QLD: Is the roof of a strata building covered under building insurance?

Question: We are trying to figure out if the roof on our building is covered under our building insurance policy.

I am trying to confirm if the “roof” of a strata building is included as part of our Insurance policy which states the definition of “Insured Property” as:

Building: Building means building or buildings as defined by the Strata Schemes Management Act, Strata Titles Act, Community Titles Act or similar legislation applying where Your Building is situated.

Can you confirming if “roof” is defined as being part of a building?

Answer: The roof, being a permanent fixture, is covered by strata insurance.

There are two questions that need to be considered when dealing with roof damage.

Is the roof covered?

The roof, being a permanent fixture, is covered by strata insurance.

The basic principle is that if you pick the unit up and shake it anything that falls out is lot owners contents + temporary flooring such as carpet, blinds & curtains, appliances that are not permanently attached, aircon units servicing an individual lot (QLD only). Other permanent fixtures including but not limited to the roof are covered by strata insurance subject to the policy terms, conditions & exclusions.

Is the event/damage covered?

It is also important to consider whether the event itself is covered.

Often, claims related to roof repairs are maintenance issues and the two barriers to cover are:

• The insuring clause – the policy provides cover for “sudden and accidental damage”; and
• Exclusions – Common exclusions for roofing claims are wear & tear or gradual deterioration exclusion.

Damage to roofs by sudden events such as storm, hail & severe wind can be considered.

Tyrone Shandiman
Strata Insurance Solutions
E: tshandiman@iaa.net.au
P: 07 3899 5129

This information is of a general nature only and neither represents nor is intended to be personal advice on any particular matter. Shandit Pty Ltd T/as Strata Insurance Solutions strongly suggests that no person should act specifically on the basis of the information in this document, but should obtain appropriate professional advice based on their own personal circumstances. Shandit Pty Ltd T/As Strata Insurance Solutions is a Corporate Authorised Representative (No. 404246) of Insurance Advisernet Australia AFSL No 240549, ABN 15 003 886 687.