Renovation Insurance

Does home insurance cover me for renovations?

In most cases, there are two types of policies needed to adequately cover your project:

Builders insurance

Check that your builder has builders insurance. This can ensure that your home is covered for loss or damage due to the renovation work. It can also cover legal fees if someone is hurt or killed while on your property.

Home and contents insurance

Some home and contents insurance policies will exclude cover for any renovation work, others will charge an additional premium and some will not cover you if the renovation project is valued above a set amount – for example, around $50,000 or $100,000. If your current provider refuses to cover you, you can change providers. Once your home has been renovated, you'll likely need to increase the amount it's insured for (sum insured).

Compare home and contents insurance side-by-side

Name	Product	Finder Rating
Budget Direct Home & Contents Insurance Budget Direct Home & Contents Insurance 4.5/5★★★★★ rating Finder AwardBonus	Storm Fire Theft Flood Accidental Damage (e.g TV falls) Impact to home (e.g falling trees) Escaped water (e.g burst pipe) Portable contents (e.g dropped laptop outside of home) + more insured events and other features Storm Fire Theft Flood Accidental Damage (e.g TV falls) Impact to home (e.g falling trees) Escaped water (e.g burst pipe) Portable contents (e.g dropped laptop outside of home) + more insured events and other features	4.5/5★★★★★ rating	Our verdict: The most popular insurer on Finder, Budget Direct prioritises low-cost cover and gives you up to 30% off your first year for new combined policies purchased online. This is a big reason it won this year’s Finder Award for value.	Get a quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Youi Building and Contents Insurance Youi Building and Contents Insurance 4.5/5★★★★★ rating Best Rated Brand	Storm Fire Theft Flood Accidental Damage (e.g TV falls) Impact to home (e.g falling trees) Escaped water (e.g burst pipe) Portable contents (e.g dropped laptop outside of home) + more insured events and other features Storm Fire Theft Flood Accidental Damage (e.g TV falls) Impact to home (e.g falling trees) Escaped water (e.g burst pipe) Portable contents (e.g dropped laptop outside of home) + more insured events and other features	4.5/5★★★★★ rating	Our verdict: Finder’s 2022 Insurer of the Year for Customer Satisfaction and our Top Pick for Fire Damage cover. It’s good if you want a tailored quote over the phone.	Get a quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
QBE Home & Contents Insurance QBE Home & Contents Insurance 3.5/5★★★★★ rating Green CompanyBonus	Storm Fire Theft Flood Accidental Damage (e.g TV falls) Impact to home (e.g falling trees) Escaped water (e.g burst pipe) Portable contents (e.g dropped laptop outside of home) + more insured events and other features Storm Fire Theft Flood Accidental Damage (e.g TV falls) Impact to home (e.g falling trees) Escaped water (e.g burst pipe) Portable contents (e.g dropped laptop outside of home) + more insured events and other features	3.5/5★★★★★ rating	Our verdict: Finder's Top Pick for Floods plus cover for other common claims such as fire and theft). Its discount is better than most – 20% off your first year with a combined policy.	Get a quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Honey Home & Contents Insurance Honey Home & Contents Insurance 4.5/5★★★★★ rating Finder AwardBonus	Storm Fire Theft Flood Accidental Damage (e.g TV falls) Impact to home (e.g falling trees) Escaped water (e.g burst pipe) Portable contents (e.g dropped laptop outside of home) + more insured events and other features Storm Fire Theft Flood Accidental Damage (e.g TV falls) Impact to home (e.g falling trees) Escaped water (e.g burst pipe) Portable contents (e.g dropped laptop outside of home) + more insured events and other features	4.5/5★★★★★ rating	Our verdict: Honey gives you $250 smart sensors to reduce accidents and estimates your rebuild costs for you. Honey was a finalist for the comprehensive category in this year’s Finder Awards.	Get a quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Seniors Top Home & Contents Insurance Seniors Top Home & Contents Insurance 3/5★★★★★ rating Bonus	Storm Fire Theft Flood Accidental Damage (e.g TV falls) Impact to home (e.g falling trees) Escaped water (e.g burst pipe) Portable contents (e.g dropped laptop outside of home) + more insured events and other features Storm Fire Theft Flood Accidental Damage (e.g TV falls) Impact to home (e.g falling trees) Escaped water (e.g burst pipe) Portable contents (e.g dropped laptop outside of home) + more insured events and other features	3/5★★★★★ rating	Our verdict: Get up to 20% off when you buy a combined home and contents policy. Terms, conditions, underwriting criteria and minimum premiums apply, which may reduce discount. Make sure your rebuild costs are accurate though – Australian Seniors don’t do underinsurance cover.	Get a quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Kogan Home & Contents Insurance Kogan Home & Contents Insurance 3/5★★★★★ rating Bonus	Storm Fire Theft Flood Accidental Damage (e.g TV falls) Impact to home (e.g falling trees) Escaped water (e.g burst pipe) Portable contents (e.g dropped laptop outside of home) + more insured events and other features Storm Fire Theft Flood Accidental Damage (e.g TV falls) Impact to home (e.g falling trees) Escaped water (e.g burst pipe) Portable contents (e.g dropped laptop outside of home) + more insured events and other features	3/5★★★★★ rating	Our verdict: Good comprehensive cover (issued by QBE). Also, get 22% off on your first year's premium when you purchase a new combined Home & Contents insurance policy online + $10 monthly credit. T&Cs apply.	Get a quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Qantas Home and Contents Insurance Qantas Home and Contents Insurance 4.5/5★★★★★ rating BonusFinder Award Finalist	Storm Fire Theft Flood Accidental Damage (e.g TV falls) Impact to home (e.g falling trees) Escaped water (e.g burst pipe) Portable contents (e.g dropped laptop outside of home) + more insured events and other features Storm Fire Theft Flood Accidental Damage (e.g TV falls) Impact to home (e.g falling trees) Escaped water (e.g burst pipe) Portable contents (e.g dropped laptop outside of home) + more insured events and other features	4.5/5★★★★★ rating	Our verdict: Earn up to 30,000 Qantas Points with every Qantas Home Insurance policy you take out by 7 February. T&Cs and exclusions apply.	Get a quote View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Insurance for small renovations

