Claiming Home And Contents Insurance

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*iSelect does not compare to all home and contents insurers in the market. The availability of policies may change from time to time. Not all policies made available from iSelect’s providers are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements, area or availability, not all policies compared by iSelect will be available to all customers. See below for our range of home and contents insurers. Some policies are only available from iSelect’s call centre or online. Our advice on this website is of general nature and does not consider your situation or needs. Consider if any advice is appropriate for you before acting on it. Learn more.

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Updated 07/07/2022
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Updated 07/07/2022

Our aim is to help you make better informed decisions. That’s why iSelect’s content is produced in accordance with our fact-checking and editorial guidelines.

Find out more about how we make money.

View our Privacy Policy.

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When can I make a Home and Contents insurance claim?
How do I make a Home and Contents insurance claim?
How do I know if I have an insurance excess?
How can I make sure my home has been insured for the correct value?
How long will it take for my claim to be finalised?

Let’s say an incident occurs in your home. If it’s property damage, then the process is generally straightforward; you might need to take some photos of any damage before you make a claim to your insurer.

But if it’s something more serious like having valuable possessions stolen from your home, then here are the first things may need to do:

  1. Make sure you’re safe.
    If there’s any property damage, make sure you’re physically safe and not at risk of injury from things like loose fittings, fixtures, wires, etc. If something valuable from your home is stolen, make sure you’re safe from any further theft or conflict from the perpetrator, and then report the incident to the police as soon as you can. In the event of stolen valuables, the police will file a report which could help your provider validate your claim. You may want to report the incident to police within 24 hours, because some insurance providers may not allow you to otherwise make a claim. You can check this information in your Product Disclosure Statement.
  2. Take photos or collect evidence.
    Try to gather as much evidence of the damage, loss, or theft as you can. This can help the claims process when you contact your insurer to explain what happened .You may also need to provide receipts or documentation relating to any damaged property or stolen possessions.
  3. Contact your Home and Contents insurance provider.
    Give your provider a call, or depending on your provider, make your claim online. They will then register your claim and email you or call you to notify you of your claim’s progress.

When can I make a Home and Contents insurance claim?

Home and Contents claims are typically made in relation to any of the below listed events.

  • Theft or attempted theft
  • Damage due to fire and/or explosion
  • Storm and rainwater damage
  • Accidental breakage of glass, ceramic and sanitary fixtures
  • Sudden and unexpected escape of liquid
  • Lighting damage
  • Earthquakes
  • Impact

Home and Contents claims may also be made on specific items of value such as heirloom jewellery and valuable artworks, as long as you’ve specified these items on your Contents policy.

How do I make a Home and Contents insurance claim?

Most insurers try to make it simple and straightforward to make a Home and Contents insurance claim. Whether you are making a claim over the phone or online, you may need to provide your insurer with a few details, including:

  • Your Home and Contents policy number
  • Date and time of the incident or event that has resulted in loss or damage
  • Any evidence of lost or damaged items such as original receipts, photographs and so on
  • Relevant documents that support your claim, such as a police report.

Consider notify your insurer promptly in the event of loss or damage to your Home and Contents. This way, the process can get underway even if you don’t have everything you’ll need to finalise the claim.

Depending on your policy they may even assist in organising emergency repairs, to ensure your home building is habitable, or assist with temporary accommodation until the repairs are completed.

How do I know if I have an insurance excess?

It is likely that you may be required to pay an excess fee on your claim, which should be outlined in your policies product disclosure statement.

Insurance excess is common among providers, but when in doubt, check your Product Disclosure Statement.

What if my home hasn’t been insured for the correct value?

Under-insurance could have dire consequences in the event that you need to make a claim, because you may not necessarily receive a payout that adequately covers your costs.

How can I make sure my home has been insured for the correct value?

You can start by reading through the Understand Insurance website, which is an initiative of the Insurance Council of Australia – the peak body for the general insurance industry.

You could also consider the following :

  • Take note of your home’s current market value.
  • Consider listing specific items with your provider such as luxury watches or jewellery.
  • Take note of all of your prized possessions and add up the total dollar value.
  • Search online to get a better idea of the value of items you’re unsure about.

How long will it take for my claim to be finalised?

It can typically take around 10 business days for an insurance provider to respond to your claim enquiry according to the General Insurance Code of Practice. However it is important note that every insurer will have a different length in which they assess and complete your claim.

Where can I compare options?

You can start comparing home & contents insurance policies with us at iSelect! Click here to view our range of home & contents providers.

Get started on comparing home and contents today!*

Save time and effort by comparing a range of home and contents insurance policies with iSelect

*iSelect does not compare all home and contents insurers or policies in the market. The availability of policies may change from time to time. Not all policies available from iSelect’s providers are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements, area or availability, not all policies compared by iSelect will be available to all customers. Some policies are only available from iSelect’s call centre or website. A number of our participating general insurance brands are arranged by Auto & General Services Pty Ltd ACN 003 617 909 on behalf of Auto & General Insurance Company Limited 111 586 353, both of which are related entities of iSelect Limited. Our relationship with those companies does not impact the integrity of our comparison service. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers.

iSelect General Pty Ltd ABN 90 131 798 126, AFS Licence Number 334115. Any advice provided by iSelect on this website is of a general nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You need to consider the appropriateness of any information or general advice iSelect gives you, having regard to your personal situation, before acting on iSelect’s advice or purchasing any policy. You should consider iSelect’s  Financial Services Guide  which provides information about our services and your rights as a client of iSelect. iSelect receives commission for each policy sold that is a percentage of the premium or a flat fee. Ask us for more details before we provide you with any services.