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Landlord insurance in Victoria

Whether it's vandalism, damage or tenant default. Compare your options online.

Landlord Insurance

Compare landlord insurance brands in Victoria

Name Product AUFHO-LAN Tenant Default and Damage Loss of Rent Accidental Damage Sum Insured Safeguard Cooling-off Period Cheapest way to pay
Youi Landlord Building and Contents Insurance

Optional

The reasonable rental amount for up to 12 months
20 days
Annually
Cover for investment property from fire, theft and numerous weather events.
Budget Direct Landlord Home & Contents Insurance

Optional

10% of the sum insured amount of your property
Optional
21 days
Annually
Save 30% on your first year's premium when you buy a combined home and contents policy online. T&Cs apply.
QBE Landlord Home & Contents Insurance
The lesser of: Up to 24 months of lost rent, or 20% of your sum insured amount
21 days
Annually
Get 10% off for buying a combined policy, plus an additional 10% in the first year for signing up online. T&Cs apply.
Qantas Landlord Home and Contents Insurance

Optional

10% of the sum insured amount of your property
Optional
21 days
Annually
Earn up to 40,000 Qantas Points with every Qantas Landlord Insurance policy you take out by 29 January. T&Cs and exclusions apply.
ANZ Landlord Home & Contents Insurance

Optional

Rental amount
21 days
Monthly or Annually
Domain Landlord Building & Contents Insurance

Optional

Optional - Up to 12 months of your weekly rental amount
30 days
Annually
Virgin Landlord Home and Contents Insurance

Optional

10% of the sum insured amount of your property
21 days
Annually
Purchase a new eligible Virgin Home and Contents Insurance policy online and you'll also save 15% on your first year’s premium. T&C’s Apply.
St. George Landlord Home and Contents Insurance

Optional

Up to 12 months
14 days
Monthly or Annually
CommBank Landlord Building & Contents Insurance

Optional

52 weeks
Optional
21 days
Monthly or Annually
Save 10% on a combined home and contents insurance policy
Over Fifty Landlord Building & Contents Insurance

Optional

12 months
14 days
Monthly or Annually
Get 10% off your first year’s premium when you buy online.
Catholic Church Landlord Building & Contents Insurance

Optional

12 months
14 days
Monthly or Annually
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What does landlord insurance cover me for?

Landlord insurance is available in three cover options:

  • Home insurance. Also known as building-only cover, home insurance protects your home and other fixtures on your property against damage from fires, storms, theft and vandalism. Policies usually provides additional protection against loss of rent or damage to shared areas such as pools and gardens.
  • Contents insurance. Contents Insurance offers cover for any of your household possessions, as well as other property you have on site, against the same risks as home insurance. Additional extras are usually available for communal items like pool equipment or outdoor furniture.
  • Home and contents insurance. Offering total protection for your property and everything inside, this is the most comprehensive level of cover available to landlords and includes optional cover for both rental default and damage or loss caused by tenants or their guests.

Is landlord insurance compulsory in VIC?

It isn't mandatory to have landlord insurance in Victoria, though as a landlord you carry the financial burden of any loss or damage to your home and contents, and are liable for injury or death on your property. As well as this, you're also responsible for setting and adhering to lease terms and collecting bond (typically four weeks' rent) and rent for the property. Landlord insurance can protect you against these financial burdens and offers legal liability for such incidents.

How do I choose a landlord insurance policy?

Before you purchase a policy, ask yourself: which is more important, cover or value? The more comprehensive your cover, the higher your premiums will be. If you're in a city, be it Melbourne or Bendigo, you may be more worried about theft of your contents than you are about damage to the building. Or maybe you're living in serenity in Bonnie Doon and are more concerned with what the weather holds, in which case you'll want to check and see if your policy covers events such as fire and floods. Be sure to discuss specific terms and conditions with your insurance provider to ensure it's right for you.

Who offers landlord insurance in Victoria?

Australian home insurance providers usually aren't state-specific, which means homeowners in Victoria can access an extensive range of insurance offers from trusted brands, such as:

What does a Victorian landlord need to know?

