Budget Direct recently asked 1,000 Australians about how they prepare for storm season and who should be liable if damage is caused by a neighbour’s property.

  • Less than 30% of surveyed Aussies aged 18-44 have an action plan ready if their home is threatened by a storm
  • With regards to storm damage, almost 50% of Australians surveyed aren’t sure of what their insurance actually covers, or they don’t have home or contents insurance at all

No matter which part of the country you live in, all Australians should prepare for the possibility of a storm. The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) says that ‘Severe Thunderstorm Season’ is observed between October - March during the warmer months.

However, this year alone we have seen damaging storms across Greater Melbourne in June and Perth in July.

Budget Direct’s Jonathan Kerr said, “Your home is likely to be the most valuable asset that you will own in your lifetime, so it pays to protect it”.

“You should also not underestimate the value of your contents as well, they may be worth more than you think.”

Of course, you should follow these 7 tips on How to prepare for a storm to increase your safety should a storm occur while minimising the potential damage

  1. Secure loose items around the house
  2. Clean gutters to prevent blockages
  3. Trim trees and branches near your home
  4. Fix any damage to your roof
  5. Check your insurance policy is adequate
  6. Prepare an emergency kit
  7. Keep up to date on weather warnings

To find out more about how you should claim for damage as a result of a storm, you can check out our Home Insurance FAQs.

You can read more about the results of our storm season survey here https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/home-contents-insurance/home-safety/storm-season/storm-statistics.html

Disclaimer: This information is general in nature only and does not constitute personal advice. The survey was conducted by PureProfile on behalf of Budget Direct in June 2021. All figures are from this research unless stated otherwise. The survey was conducted online with a total sample size of 1,000 weighted and representative of all Australian adults (aged 18+). While Budget Direct has endeavoured to ensure the information we’ve relied on is accurate and current, we do not guarantee it and accept no liability for this information.

About Budget Direct

Budget Direct was established as an insurance provider in Australia in 2000. It is part of the international BHL group of companies headquartered in the British Isles. The group provides more than 8 million policies to insurance customers and administers $AUD 3 billion in premiums annually. Budget Direct offers Motor, Home & Contents, Motorcycle, Pet, Life and Travel Insurance as well as Roadside Assistance.

Budget Direct is a multi-award-winning insurer having won Money magazines Insurer of the Year 2021 for the fifth year in a row and Canstar’s Outstanding Value Car Insurance 2021 for 15 years in a row amongst many other awards. Our policies are underwritten by Auto & General Insurance Company Limited, an Australian insurance company regulated by APRA and a member of the Insurance Council of Australia.

About Auto & General

Auto & General has specialised in the sale, management and underwriting of insurance products in Australia since 2000. Our insurance products include car, home and contents and travel. We provide insurance for a number of brands including Budget Direct, 1st for Women, Ozicare, Virgin Money, and ING. We have contact centres based in Queensland and claims assessing centres in Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, in total employing in excess of 1500 people. Our commitment to providing exceptional service has seen the company win multiple industry awards.

Media Contact

For any questions or additional details on the survey and its data, please contact [email protected].

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