Archive for June, 2008
This post records the unfortunate story of my tenant that lit a candle, went to sleep, then woke up to see the curtains alight and their bedside table on fire. Just 10 minutes later the fire engines arrived (moments before TV3 news did) and this was the sad result:
Yes the NZ Fire Service and Police were both involved, as well as an investigator to check the claim was valid, and to report on the event which came to the public’s attention getting on TV3 News and also published in the NZ Herald.
Whilst the toilet seat and cistern got melted, for some reason the roll of toilet paper (in the corner) didn’t burn!
Remember to check that your insurance policies are up to date – and advise your tenants to get contents insurance!
This 65 sqm townhouse (under the Waitakere City Council’s minor dwelling rules) cost over $137,000 to rebuild, excluding architectural and council fees (a few thousand more), and the insurer’s builders didn’t even have to build a deck, and they used the foundations, drainage, all of the bearers, most of the joists, and a little bit of the cladding on the far wall by the kitchen and lounge. This was a bit of a shock to the system, but a few hundred dollars of premium over the past 4 years meant that the claim was paid out in full. Well note quite – I didn’t choose the Landlords option which was over $300 per year dearer, so I had to pay to replace the carpets and curtains, as well as fork out $350 for the excess. I was pretty happy with the outcome, particularly receiving rent every week since the fire – it didn’t matter that the builders were going slowly and took 6 months to build it! I still don’t recommend getting Landlord’s insurance cover on the vast majority of policies as it is too expensive for what it covers – I have had a major fire happen to me and I think it is better to self insure that risk.
The moral of this story is not about going to sleep with a candle still burning. It is:
Are you insured and happy with your insurance cover?