Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own.

Home insurance for older homes

The cost of home insurance for old homes is often higher, so it pays to compare. Here are 5+ policies from trusted Aussie providers.

Avatar

By

Gary Ross Hunter

Updated

Fact checked

It often costs more to get home insurance for older homes because there's more chance of something going wrong than with a new build. But our comparison table can help you compare features and keep costs down by clicking through for a personalised quote. Insurers will ask you a few questions about your home, which will take you a few minutes, but it's well worth it in the long run — you could save up to $1,653 a year just by comparing quotes.

Find home insurance for older homes

Name Product Finder Rating
Budget Direct Home & Contents Insurance
Budget Direct Home & Contents Insurance
4.5/5★★★★★
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★★★★★
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
Youi Building and Contents Insurance
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.
Get a quote
View details
QBE Home & Contents Insurance
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.
Get a quote
View details
Qantas Home and Contents Insurance
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 50,000 Qantas Points with every Qantas Home Insurance policy you take out by 5 December. T&Cs and exclusions apply.
Get a quote
View details
Honey Home & Contents Insurance
Honey Home & Contents Insurance
4.5/5★★★★★
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★★★★★
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
Seniors Top Home & Contents Insurance
Seniors Top Home & Contents Insurance
3/5★★★★★
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
3/5★★★★★
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
Kogan Home & Contents Insurance
Kogan Home & Contents Insurance
3/5★★★★★
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
3/5★★★★★
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
loading

Why are older homes harder to insure?

As a general rule, older homes present a higher risk to insurance companies. Here's why:

One

Older homes are more likely to suffer damage

For example, they may have been constructed with out-of-date materials that simply won't stand up to storm damage. Or the plumbing and electrical wiring may have deteriorated, which can cause expensive damage.

Two

Renovations

You'll also need to consider the amount of repair work that needs to be done on your home. For example, home insurance will often cost more if you plan to renovate. You also won't be covered for claims if you move out for an extended period while work is being completed.

Three

Repair work can be expensive

If part of your home is damaged and you want to have it repaired to match the rest of the dwelling, this can be expensive. Making sure the repair work is historically accurate can be a costly exercise, with materials and labour expenses higher than if you simply needed a standard rebuild.

What to keep in mind when getting home insurance for an older home

Insurance is often one of the last things you think about when buying a home. But if you're about to sign the contract to purchase an older home, remember that there are several factors that can affect your home insurance.

Roofing

Roofing

Roof condition is one of the key factors insurers will consider when determining the cost of insurance. The age of the roof, the materials used in its construction and its current state of repair will all be taken into account.

You should also be aware that claims resulting from leaky roofs caused by a lack of maintenance are commonly rejected by insurers, so you'll need to make sure you stay on top of any routine maintenance tasks.

Wiring

Wiring

If your older home is sporting an outdated electrical system, this greatly increases the risk of fire. Knob and tube wiring, common in houses more than 50 years old and especially those built before World War II, can be a particularly common cause of problems. Not only may a full house rewire be a major priority for the safety of your family, but it could also be a requirement if you want to take out home insurance.
Plumbing

Plumbing

An outdated plumbing system increases the risk of flooding, so the ancient plumbing in your old home won't be seen as a feature by insurers. Before agreeing to cover you, an insurer may request that the outdated plumbing system in your home be replaced within a certain timeframe, so you'll need to factor this cost into your budgeting when working out the cost of buying the home.

Construction

Construction

There are several other factors about a home's construction that insurers will consider when deciding whether to provide cover. For example, how secure are the home's foundations? Is there asbestos present? When was it built?

It's common for insurers to send out an assessor to examine your home in person and determine the risks faced.

Heritage

Heritage-listed homes

Insuring an older home can be particularly difficult if that home happens to be heritage-listed. If a heritage-listed building is partially damaged, the cost of restoring that part of the property to match the original home can be very expensive. Many of the materials used to construct listed homes are simply not readily available, and the job may even require the expertise of specialist tradesmen, architects and other professionals.

Despite these difficulties, it is still possible to find cover for heritage-listed homes, but cover may cost extra. You'll also usually need to supply a valuation which shows the true replacement cost of the property, and the insurer may include a clause requiring you to contribute to the cost of repairing the property if it is under-insured.

Fireplace

Wood burning stoves

From a home safety point of view, wood burning stoves and open fireplaces fall well short when compared to modern heating solutions. As a result, many policies exclude damage caused by combustion heaters and open fireplaces from cover.

With this in mind, you may wish to consider reverse cycle air conditioning or perhaps another form of heating for your home.

Renovating an older home? Here's what you need to know

When you’re preparing to renovate a home of any age, never assume that your home and contents insurance will automatically cover you. The policy terms and conditions surrounding renovations vary from one insurer to the next, so it’s essential that you read the fine print and contact your insurer for clarification if you’re unsure.

As a general rule, smaller jobs that won’t have any effect on the external structure of your house or on its structural stability won’t harm your cover. As long as your home is still secure, you should still be protected. However, most insurers will exclude water damage that occurs during the renovation or as a result of the work being done.

However, if your home requires extensive renovation work to most or even all of the house, you probably won’t be covered by your home and contents insurance. Not only do construction sites represent a higher risk of damage to your home, but they can also attract thieves and vandals like moths to a flame.

If you employ a licensed builder to do the work, they should have construction insurance to provide protection against damage to your home. If you choose to DIY, you’ll need to consider your owner-builder insurance options.

Why you can trust Finder's home insurance experts

free

We're free

You pay the same as buying directly from the home insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site – plus, our tables make it easy to compare policies.
expert advice

We're experts

We've researched and rated dozens of policies as part of our Finder Awards. We provide unique insights and our in-house experts regularly appear on Sunrise, 7News and SBS News.
independent

We're independent

Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of home insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
help

We're here to help

Since 2014, we've helped 150,000+ people find home insurance by explaining your cover options simply and clearly. We'll never ask for your number or email. We're here to help you make a decision.

Home insurance for older homes FAQs

More guides on Finder

  • Bushfire Statistics Australia

    Stats and facts on bushfires in Australia.
  • Home insurance WA

    Learn about the unique risks that Western Australia faces and how to get home insurance that is right for your circumstances.

  • Flood insurance

    Most home insurers automatically cover floods but make sure you take out cover at least 72 hours before an event.
  • Honey home insurance review

    Honey home insurance is a startup that's doing things a little differently.
  • Laptop insurance

    Here are several contents insurance options that will protect your laptop anywhere you take it.
  • Home fire insurance

    Fire insurance will help you replace your home and everything in it if you lose it all to fire.
  • How much does home insurance cost in Australia?

    Discover what impacts the cost of home insurance and how to get the right protection with this handy guide.

  • Home insurance WA

    Learn about the unique risks that Western Australia faces and how to get home insurance that is right for your circumstances.

  • Bushfire insurance

    Compare policies that cover bushfires, including smoke damage and accommodation due to evacuation.
  • Storm damage insurance

    Protect your home against storm, flood and rainwater damage with the help of this comprehensive guide.

Ask an Expert

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms of Use, Disclaimer & Privacy Policy and 6. Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

2 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    RichardNovember 3, 2021

    We are looking for home insurance for an our asbestos clad home .

    Reply
      AvatarFinder
      JamesNovember 8, 2021Finder

      Hi Richard,

      Most home insurance policies won’t cover any damages or liability related to asbestos (one exception is if the asbestos is exposed due to an insured event).

      However, it’s worth checking with the insurers listed on this page to see if they can provide cover for your home. If not, you may need to shop around for more specialist cover.

      Regards,
      James

      Reply
Go to site