Insurers Offer Advice To Renters And Landlords

As Aotearoa New Zealand’s insurers are helping owner occupiers affected by the ongoing climate event, they are also working with many landlords and tenants. Many are facing their homes being at least temporarily uninhabitable, fully or partially flooded or otherwise in need of drying out and repair.

"The priority has to be people having a safe and dry place to stay," said Insurance Council of New Zealand Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ) Chief Executive, Tim Grafton. "If you have house or contents insurance and your house is unable to be lived in, contact your insurer or broker as you maybe able to claim for a temporary accommodation benefit. Likewise, many property owners will have taken out landlord insurance that includes loss of rent cover as an option."

Council inspections may result in a property being declared uninhabitable, a process that will take precedence over any other. Insurers also have guidelines around whether it is possible to stay in a property because of its condition as a result of this event and during any repairs.

For flood affected homes, once the danger of further flooding and damage has passed and your power is working and safe, the priority is to get on with drying the home out and reducing mould. Wearing appropriate protective equipment, this needs to start with the removal of fully flooded carpets, furnishings and beds, and turning on any air-conditioners, dehumidifiers, ventilation system, or fans. This should be done after insurers have been informed. Photographs or other records should be kept of what’s removed.

Under no circumstances should property owners attempt to remove any other floor covering or wall linings if there is any suspicion that they might contain hazardous materials such as asbestos. If there is any suspicion of this, they should arrange with their insurer to have it checked and for its professional removal if required.

"While it is good that temporary accommodation benefits are in place for many insured tenants and owner occupiers alike, there is clearly very high demand for claims to be processed right now," added Tim. "It’s in the best interest of tenants, property owners and insurers to get on with drying out homes and getting them back to normal as soon as possible. However, given the scale of damage we are seeing across much of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and the rest of the Te Ika-a-Māui The North Island, we can expect this to take longer than normal. Aotearoa New Zealand’s insurers are in this for the long haul.

Notes to Editors

To decide what counts as uninhabitable, insurers will assess this on a case-by-case basis. and are likely to ask questions such as:

- Is the home safe and structurally stable?

- Has a Government/Local Authority issued instructions for you to vacate the home (issued a red or yellow placard or sticker)?

- Is the home secure against theft and outside elements (e.g. watertight?)

- Can the kitchen and bathroom be used?

- Can people sleep in the home?

- Is there water? Electricity?

Insurance flood and storm recovery advice:

- Continue to follow the instructions of Civil Defence and emergency services providers

- Do not do anything that puts your safety at risk or causes more damage to your property

- Contact your insurer as soon as you can

- Avoid entering flood water, either on foot or in a vehicle. Flood water can contain raw sewage and contaminants, conduct electricity and mask hidden hazards, and poses a serious hazard to health. It may be deeper, or moving faster, than you expect

- Try to make buildings safe and weatherproof but don’t make any emergency repairs unless it is safe to do so. Don't start non-essential repairs without your insurance company’s approval

- If water has entered your property, don't turn on your electricity until it has been inspected by an electrician

- Get essential services, such as water, electricity, gas and sewerage, repaired and keep copies of any invoices

- Do what’s necessary to make your premises safe and sanitary. When cleaning, wear a mask, gloves and overalls to minimise exposure to possibly-hazardous materials

- Photograph and put aside any water or mud-damaged goods that pose a health risk, such as saturated carpets, soft furnishings or food

- Take photos of any other damaged property to help speed up the assessments and claims process

- Mark, and take a photo of where flood water reached its highest within your property

- Keep any damaged items that don’t pose a health and safety risk

- Do not drive your vehicle if it has suffered water damage

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