REFUSAL OF CLAIM - INSURANCE

Under the terms of a typical home buildings insurance policy, the insurer may refuse a claim or cancel this policy, or do both, if:

• you are not truthful and frank in any statement you make in a claim or in connection with a claim.

• you do not maintain your home in good repair and condition. This means your home must be watertight, structurally sound, secure, and well maintained. But will cover you if you can show that it was reasonable on your part to have been unaware of the fact that your home was not in good repair and condition.

• you do not take all reasonable care to protect your home against:
  • any initial loss or damage, or
  • any further loss or damage once the initial loss or damage occurs.

• you do not immediately make a report to the police if you suspect or should have suspected that:
  • something has been stolen from your home
  • someone has acted maliciously in relation to your home or to something in it, or
  • an attempt has been made to do either of these things.
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• you keep:
  • explosives
  • flammable or combustible substances
  • flammable or combustible liquids
  • in your home or on the site illegally.

• you have an indemnity policy and you have under insured your home.

• you leave your home unoccupied for more than 60 consecutive days and do not maintain it in a lived in state. To maintain your home you must:
  • keep the lawns mown and garden tidy.
  • stop regular mail and newspaper deliveries, and
  • organise relatives, friends or neighbours to check inside and outside the home at least once a week.

The above conditions also apply to anyone else covered under the policy. The insurer may refuse you or your family the cover offered by this policy if you or your family make admissions, settle, attempt to settle, or defend any claims without our agreement. Only the insurer has the right to make admissions to settle any claims against you and to defend you. The insurer may also refuse a claim or cancel the policy, or do both, if:

• you alter or remove all or part of any wall, floor, foundation, roof or structural component of your home, or build a new structure at the site.
• your home or part of it is let or is used for the purposes of a business, trade, or profession.

- unless you tell the insurer beforehand in writing and the insurer agrees to cover you.