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In the event of an earthquake, volcanic eruption, natural landslip, tsunami or hydrothermal activity, the Earthquake Commission (EQC), provides natural disaster insurance for residential homes and some of the land within defined limits. This insurance is called EQCover and you need to have home insurance to access it.
We've put together some frequently asked questions about insurance cover and claims following a natural disaster. We make every effort to keep this information up to date, but recommend you check the EQC website for the latest information on this cover.
You have 2 years from when the damage occurred, but we suggest you make a claim soon after an event.
Claims for your home should be reported to the EQC in the first instance:
We recommend that after you report your claim to the EQC, you contact our claims team. This is because there are some items covered by our home and contents insurance policies which are not covered by the EQC. Examples of this can include the surface of driveways and paths, contents items, and alternative accommodation.
For residential contents claims, please contact our claims team.
EQC takes care of land claims and will assess land damage, as land is not covered by private insurance policies. The EQC cover for land includes:
To lodge a claim for land with EQC:
If both your home and land have been affected, these can be reported together, so you only need to lodge one claim.
You are able to secure your property and make temporary repairs for safety or to prevent further damage or discomfort.
If possible, take photos before moving and repairing anything. This will help to assess the amount of damage.
If you are unable to live in your home, please contact our claims team.
The EQC does not cover motor vehicles, trailers or boats. To report a claim under your policy, please contact our claims team.
The EQC does not provide cover for commercial buildings. If you have a mixed-usage property ie residential and business, you will need to check your policy to see whether EQC coverage applies.
We insure commercial buildings provided the policy includes Earthquake or Disaster Damage cover.
In the first instance:
To report claims for business or commercial property damage please contact our claims team.
In most cases, your insurance company will send an assessor to look at your property and confirm what repairs and replacements are needed.