Home insurance for water damage

Water damage home insurance covers burst pipes, storms and leaking roofs. Compare 20+ options and use the filters to find a policy that works for you.

1 - 7 of 106
Name Product AUFHO Finder score
QBE Home & Contents Insurance
3.5/5★★★★★
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★★★★★
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.
Youi Building and Contents Insurance
4.5/5★★★★★
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★★★★★
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.
Budget Direct Home & Contents Insurance
4.5/5★★★★★
Best Rated BrandBonusFinder 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★★★★★
Our verdict: The most popular insurer on Finder, Budget Direct prioritises low-cost cover and gives you up to 30% off your first year's premium for new combined Home & Contents policies purchased online.
Qantas Home and Contents Insurance
4.5/5★★★★★
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★★★★★
Our verdict: Earn up to 40K Qantas Points for joining by 29 January. Plus save 30% on your 1st year’s premium for purchasing a combined home and contents policy online. T&Cs apply.
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
N/A
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
N/A
Our verdict: Save up to 10% on your policy in the first year.
Honey Home & Contents Insurance
4.5/5★★★★★
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
4.5/5★★★★★
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.
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6

What kind of water damage is covered by home insurance?

Home insurance for water damage is usually split into three separate types of cover:

Flood cover is often an optional extra you may need to pay extra for – so if you live in a flood-prone area, be sure to check you're covered. Below is a table of some insurers that include water damage cover for all three services.

FloodStorms and rainwaterEscape of liquid
Coles insurance

Coles Home & Contents Insurance

Youi logo

Youi Building and Contents Insurance

Westpac Travel Insurance Logo

Westpac Home and Contents Insurance

St george home insurance

St. George Home and Contents

real insurance

Real Top Home and Contents Insurance

How to make a water leak insurance claim in Australia

To file a successful claim for water damage through your home insurance, follow these steps:

one

Contact your home insurance provider as soon as there is damage.

two

Give them as much information as possible. Document the value of all the items you can think of that have been damaged and take as many photos as possible.

three

If possible, make an effort to control the leak and dry out your home to prevent further damage.

four

Your insurer will probably send someone to take stock of the damage.

five

Obtain at least three independent estimates from qualified general contractors to work out how much the damage has cost.

six

If your claim is approved, your insurer will talk to you about making necessary repairs to your home as well as replacing damaged contents.

What's considered water damage?

Water damage can include sudden or accidental damage as a result of water, most commonly from a burst pipe, water overflow, flood or storm.

Home insurance providers usually only cover you for sudden and accidental damage; that is, water damage that occurred quickly and unexpectedly. Gradual water damage, on the other hand, is usually not covered by most home insurance policies.

Common claims can include the following:

  • Burst taps or pipes, e.g. your kitchen sink pipe bursts suddenly
  • Damage caused by a storm or a flood
  • Broken kitchen or bathroom appliances that cause water damage
  • Sewer backup and overflow

Does home insurance cover leaking pipes?

Yes, home insurance covers leaking pipes if the damage was caused by escaping water that occurred suddenly and without warning.

A burst pipe generally comes under "escape of liquid or water" and can cover you for a sudden and immediate leak (not something gradual that you were well aware of) as a result of the following:

  • Appliances, such as a washing machine, dishwasher etc
  • Fixed items, such as showers, baths, sinks and toilets
  • Fixed systems, such as drainage or sewage systems
  • Water-filled items, such as aquariums and waterbeds

If you don't know where the leak is coming from, some home insurance providers will pay the reasonable costs up to a certain price to locate the source of the problem.

Does home insurance covers storms

Yes, standard home insurance policies generally cover storms. Storm cover can include damage caused by:

  • Storms
  • Lightning
  • Wind
  • Hail

  • Snow
  • Stormwater overflow from roof gutters and downpipes.
There is one main exception – home insurance doesn't usually cover damage caused by storm surges. This is because it is considered 'an action or movement of the sea', which is excluded by most home insurance providers. Luckily, it's not that common.

Frequently asked questions about water damage

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Editor, Insurance

Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio

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Gary Ross has written 646 Finder guides across topics including:
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