Playing possum: property owners lose disagreement over collapsed ceiling
18 November 2022
Complainants who state a possum triggered their ceiling to collapse will not be covered for their loss after a disagreement judgment identified they had actually not developed a legitimate claim.
The property owners stated they heard “loud thumping and banging” originating from their ceiling about 10pm on February 1 prior to identifying a “big one-metre fracture” that appeared quickly after.
They stated that the whole ceiling collapsed a couple of hours later on which they heard a possum running towards the other end of your house.
RACQ Insurance coverage stated the claim was not legitimate, keeping in mind there had actually been no sightings of the possum or physical proof that would show how it got in the roofing.
Professionals selected by the insurance company reported that the mishap most likely took place since roofing repairing or glue had actually separated.
The insurance company competed that a ceiling without faulty glue ought to have had the ability to stand up to a possum’s weight without collapsing. The policy did cover animal damage, while omitting damage by animals or insects, however the insurance company stated even if the ceiling had actually been lowered by a mix of a possum and scrubby glue repairings, the loss would still not have actually been covered.
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) acknowledged that the complaintants might have heard something however stated this was insufficient to develop a legitimate claim.
It stated the insured supplied “no independent or unbiased proof that develops a possum remained in the roofing cavity”.
The plaintiffs stated among the insurance company’s home builders who checked the damage stated a possum might have “potentially” triggered the mishap. The ombudsman stated this was a speculative response which the contractor did not “favorably” assert this description.
” Thinking about these matters, I am not pleased the plaintiffs have actually effectively revealed a possum got in the roofing cavity and triggered the lounge ceiling collapse,” the ombudsman stated.
The complaintants desired RACQ to spend for non-financial losses associating with how the claim was managed, including its choice to accept and turn down the claim numerous times, which they stated triggered distress and confusion.
AFCA concurred that the insurance company took a “flippant technique with the claim” and bought it to pay the plaintiffs $500 in payment.
Click On This Link for the judgment.
