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Home insurance doesn't cover wear and tear – you'll find it listed under 'general exclusions' in all product disclosure statements (PDS). However, if your insurer rejects your claim because they think the damage is due to wear and tear and you disagree, you can dispute the decision.
Wear and tear is generally excluded from home insurance policies because it's deemed inevitable. That's because insurance is there to protect you from unforeseeable damage and losses like storms, floods and other accidents.
Parts of your home, on the other hand, will inevitably deteriorate over time. It's therefore your job to make sure they are properly looked after – not your insurers.
For example, if a storm or flood were to severely damage your old, deteriorating roof, your insurer is likely to deny any claim made due to wear and tear. The argument is that in order to be eligible for home insurance protection, you must properly maintain, repair and replace any defective area of your home (the insured property).
Wear and tear includes damage to anything you have not maintained properly. It can include anything from gradual deterioration, rust and corrosion to deterioration from exposure to light. Common exclusions related to wear and tear in home insurance can include:
If your home insurer rejects a claim you've made because of "wear and tear", you can ask that your case to be reviewed. All insurance companies need to have their own internal dispute resolution system. To help resolve the dispute in your favour, the following evidence can help:
If, after an internal review, you're still not happy with your insurer's decision, you can take your claim through the approved external dispute resolution process. The Australian Financial Complaints Authority will then review your claim and make a decision. If this still doesn't go in your favour, you might want to seek legal help.
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