General information only — not personal financial advice. Always consult a licensed insurance broker before making insurance decisions.

// Home Insurance Australia

Home insurance
done right

Building cover, contents insurance, landlord policies and renters cover — what Australians need to know about protecting their home and belongings.

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Types of home insurance

Home insurance covers three main scenarios: you own your home, you're a landlord, or you're a renter. Each needs different cover.

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Home Building Insurance
Covers the structure of your home — walls, roof, floors, built-in fixtures — against fire, storm, flooding (check definitions carefully), theft and accidental damage. Required by most lenders before settlement. Choose total replacement value over market value.
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Contents Insurance
Covers personal belongings inside the home. New-for-old vs indemnity replacement — new-for-old is better value. High-value items (jewellery, art, bicycles) need individual listing. Essential for renters too — your landlord's building cover doesn't protect your belongings.
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Landlord Insurance
Combines building cover with landlord-specific protections: malicious damage by tenants, loss of rental income, tenant default, and liability for injuries on your property. Essential for investment property owners.

⚠️ The flood cover problem in Australia

Flood cover is one of the most misunderstood areas of Australian home insurance. Policies distinguish between storm water runoff (often covered), inland flooding from rivers breaking banks (sometimes excluded), and storm surge from the sea (often excluded in coastal areas). After the 2022 east coast floods, ASIC updated standard definitions — but significant variation remains. Always read the PDS flood section carefully if you live near a waterway or in a flood-prone area.

Strata / apartment insurance

If you live in a unit, townhouse or apartment, the owners corporation (body corporate) insures the building. Your responsibility is contents only.

Body Corporate covers
  • Building structure and common areas
  • Lifts, car parks, pools and shared facilities
  • Public liability for common areas
  • Original fixtures inside units (varies)
You need to insure
  • Contents and personal belongings
  • Improvements you made to your unit
  • Temporary accommodation if unit is uninhabitable
  • Personal liability inside your unit

Not sure what home cover you need?

Tell Archie whether you own, rent or invest — and get a clear breakdown of what cover makes sense for your situation.

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⚠️ General information only. Home insurance products, exclusions and pricing vary significantly. Always read the PDS, check your flood risk, and consult a licensed broker if needed.