Rural insurance claim advice

It’s important to lodge your claim and talk to your insurer as soon as you can. If you need to carry out urgent work to make your home safe, sanitary, secure, and/or weathertight, keep track of costs incurred and take photos as you go. Your safety is the most important thing, so only do the work if it is safe to do so. Take all reasonable steps to minimise your claim and avoid further damage. Contact your insurer before you engage any tradespeople or complete any non-urgent repairs on your property. It is then likely your insurer will ask you to gather information to help with assessing your claim:

Photos of the damage

• In large scale events take room-by-room pictures, and clearly mark and display the water level if there has been flooding
• If you have any unusual or high value items, ensure you take good photos of these

Quotes for repair

• If repair is not possible, a like for-like replacement
• As detailed as possible, including a breakdown of costs

A list of damaged items

• Include the ages and (where possible) model numbers
• Invoices - if your damaged contents are already repaired or replaced
• Where possible, a damage report from your repairer

Talk to your insurer or check your policy to see if it covers for the removal of damaged contents from your home. We recommend only throwing away spoiled or perishable items (once you’ve taken photos) and then waiting until your claim has been assessed before arranging for the removal of damaged contents. If any costs are incurred in relation to remediation or continuing your farming operations, we recommend keeping track of these costs as your insurer may be able to consider these under a claim. Basically, photograph, document and maintain receipts as much as you can. This will all help with the claims process. FMG, and most other insurers, act as an agent on behalf of the Natural Hazards Commission (formerly EQC) and will manage your NHCover claim to make things simpler for you. It is worth noting, only residential land has NHCover for storm and flood damage.

Farm fencing

Again, lodge your claim as soon as possible and before repairing the affected area if possible. Where repairs are required urgently and before you can contact your insurer, please take clear photos of any damage, and outline on a farm map where the damage has occurred. Keep receipts for materials you have purchased, and all invoices if you have engaged a contractor to repair the fencing.

Flood damage

Cleaning and drying your house as quickly as possible is key. Floodwater can be contaminated with harsh chemicals and raw sewage, so please ensure you stay safe by wearing heavy duty gloves, boots and a face mask when removing your wet carpet. Document the damaged carpet by taking photos of each room affected before proceeding.

*Note: This is general FMG advice for damage from flood and storm and may not be applicable to all insurers. Contact your insurer if you have questions about your cover.