Quick guide to 5 types of insurance cover

Our homes offer us shelter, safety, comfort and security. So whether you’re a homeowner, a renter or a landlord, it makes sense to insure your home with cover that suits your needs. To help you decide which policy is best for you, here’s a breakdown of 5 different types of home insurance, and what they cover.

1.       Building and contents insurance

Most homeowners, including those paying off a mortgage, can combine building and contents cover under the one insurance policy. This type of policy provides cover for loss or damage to your building due to a wide range of insured events – including fires, storms and theft. It also protects the things that make your house a home, like carpets, furnishings and personal belongings.

Building and contents insurance policies have different benefits and exclusions depending on the insurance provider – so it is important to make sure the policy you choose meets your needs. For example, some policies include features like domestic pet cover and alterative accommodation if your home becomes unliveable because of an insured event, so you won’t be left with extra costs at a challenging time.

2.       Standalone building insurance

Depending on your circumstance, you may only want building insurance as a standalone insurance policy.

Standalone building insurance provides cover for damage to your home caused by insured events like storm, fire or a flood. It usually also covers external permanent structures like a pool or granny flat, but it won’t cover your personal contents belongings. 

3.       Standalone contents and renters insurance

Standalone contents insurance covers your personal belongings like TVs, jewellery, furniture, curtains, artwork and clothing while they are at your home. However, it won’t cover any damage to the building itself. If you’re a renter, your landlord’s responsible for insuring the building – but you’re responsible for your own personal belongings and items.

Renters insurance is a type of contents policy designed with renters in mind. It covers the things you own – like clothes, food, toiletries, personal valuables furniture and more. It could even cover your belongings while in transit if you need to move within Australia.

4.       Landlord insurance

Landlord insurance can provide cover for the building, contents or both. In addition to cover for loss or damage caused by insured events like a storm, fire or flood, you can also cover the rent loss if your investment property becomes unliveable because of these events.

Most insurers also offer additional optional cover to protect against tenant specific events like accidental building damage or malicious damage caused by tenants.

5.       Portable contents cover

For everyday portable items that you take with you when you’re out and about or on holidays, there is Portable contents cover. This includes items like sunglasses, watches, jewellery, laptops and sporting goods. Portable contents insurance policies range is cover depending on the insurance provider – so it is important to choose the one that meets your needs.