Holden Title had just retired. He wasn’t looking to build an empire, just keep a little income ticking over from his rental property on the coast. A low-stress addition to his super.
Three weeks into the lease, the tenant disappeared. The place was left in disarray. Rent unpaid. Tribunal dates set. But re-letting would take months.
Unsure of what to do, Holden turned to his broker.
Unfortunately, his existing policy offered little more than sympathy.
When tenants vanish, the financial impact snowballs. Weeks of unpaid rent. Legal fees for eviction. Costs to remove abandoned furniture. And a delay in re-letting that can stretch far longer than expected.
Many standard landlord policies offer limited cover for these scenarios. Brokers are often left navigating narrow definitions and payout caps that don’t reflect how long these issues actually drag on.
That’s where Hutch changes the equation.
Our Residential Landlord Insurance is built with the realities of property management in mind. That includes when things go wrong.
If a tenant defaults, disappears, or becomes legally unfit to remain, Hutch provides:
We also offer additional loss of rent protection if the property becomes uninhabitable after damage or a tribunal delay.
The Hutch policy is designed to be fair, not burdensome. Cover can be triggered by events like:
We also account for the real-world delays involved in re-letting and allow for reasonable expenses when a landlord needs help clearing out a trashed property.
Rent default and loss of rent are optional covers. That means brokers have flexibility when tailoring policies to their client’s property profile. But it also means it’s worth the conversation.
A client may not see the need at renewal time, until the tenant disappears and the tribunal backlog kicks in. These are the covers that earn broker trust long after the quote is accepted.
Is there a waiting period?
Yes, tenants must have paid four consecutive weeks of rent under a lease for cover to apply.
What if the tenant leaves due to hardship or domestic violence?
We still provide up to six weeks of lost rent cover, and removal of tenant property if legally required.
Do I need to prove re-letting expenses?
Yes, and bond money must be exhausted first. But the policy provides up to $500 where conditions are met.
What if a tenant dies in the property?
We provide fumigation and clean-up cover (up to $10,000) and support rent loss due to delayed re-letting up to maximum of six weeks.
When a landlord’s passive income becomes an active nightmare, Hutch helps brokers provide real support and real solutions.
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