# Roof insurance claims in WA

URL: https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/roof-insurance-claims-wa/
Updated: 2026-10-17

> For a roof insurance claim, contact your insurer as soon as possible, photograph the damage before anything is moved, arrange only the temporary repairs needed to prevent further damage unless your insurer says otherwise, and keep every receipt. Policies commonly treat sudden storm damage differently from wear and tear or poor maintenance, so check your product disclosure statement (PDS) for what is covered.

**General information only.** Every policy is different. This page describes how home insurance claims commonly work, not what your policy covers. Your PDS and your insurer are the authority on your claim.

A roof claim usually turns on two questions: what caused the damage, and whether that cause is covered by your policy. Most of what you do in the first few days, from the photos you take to the receipts you keep, helps answer those questions clearly.

Perth gets most of its rain between May and September, mainly with cold fronts and low-pressure systems, and the first heavy rain after summer is often when roof problems show up. The steps below apply whenever damage happens.

## Does home insurance cover roof damage?

It depends on your policy and on the cause. Home policies commonly distinguish between damage from a sudden event, such as a storm, and damage from gradual wear and tear or a lack of maintenance. The PDS explains what your insurance covers, what it does not and any special conditions.

The Insurance Council of Australia explains that if an insurer finds a home has not been well maintained and that contributed to the damage, the insurer may reduce what it pays, require the maintenance issue to be fixed before it repairs the home, or in some cases deny the claim. Regular checks from the ground, such as those in our [roof maintenance checklist](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/roof-maintenance-checklist/), help both the roof and any future claim.

## What should you do first after storm damage?

Make the house safe, record the damage, then call your insurer. The order matters, because some of what you record can be lost once clean-up starts.


1. **Stay safe.** For storm damage you cannot make safe yourself, such as a collapsed ceiling, call the SES on 132 500. For life-threatening emergencies call Triple Zero (000).
2. **Photograph before you move anything.** The Insurance Council suggests taking photos or video of damage before you start cleaning up.
3. **Contact your insurer as soon as possible.** Do this even if you do not yet know the full extent of the damage. Some policies have time limits, and an insurer may not pay for loss caused by a delay in reporting.
4. **Ask about temporary repairs.** Find out what the insurer wants you to do to prevent further damage, and whether it will arrange a make safe.
5. **Keep damaged materials and receipts.** Keep samples of damaged materials, do not throw away items that could be repaired, and keep every invoice and receipt.

Our guide on [what to do when your roof leaks](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/what-to-do-when-your-roof-leaks/) covers protecting the inside of the house while you wait.

*Image: Photographing a ceiling water stain with a phone. Date-stamped photos from inside are useful evidence for a claim.*
## How do you document roof damage safely?

Document from the ground, from inside the house and from a safe window, never from the roof. A storm-damaged roof can have loose tiles, broken sheets and debris, and our guide to [roof safety for homeowners](https://perthroofquotes.com/guides/roof-safety-for-homeowners/) explains why getting on it is a bad idea.


- Wide photos of each side of the house showing the roof line, then closer zoomed shots of visible damage.
- Fallen branches, tiles or sheets on the ground, photographed where they landed.
- Ceiling stains, wet insulation or water on floors, with something in shot for scale.
- Damaged contents, listed with a description, brand and model where possible.
- A short written timeline: when the storm hit, when you noticed the damage and what you did.
- Any make-safe work, with before and after photos and the contractor's details.

## Should you get temporary repairs before the insurer approves?

Temporary repairs to stop further damage are often needed straight away; permanent repairs usually wait for the insurer. The Insurance Council describes a make safe as immediate work to prevent further damage or make the site safe, which may include fitting tarpaulins to a roof. It may be done first by emergency services, a government agency or a contractor appointed by your insurer.

If you arrange temporary work yourself, speak with your insurer first where your policy requires it, keep it to what is needed to prevent further damage, and keep the invoice and photos. Ask the contractor for a short written note of what they found and what they did, because that record may be the only description of the damage before it was covered. Our [storm damage roof repairs page](https://perthroofquotes.com/storm-damage-roof-repairs-perth/) explains what a make-safe visit usually involves.

## Why does the recorded cause of damage matter?

Because cover usually depends on the cause, a clear written record of what a roofer saw is valuable. If a contractor inspects the roof before or alongside the insurer, ask them to put their findings in writing: what is damaged, where, what they believe caused it, and any older defects they noticed nearby.

That record should be honest and specific. A roofer can describe broken tiles under a fallen branch and, separately, rusted valley irons that pre-date the storm. Mixing the two, or overstating storm damage, can undermine the whole claim.

## What happens when an assessor visits?

The insurer may appoint a loss assessor or loss adjuster to inspect the damage and assess the claim. After large storms, the Insurance Council notes that access to properties can be limited for days or weeks, and your insurer will tell you when to expect the assessor.

If the claim is accepted and involves repairs, you will usually receive a written scope of works setting out the repair work and the products to be used. The Insurance Council suggests checking what will be repaired or replaced, what will not, the materials being used, and any dependencies, such as repairs not covered by the policy that you may need to pay for before covered work starts.

Your insurer may offer to manage the repairs, pay a cash settlement or a combination of both. Moneysmart notes that a cash settlement means you manage the repair process yourself and may be left out of pocket, so compare any cash offer against a written [roof leak repair](https://perthroofquotes.com/roof-leak-repair-perth/) or storm repair quote before accepting.

## What if your claim is refused or you disagree?

Ask for the decision and the reasons in writing. The Insurance Council says that if a claim is denied, the insurer must tell you in writing which part was not accepted, why, your right to request copies of reports it relied on, and how to complain.

If you disagree with the decision or the assessor's report, use the insurer's internal dispute resolution process first. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can complain to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), which Moneysmart describes as free, independent dispute resolution.

## How do you avoid scams after a storm?

Moneysmart warns to be careful of anyone who door-knocks, calls out of the blue or offers a today-only deal after a disaster, and not to pay cash upfront. The Insurance Council suggests asking unexpected builders or assessors for identification and checking with your insurer that they have been appointed to your claim.

If you sign a repair agreement with someone who approached you uninvited, you generally have 10 business days to cancel, and the supplier must not take payment or start work during that time.

## Frequently asked questions

### Will home insurance pay for an old roof that leaks?
Policies commonly distinguish sudden events from gradual deterioration, and an insurer may reduce or refuse a claim where poor maintenance contributed to the damage. Check your PDS and ask your insurer how it treats leaks on your policy.

### Can I choose my own roofer for an insurance repair?
That depends on your insurer and policy. Some insurers manage repairs through their own builders, while others may accept your quotes or offer a cash settlement, so ask before you arrange permanent work.

### Should I throw away storm debris before the assessor visits?
Not before photographing it where it fell. The Insurance Council suggests keeping samples of damaged materials for the assessor and not throwing away items that could be salvaged or repaired. Leave any broken asbestos cement sheeting alone for a licensed removalist.

### What is a make safe?
A make safe is immediate work to stop further damage or make a site safe, such as fitting a tarpaulin over a damaged roof. It is temporary and is usually followed by permanent repairs once the claim is assessed.

### Do I still pay an excess on a storm damage claim?
Usually yes. The excess is the amount you agreed to pay towards each claim, set out in your policy documents, and the Insurance Council notes that a disaster declaration does not remove the obligation to pay it.