
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

Plumbing

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-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.

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