Home (or ‘buildings’) insurance
Over 1 million properties protected
We are strata specialists, organising the insurance for almost 1 million apartments, units and townhouses across Australia.
What is Contents Insurance?
Contents Insurance protects your personal belongings - like furniture, clothing, jewellery, phones, TVs, computers, internal carpets, blinds, electrical items and kitchen appliances, from events such as fire, flood, theft, and loss. It’s essential if you live in an apartment, unit, villa, or townhouse, as Residential Strata Insurance only covers the building structure - not what’s inside your home.
What does Contents Insurance cover include?
CHU Contents Insurance can provide cover for your belongings for loss or damage caused by a variety of things like storm, fire, theft, flood and more.
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Included |
Not Included |
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Are you a renter or strata owner-occupier and need contents insurance for your belongings at your home? It includes things like:
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CHU’s Contents Insurance policy doesn’t include cover for things like:
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PLUS, your policy comes with:
21 days cooling off period should you change your mind
24/7 claims service and support with emergency assistance
Optional Extras
- Accidental Damage Cover: You can choose to add the Accidental Damage option for an additional premium. This option includes damage to contents caused by power surge confirmed by an appropriately qualified contractor; and accidental loss of your contents that can’t be recovered after you have taken reasonable steps to try to find or recover them.
- Portable Contents Cover: The Portable Contents option covers personal items that are designed to be used, worn or carried away from home.
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The additional Portable Contents cover includes:
Category
Mobile Phones
Jewellery and watches – this does not include smart watches
Portable electronic devices – includes things like GPSs, smart watches, tablets and laptops (but excludes mobile phones)
Bicycles and personal mobility devices – include their equipment and accessories
Recreational, hobby items or clothing – includes things like sporting equipment, musical instruments, camping gear, and accessories normally worn or carried such as sunglasses and handbags
Medical or health items – includes things like hearing aids (but not hearing implants), prescription spectacles or mobility scooters but does not include any medical equipment or apparatus that requires specialised fitting, customisation or modification by a medical professional, is custom made for you, or requires operation or supervision by a medical
professional while in use. It also does not include drugs or other prescribed medication. See the definition of ‘medical or health items’ for further details.
Collections
Read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for the full details of the cover, including limits, exclusions and conditions.
Why you need Contents Insurance when living in a strata unit
Contents insurance is crucial for those living in apartments, units, villas or even townhouses, because strata insurance only covers the building structure, leaving your personal belongings unprotected. Without contents insurance, the financial burden of replacing or repairing your fixed and portable possession items falls entirely on you. By securing contents insurance, you ensure that your valuable possessions and portable items are safeguarded, providing peace of mind and financial security in case of unexpected events.
Based on our industry experience here are the most common claim types we are dealing with:
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Water damage
After a hailstorm, water leaks through a broken window and roof damaging your bed, carpet and television. The estimated damage is $7,000. Your CHU Contents Insurance policy covers replacement or repair of your damaged personal possessions.
If a valid claim is also submitted by your body corporate/ owners corporation for your building on a CHU Residential Strata Insurance Plan for the same incident, then your $500 contents insurance excess is waived.
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Legal liability
A tradesperson slips on a mat and falls inside your apartment, hurting their ankle, back and hand. X-rays confirm fractures resulting in time off work.
The tradesperson seeks damages from you for medical treatment and loss of earnings. Your CHU Contents Insurance covers you for the cost of defending the claim and the legal liability.
Why CHU?
CHU is one of Australia's largest and most awarded insurance underwriting agencies who specialises in providing comprehensive insurance that is tailored specifically for strata properties like apartments, units, villas and townhouses. CHU protects almost 1 million properties across Australia.
Multi Award Winning
Awards include ANZIIF Underwriting Agency of the Year Award 2017 – 2018 , 2021, 2022 and 2023. Insurance Business Australia Underwriting Agency of the year 2021, 2022. Claims Team of the Year 2024.
24/7 Claims Process and Emergency Hotline
When you need help the most CHU’s claim process strives to be quick and accessible.
Multi-Award Winning Insurance
CHU are multi-award winners: Awards include ANZIIF Underwriting Agency of the Year Award 2017 – 2018 , 2021, 2022 and 2023. Insurance Business Australia Underwriting Agency of the year 2021, 2022. Claims Team of the Year 2024.
The difference between strata insurance and contents insurance for strata properties
Strata insurance, also known as building insurance, is typically arranged by the owners' corporation and covers the common property and structural aspects of the building, such as the roof, walls, elevators, and shared facilities. It ensures that any damage to the building itself or common areas is repaired or replaced.
