landlords's contents within the property that are provided specifically for the use of the tenant (e.g., carpets, curtains, appliances, furniture if furnished) due to insured events.

Malicious damage by tenants: damage intentionally caused by tenants or someone who enters the property with the tenant’s permission.

Loss of rent following damage: if the property becomes uninhabitable due to an insured event. The policy may cover lost rent for a certain period.

Legal liability: can help provide protection against legal costs and compensation claims if a tenant or visitor is injured on the property and you are found liable.

Theft by tenants: can cover losses due to theft of the landlords's contents by tenants.

Accidental glass breakage: cover for broken windows or glass.

Above is a summary only. Always review the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for a complete list of what is covered, what is excluded, and any specific terms, conditions and limitations.

You can contact Everyday Landlords Insurance from Woolworths via our phone number, 1300 10 1234. Our opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 8:00pm (AEST/AEDT) and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00am to 5:00pm (AEST/AEDT) except public holidays.

To make a claim, please visit the Everyday Landlords Insurance make a claim page.