While landlord insurance is almost the same no matter what state you're in, the rules are slightly different from state to state. As a landlord in VIC, you need to know the following:

  • Bond and advance rent. You can request a bond equal to one month's rent if you rent the place for less than $350 per week. You can also ask for a 14-day advance rent payment if rent is paid weekly, or a one-month advance rent payment if the rent is paid monthly. If the rent is higher than $350, you can ask for whatever bond you want and ask for advance payment of up to five years.
  • Rent increases. You cannot increase the rent in the middle of a fixed-term lease unless the contract states that you can. Otherwise, you can increase rent once every six months with a 60-day notice.
  • Ending a tenancy. You can't end a fixed-term lease until the lease is up and you have to give your tenants a notice prior to that if you want them out (60 days for a lease of six months or less, 90 days for a longer one). If the tenant is on a periodic lease, you have to give them a 120-day notice. These can be shortened if you have a good reason (like selling the property) and any fixed-term lease has ended or is about to end.
  • Pets. Tenants have the upper hand in Victoria. Although they need your written permission to keep a pet in your property, you can't refuse it without approval from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
  • Access for inspections. In Victoria, you're only allowed one inspection every six months, but a 24-hour written notice is all you'll need to give the tenant prior to inspection. You can't do an inspection within the first three months of tenancy.

Landlord responsibilities in VIC

Providing an apartment, house or property for your tenant that is free of hazards and defects, is fit to live in and complies with all state and local building and health codes, is the main responsibility of a landlord. But it doesn't end there. You required to take all necessary measures meet these standards before you can lease it. Securing a bond from your tenant and submitting it to the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority is also on your shoulders. Other responsibilities include:

  • Maintaining structural components and a reasonably weather-protected unit
  • Providing the necessary heat, electric and hot and cold water facilities
  • Making any requested repairs promptly
  • Inspecting the property each time it's leased to determine whether or not it meets safety and adequate living standards
  • Giving notice before entering a rental unit, except in cases of emergency
  • Abiding by all agreements made in the signed lease
  • Providing 60 days' written notice of any changes to a month-to-month agreement
  • Adhering to the legal eviction process if evicting a tenant
  • Advising your tenant of their legal rights and responsibilities when taking out a lease

Landlord rights in Victoria

If a tenant has broken the conditions of the lease, or you have given adequate notice, you are legally allowed to evict a tenant. You also have the right as a landlord to increase rent or the length of the lease, provided you've given enough notice, though the tenant can opt out of the lease if they disagree with the changes. Upon your tenant vacating, you can withhold the bond until you've completed any repairs or cleaning services that may be needed.

Alexandra Koster's headshot
Publisher

Alexandra Koster was Finder's publisher for car, home and pet insurance. She has a Tier 1 certification in General Insurance, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Cultural Studies from the University of Sydney. Her hobbies include reading Product Disclosure Statements and deciphering complicated insurance lingo to help people save on their insurance so that they can spend their money on better things – like dogs. See full bio

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4 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    MariaOctober 20, 2021

    I have an investment property currently unoccupied and undergoing extensive renovations which are 90% completed. Previously had insurance with CommInsure for these conditions for 120 days. This time has now lapsed but due to Covid restrictions and the challenges this has presented we need a little more time to complete. Looking for an insurer for these conditions.

      AvatarFinder
      JamesNovember 10, 2021Finder

      Hi Maria,

      I’m sorry to hear that.

      It is best to get in touch with insurers directly to find out what they can and can’t offer you when it comes to cover. Above, you can compare a range of providers who offer insurance.

      Be sure to read through the terms and conditions of your chosen insurer with care. And pay close attention to any waiting period, during which time you won’t be able to make a claim on your cover.

      Best,
      James

    Default Gravatar
    GeorgeAugust 12, 2019

    landlord insurance

      Default Gravatar
      NikkiAugust 13, 2019

      Hi George,

      Thanks for visiting our page to read about Landlord Insurance. The article above will give you a few providers in VIC as well as information on how to proceed with getting landlord insurance. As a friendly reminder, carefully review the Product Disclosure Statement of the product before applying. You may also contact the insurance provider should you have any questions about their policy.

      Best,
      Nikki

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