Tasmania - Illegal Building Works

Claims Chronicles

The Background

The West family settled on their three-bedroom home in Rosebery, Tasmania in October 2021. In July 2024, a hailstorm damaged the roof of the family home and Tegan West contacted her home and contents insurer to inspect the roof and other affected areas of the house.

In August 2024, the Council attended the property to undertake inspection of the roof structure and found that the sunroom extension at the rear of the house was built without approval. A roofed deck attached to the sunroom was also found to have been constructed without Council approval. Following their inspection, the Council issued a Building Notice to the Wests to either demolish or rectify the unapproved structures.

What happened next?

Shortly after receiving the Building Notice, the Wests made a claim for illegal building works. As part of the claims assessment process, First Title instructed external Building Consultants to attend the property and inspect the unapproved structures.

The Building Consultant also engaged a Building Surveyor to determine the necessary works required to comply with the Building Notice, as well as a builder to provide a quote on the works.

What did we do?

First Title accepted the claim under illegal building works coverage in clause 4.6 of the Covered Risk.

We paid the Wests $160,000 in full and final settlement of their claim. This is the policy maximum for illegal building works, and their claim was finalised.

Payment: $160,000 | Claim Type: Illegal Building Works

*Names have been changed for privacy purposes.