Compulsory Evacuation Cover

Compulsory Evacuation Cover: Home, Contents and Landlord’s Policies

Am I covered for temporary accommodation costs if an authority requires me to evacuate my home?


Evacuating your home in an emergency is stressful, and temporary accommodation during this time can be costly.

So, from 1st October 2021, we’ll help cover the cost of alternative accommodation while it is unsafe for you and your family to be in your home, up to the limits outlined in your policy:

 

  • if you’re required to evacuate your principal residence by a local authority or government agency (like a council, Civil Defence, NZ Police or Fire and Emergency NZ)
  • because your property is at risk of damage, from an event that would be covered under your policy, and
  • where you have a Temporary Accommodation benefit.

 

If, during the evacuation, you need to put your domestic pets into boarding or your contents into storage, the Temporary Accommodation benefit can be used to cover these costs.


Under Lumley Safe and Sound Contents cover the most we will pay is $25,000 for any event for up to 12 months.

Please note that this cover is not available under Lumley Safe and Sound Home cover.

This information is only intended as a guide. Policy limits and exclusions apply. Please refer to the policy wording for full terms and conditions or contact us to discuss.

Please contact your broker for more information. If you have any difficulty getting in touch with your broker, you can call NZI directly on 0800 2BROKER (0800 227 653).

Loss of Rent cover

Am I covered for Loss of Rent under my Landlord’s cover policy if an authority requires my tenant to evacuate my property?


Your tenant is legally required to continue paying rent under the Residential Tenancies Act unless the home is uninhabitable due to damage or is contaminated by methamphetamine.

However, from 1 October 2021, where you have a Loss of Rent benefit on your policy, this benefit will also provide cover:

  • if the property is temporarily vacant (it is habitable and undamaged and ready to be tenanted), and
  • where you are unable to get new tenants because an official evacuation order is in place, and
  • where we can reasonably expect that your property is at risk of damage, from an event that would be covered by your policy.

 

Cover is available whilst the evacuation notice is in effect to a maximum of the timeframe applicable under the existing Loss of Rent benefit. The most we will pay is the amount payable under the existing Loss of Rent benefit.


If your tenant has contents insurance, they may be able to claim their additional alternative/temporary accommodation costs under their insurance while they continue paying rent.

This information is only intended as a guide. Policy limits and exclusions apply. Please refer to the policy wording for full terms and conditions.