Question: An overflow sewerage pipe caused damage to carpets. Body corporate insurance removed all carpets, but say they are not responsible for the replacement. Is this really a lot owner’s responsibility?
A sewerage pipe blocked and caused backflow into my apartment and the apartment next door.
Insurance for body corp removed all carpet and underlay from both units and we are now left with bare concrete.
The body corporate’s insurance company states they are not liable to replace any of the carpet. Are they required to at least replace the damaged carpet or is this really a lot owner responsibility?
Answer: Carpet is deemed to be temporary flooring and is therefore the owner’s responsibility to insure under contents insurance.
In this instance there should be a claim on strata insurance (for building damage) and contents/landlords insurance (for damage not considered building).
Carpet is deemed to be temporary flooring and is therefore the owner’s responsibility to insure under contents insurance.
If the owner has a contents insurance policy, they should make a claim under that policy. If not, they will be responsible for the repairs for damage to the carpet.
Tyrone Shandiman Strata Insurance Solutions E: tshandiman@iaa.net.au P: 1300 554 165
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 Advisenent Australia AFSL No 240549, ABN 15 003 886 687.