You might still be covered with standard home insurance for renovations that are minor. For example, if you're changing a partition wall in a room or fixing a bathroom, you're not substantially changing or altering the structure of your house.

Aside from the $50,000 cap, a good rule of thumb when considering home insurance and renovations is if the alterations aren't making your house less secure (i.e. more vulnerable to theft and structural damage), then your current policy is more likely to cover you.

To be sure you are covered, always read your product disclosure statement (PDS) beforehand as exclusions regularly apply. For example, many do not cover any construction, alteration or renovation work. Most also require you to inform them when any construction, alteration or renovation work will start or finish.

Also be aware that no matter the size of a renovation, most insurers have exclusions for water damage that occurs during or as a result of any renovation job.

Insurance for big renovations

Home and contents insurance while renovating gets more complicated the bigger the job gets. Here are some key facts you need to be aware of:

• Vacancy can void your policy. Some policies will be voided if your home is empty for a specific amount of time. If you're thinking about moving out while you renovate, you might need to think again. Some policies can lapse after just 60 days.
• Tell your insurer you're renovating. If you don't notify your insurer of your renovation plans, your policy may become void – meaning if something goes wrong during the renovation, you won't be able to claim. Many insurers require you to inform them of any changes you're making to your property.
• You might need builders insurance. DIY renovators need extra cover as most policies won't cover homeowners undertaking their own renovations. If you're doing any part of the renovation yourself, then you may need builder's insurance on top of your home and contents cover. If you aren't doing any work yourself, you need to make sure your contractor has builders insurance.
• Renovation insurance might fill the gap in your home and contents insurance policy. If you're having difficulty finding a home and contents insurance policy while renovating, then renovation insurance could be a viable option. This is a type of specialist insurance tailored to those having difficulty getting cover. However, because it's relatively new, it's hard to say if it's good value yet.

Will insurance cover me for damage that contractors cause?

If your home insurer agrees to cover you for renovations, then you should be covered for damage or loss that contractors cause. Make sure to ask if this also includes cover for stolen goods and items. One of the main reasons insurers are reluctant to provide home insurance during renovations is that your home is often unsecured for long periods of time.

In most cases though, you will have to rely on builders insurance. If this is the case, make sure that your builder has insurance cover in case your home is damaged due to renovation work.

Speak to your contractor and their insurer as well, as it's often the case that builders insurance will only cover the portion of the home they are working on. To extend the builder's coverage temporarily to a third party, you will probably need to pay an additional fee.

Important Note: In most cases, homeowners aren't covered if work on the project is abandoned for more than 30 days. A builder's insurance policy may not cover any claims for damage caused by the abandonment of the renovation work exceeding 30 consecutive days, which could leave some owners in a sticky situation, particularly if you've hired someone who has too many jobs on the go or if your project takes place during the rainy season.

Don't leave your home unoccupied for too long

Some home insurance policies will not cover you for any claims if your home has been left unoccupied for a specific amount of time – usually between 60 and 90 days. If you plan to move out during the renovation, contact your insurer and let them know about the situation.

Don't forget to update your home insurance after a renovation

Once your home renovation project is complete, the value of your property is likely to have risen – so you'll need to update your home and contents insurance policy to reflect the new value of your home. If your home is underinsured and an insured event like a fire, storm or theft occurs, you could be hit with a large out of pocket bill.

To avoid this, you'll need to update your sum insured based on the new valuation of your home and contents.

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