Contents insurance is the responsibility of individual residents and specifically protects their personal belongings within their strata property. This includes items like furniture, electronics, clothing, and other valuables.
While strata insurance safeguards the building's integrity, getting a contents insurance quote ensures that residents' personal belongings are protected from risks like theft, accidental damage, and natural disasters.
The below diagram shows what is covered by residential strata insurance and by CHU Contents Insurance.
Important Documents and Forms
| Name | Link |
| PDS and policy wording for policies effective from 28th April 2025 | Download |
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PDS and policy wording for policies effective from 1st December 2022 |
Download |
| Contents Insurance - Additional Information Guide | Download |
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Key Fact sheet |
Download |
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Summary of key changes |
Download |
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Target Market Determination (TMD) |
Download |
Frequently asked questions
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What is CHU Contents Insurance, and do I need it?
What is CHU Contents Insurance, and do I need it?
CHU Contents Insurance is insurance cover for household and personal possessions such as clothing, jewellery, furniture, TV, computers, internal carpets, blinds and electrical items and kitchen appliances belonging to yourself and your family members. It is important as it covers the financial cost of repairing or replacing your household and personal possessions in the event of loss or damage.
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Do I need Contents Insurance when my building has Strata Insurance?
Do I need Contents Insurance when my building has Strata Insurance?
Yes, Residential Strata Insurance only provides general insurance cover for the building, common area contents and shared property. The cover provided by the Strata Building policy ends when you cross the threshold of your individual property. A separate Contents Insurance policy is required to protect your personal possessions.
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What is a Strata property?
What is a Strata property?
A strata scheme is a building or collection of buildings that has been divided into ‘lots’ and common property. Lots are individual units, flats, apartments, townhouses, villas or duplexes. Common Property is the shared items in scheme such as common stairwells, driveways, visitor parking, roofs, gardens, lifts, gyms, pool etc. Strata living can provide a friendly community-style environment but differs from living in a freestanding house.
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Do I need to specify an individual item?
Do I need to specify an individual item?
Specified contents are items that you request to have listed on your policy and, if we agree to insure the item, have a value that exceeds the standard policy limit. Specified portable contents are portable items insured at and away from your home address. When you choose this optional benefit, cover is provided up to the amount specified. Please call our customer service team for further information or click on the chat bubble at the bottom right of your screen to send us a Live Chat.
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I am moving to another strata property – can I alter my insured address?
I am moving to another strata property – can I alter my insured address?
Please contact our team to let us know and we can change details or organise a new quote and cancel your current policy.
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Can I cancel my Contents Insurance at any time?
Can I cancel my Contents Insurance at any time?
Yes, a refund may be available. We can also assist if you are changing this from a Contents to a Landlord policy, if you are now getting tenants to occupy the residence. Just let our team know and we can help. Click on the chat bubble at the bottom right of your screen to send us a Live Chat.
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How much contents insurance do I need?
How much contents insurance do I need?
The amount of contents insurance you need depends on the total value of your personal possessions at their current replacement cost. It's important to ensure that your policy covers the full value so that you can replace all of your belongings in case of a total loss. Regularly updating your inventory and valuation helps maintain adequate coverage.
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How do I determine the value of my possessions for contents insurance?
How do I determine the value of my possessions for contents insurance?
To determine the value of your possessions for contents insurance, create a detailed inventory of all your belongings, including descriptions, purchase dates, and costs. For more accurate valuations, consider getting appraisals for high-value items like jewellery, art, or collectibles. Update this inventory regularly and adjust your insurance coverage as necessary.
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What exclusions should I be aware of in your contents insurance policy?
What exclusions should I be aware of in your contents insurance policy?
Always read our PDS to understand what contents items are covered. Items that exceed the standard policy limit may need to be specified to be adequately covered.
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Does CHU’s contents insurance cover theft outside of my home?
Does CHU’s contents insurance cover theft outside of my home?
When you add our Portable Contents option, your items are protected anywhere in Australia or New Zealand, and for up to 90 consecutive days anywhere else in the world.
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Is contents insurance mandatory for renters?
Is contents insurance mandatory for renters?
Contents insurance is typically not mandatory for renters, but it is highly recommended to protect your belongings in case of unforeseen events.
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What is legal liability and does Contents insurance cover it?
What is legal liability and does Contents insurance cover it?
Legal liability refers to your responsibility for injury or damage to others or their property. Contents insurance covers legal liability by providing financial protection if you are found liable for personal injury or damage caused by you or your belongings, covering legal costs and compensation.
