Adelaide home insurers have been progressively excluding gutter overflow claims where lack of maintenance can be demonstrated. Here's how to protect your claim position.
What's covered
Storm damage causing sudden overflow - usually covered. Hail damage to gutter or downpipe - usually covered. Tree branch through the roof - covered.
What's increasingly NOT covered
Overflow from blocked gutters where maintenance hasn't been documented. "Gradual deterioration" exclusion clauses are getting tighter.
Maintenance documentation
The fix is twice-yearly cleaning with photo evidence. Keep the invoice and the photos. If a future claim arises, you have documented maintenance.
Hills bushfire-zone implications
Many bushfire-zone policies now include explicit maintenance conditions. Documented twice-yearly cleaning is essentially mandatory.