Are You Legally Protected from Bushfires?

This month Bushfires are raging across Queensland and destroying lives, homes and valuable properties along the way. The current situation across both Queensland and New South West is dire, with 50 bushfires burning in Queensland and 60 burning in NSW. At least three people have lost their lives to the fires and many others missing and injured. There are over 150 homes destroyed by blazes. Experts have warned that "this disaster is far from over and the worst may be yet to come with summer ahead." With Christmas holidays just ahead, many Aussies may also travel for holidays, leaving their properties vulnerable to potential risks.

In this article, OMB Solicitors would like to discuss some of the important legal preparation Queenslanders should do.

Insurance

• Make sure your insurance is up to date, and has the right cover for fire and flood.
• If you are letting your property, you’ll need to let your insurance company know you’re no longer living there and arrange landlord's insurance. Your tenant will probably want to get contents insurance and many companies require door and window locks to be of a certain standard.
• If you are letting your property for short-term rentals (e.g. Airbnb, Stayz, Wotif etc.), you must check if your policy is compatible for this purpose. Certain policies may also distinguish between professionally managed properties or self-managed properties.
• Consider obtaining Insurance advice about securing life, TPD and trauma insurances.
• If your property gets damaged, be prepared to lodge an insurance claim soon after the event.

Emergency contacts

• Keep a list of emergency contacts you may need for dealing with recovery from a disaster.

Important Documents

• Prepare or update your Will and Enduring Power of Attorney. We recommend seeking proper legal advice from us when it comes to setting up a Will and/or Enduring Power of Attorney.
• Prepare an important documents kit, including a description of your home and a list of your valuable belongings. Compiling passwords and keeping this with your estate planning documents is also a handy hint.

In the event of a disaster you can contact Gold Coast Lawyer Team at OMB Solicitors at 07 5555 0000 for legal advice. We are here to help.