Defined events explained

Broadly speaking, defined events (also known as listed events) are a range of situations which cause damage to your home and contents that you’re insured for. All other ‘events’ are typically excluded from cover.

Defined events may vary between the different types of insurance. For example, a home insurance policy might provide cover for broken window glass, while contents insurance won’t because the windows are part of the house’s structure. The list of defined events may then differ again across policies and insurance providers.

Defined events can also refer to natural disasters, like cyclone, bushfire or flood (this is more commonly known as a declared event).

Some common defined events in home and contents insurance policies include:

• Fires
• Storm damage (like lightning, wind and rainwater damage)
• Theft or attempted theft
• Natural disasters (like cyclones or earthquakes)
• Explosions
• Escape of liquid
• Malicious damage
• Damage caused during a robbery
• Vandalism, riots or civil commotion.

The full details of your coverage for defined or listed events will be outlined in your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). The PDS will include the events covered, the monetary limits, exclusions and how to lodge a claim.

Generally, damage from defined events that occur before you took out a home and contents insurance policy aren’t covered. Insurance is not designed to cover you after the fact, but it can help insure you for future possible events as detailed in your policy.

Some policies have an exclusion period when you won’t be covered if you claim for some of the listed events in your policy. These periods are generally 48 or 72 hours after you’ve first purchased cover.

Also, it’s likely that your policy will include other exclusions, which you’ll find listed in your PDS. For example, you may not be covered if defective workmanship during renovations damages your house.

If you’re unsure about whether your policy covers you for a particular event, give your insurance company a call or review your PDS, which contains all the details of your coverage.

Accidental damage cover is usually an optional extra that can cover you for accidental loss or damage that happens at home, like spilling a liquid that leaves stains all over your carpeted floors. Essentially, this is cover for other events that are not listed as defined events.

You may find that some providers include this cover automatically in their top-level home and contents insurance. It’s important to read the PDS to understand what’s included as part of this cover.