Comminsure Home Insurance Review

Our Verdict

1. Comminsure covers up to an additional 25% on top of your building and contents Sum Insured when it isn't enough to cover your loss — for many other insurers we looked at, this is often an optional add-on.
2. Its home and contents insurance has been awarded for its outstanding value for a number of years.
3. You get up to 15% off combined building and contents insurance — insurers such as Budget Direct, St.George and Westpac all offer larger discounts when you sign up.

_{Review by our insurance writer Gary Hunter}

What cover options does Comminsure have?

Comminsure does not have different levels of cover or packages. The premium you pay is based only on the value you wish to insure your property for. You can also adjust the premium by changing the amount of excess you are willing to pay. For an additional cost, you can include optional cover for accidental damage, domestic work and portable contents. Premiums are payable monthly or annually, depending on your preference.

What am I covered for?

A Comminsure home and contents policy insures your possessions against the following events:

Each benefit has conditions and exclusions, so you should consult the product disclosure statement before deciding whether this insurance is right for you.

What are some other benefits of getting this policy?

If you hold either a home or contents policy, you can also get cover for the following:

Comminsure will pay claims on the additional cover if the claim results from one of the insured events mentioned above.

• What is excluded?

  In addition to the specific conditions for each benefit, all Comminsure products have the following general exclusions

  • Defects or poor workmanship
  • Damage if your property is not compliant with government regulations or requirements
  • Your building while in the process of major renovation, alteration, extension or structural improvement unless Comminsure has agreed to continue the insurance
  • Wear and tear and lack of maintenance, including rust, corrosion and deterioration
  • Water, including rainwater, after it has disappeared beneath the surface of the land at your insured address
  • Normal actions of the sea, ocean or other marine waters
  • The gradual rising of the levels of the sea, oceanic waters or other marine waters due to any change in climate
  • Subsidence or landslide
  • Earth movement other than an earthquake
  • Erosion that occurs gradually
  • Tree lopping or felling at your insured address
  • The actions of trees, plants or their roots that occur slowly and gradually over time
  • Mould, toxic mould, mildew, wet or dry rot, rising damp or dampness
  • The action of light
  • Birds or bats pecking, scratching, biting, soiling or nesting
  • Vermin and insects
  • Hydrostatic pressure
  • The storage of flammable substances where the quantities stored exceed statutory limits or other required limitations by a statutory authority
  • Accidental scratching, chipping and/or denting
  • Any cleaning process using chemicals
  • Participation in illegal activities by you and/or a person who lives at your insured address
  • The consumption of alcohol or drugs
  • An act intended to cause damage or an act committed with reckless disregard of the consequences
  • Lawful seizure, confiscation, requisition or damage to your building and/or contents
  • Nuclear activities and radioactivity, including the use, existence or escape of nuclear fuel, weapons, material or waste
  • Biological or chemical contamination from any source
  • War, whether it is declared or not
  • Looting, sacking or pillaging following any type of war
  • Any act of terrorism
  • Firearms which are unlicensed, unregistered, or which are not stored in accordance with current regulations
  • Any claim made for an event occurring before the policy commences or after it has expired, lapsed or is cancelled
  • Computer viruses, bombs, worms, trojans, malware, spyware or similar
  • The costs of obtaining a matching finish to any materials used to repair, rebuild or replace your building and/or contents
  • Any item that forms part of your building and/or contents if it has been mislaid and the cause of the loss is unknown
  • Gradual loss or damage of any kind
  • Consequential losses or loss of profit
  • The demolition of your building or any part of it ordered by the government or public or local authorities due to a failure to obtain the necessary permits in connection with your building or your insured address
  • Loss of/or damage to electronic equipment caused by user error or misuse
  • Re-recording, re-installing or replacing electronically stored data or files
  • The removal of tree stumps or any part of a tree that has not fallen or caused damage to your building and/or contents
  • Motor vehicles, caravans, trailers, aircraft or mechanically powered watercraft
  • Motorcycles, other than unregistered motorcycles with an engine capacity of 125cc or less
  • Motorised self-propelled vehicles (other than motorised wheelchairs, motorised golf carts or buggies, or lawn mowers)
  • Pets, animals or livestock
  • Property which is not yours
  • Trade goods or stock kept for display, sale or distribution
  • Home office equipment or furniture owned by an entity other than you

What excess do I need to pay?

The excess is the amount you must contribute if you make a claim on your insurance. When purchasing your insurance, you will be able to choose the amount of excess you wish to pay. The excess amount will be stated on the certificate of insurance. The excess amount will be deducted from the settlement amount before you are paid by the insurer after a claim. In some instances, you will need to pay the excess to Comminsure before the claim is settled. You are only required to pay the excess amount once per claim. If you have a different excess for your building and contents policies, you will have to pay the higher amount of the two. If you choose optional portable contents cover, there is a fixed excess of $100 for each claim.

How can I make a claim?

To make a claim, contact Comminsure at 13 24 23 as soon as possible. You must take all reasonable actions to prevent or stop further damage to your property and be honest when making your claim. You must also report the incident to the police if the claim relates to theft or malicious acts. You will need to prove ownership of anything you are claiming under the contents policies. You can use the following to establish ownership:

Before processing your claim, Comminsure may need to take action against a third party, interview you regarding the claim, or inspect your building and contents. Once Comminsure has assessed your claim, they will contact you to discuss how they will settle. They may either repair, replace or reimburse you for the cost of your possessions that were damaged or destroyed by an insured event.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I have to apply and claim over the phone?

  No, you can apply for and make claims on Comminsure products online. You will need to upload any requested documents to process your claim or application.

• Does the portable contents cover protect my possessions while I am on a trip?

  Your items are covered anywhere in Australia or New Zealand. In other countries, they are covered for the first 30 days of your trip.

• Can I get extra cover to insure against damage done by tenants?

  If you choose an investment home policy, your property will be insured for the same events as regular home and contents insurance as well as tenant damage and loss of rent.

---