Additional Update*** October 2022 — In addition to the caravan policies mentioned in the update below, the Australian Tiny House Association have also come to an agreement with Benjamin and Benjamin Insurance Company to provide another option for tiny house dwellers. The Australian Tiny House Association have said the following “Benjamin and Benjamin Insurance Group have been able to secure a national underwriter to assist those seeking tiny house insurance. A tiny house will be insurable while it is on a physical property and ‘fixed’ to the land which includes: steps, decks, off grid and on grid services. You will not need to remove the wheels.” In addition they have provided a PDF with additional info and this is available at here.
Please note it is always worth looking around at your options beyond what is mentioned in these updates. The tiny house insurance market is changing so quickly in Australia that there will likely be more and more options coming to market and we will not necessarily always be aware of them immedietely. Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily have to get “Tiny house Insurance”, you may find a caravan policy that is appropriate for you. Just make sure you fully disclose to your (potential) insurer exactly what your situation is so that in the event of a claim you will be effectively covered.
Update*** July/August 2022 — Much to our relief, it’s been bought to our attention that you can still get Tiny Houses on wheels insured under Youi’s Non Mobile Caravan Policy — If you’re seeking Tiny House Insurance, it’s worth giving them a call to explore if their offering is right for you.
We’ve also received an update that you can still apply for cover through CIL for your tiny house provided that:
— The Tiny House is located on private property (so not a commercial premises like a caravan park)
— The wheels are still on the Tiny
— The drawer-bar is still attached
— It is not hard-wired into services (ie. It is attached through a cord/hose rather than a permanent setup).
All of the above is general info only and it’s best you chat directly to the insurers to figure out if what they’re offering is suitable for your situation. Good Luck!
EDIT ** 09/07/22 —- It has been bought to our attention that things have changed in the Tiny House Insurance market here in Australia recently. A number of providers have unfortunately withdrawn their offerings in this arena. Our understanding is that they’re offering renewals to those customers who already have tiny house insurance but are not taking on any new clients. We have an insurance broker looking into alternate options but none have come to light yet. If you know of any current options, please do comment below. We will update this post if/when we get more solid options coming to light (fingers crossed….) but please feel free to email us in the meantime to see if we have any further updates. Please note the info below is now unfortunately outdated.
Fans of simple, cost-effective living in Australia and throughout the world are increasingly going tiny. A THOW or tiny house on wheels is more than simply a low-cost housing solution; it’s also about enjoying the comforts of home while enjoying a higher-quality, one-of-a-kind lifestyle.
Read on to find out the best tiny house on wheels insurance options for your tiny home.
Tiny houses on wheels face lots of unanticipated risks and these are not so tiny! Weather damage, vandalism, theft and fire are things that could impact your new home. Your tiny house, like any other property, is an investment that you should safeguard. Finding tiny house insurance isn’t as straightforward as finding other kinds of insurance. However, this is understandable as this relatively new niche is still in its infant stages, and high-quality products are only just starting to emerge into the market.
Tiny houses on wheels (tiny houses built on trailers) have a distinct market niche; They are neither vehicles, such as motor homes nor are they foundation-based residences like most homes. A tiny house built on a road-legal trailer is currently classed as a caravan and is therefore required to abide by caravan legislation.
A comprehensive tiny house insurance coverage is comparable to standard homeowners insurance in that; it protects the home, your personal belongings, and liability claims. On the other hand, it’s different in that standard home insurance requires the insured item/property to be considered a dwelling, and since tiny houses on wheels are actually considered to be caravans (currently at least) you need a policy that covers vehicles (either caravan insurance or tiny house on wheels insurance).
Tiny house on wheels insurance will often cover for:
As the tiny home movement continues to gain popularity, Australian insurers have designed insurance policies to cater to tiny home insurance needs. As the market continues to grow and evolve Tiny homeowners can expect more tiny home insurance offerings to come online that offer tiny home insurance solutions to cover any losses or liability claims.
Most insurers will only cover tiny homes that meet certain requirements such as having officially documented work done on things like electrical work and plumbing. Before constructing your tiny house on wheels, it’s a good idea to consult an insurance broker on the best package options available for your tiny home.
Find a good insurance agent: It is critical to find a competent insurance agent. A good insurance representative can assist you in making design decisions before purchasing or building your tiny house. These tips will make it easier to obtain insurance down the track.
Always be open and honest with your insurance agent. Tell them whether you built the house yourself or intend to live in a tiny house full-time. Honesty can help you to refine your insurance selections and ensure you end up with one that will be honorable in the event of a claim. Whilst tiny homes are classed as caravan’s and should therefore be covered by most caravan insurance policies, the newness and greyness of this niche mean you could run into trouble if you take out a policy without notifying your agent/the underwriters of the nature of your vehicle and your intentions for its use. Honesty and directness up front could save a lot of heartache down the track.
Most significantly, a reputable agent should assist you in filing a claim when necessary and expedite settlement. However, if you are dishonest, your claim may be denied and your policy terminated.
With these things in mind, here are some of the top tiny house insurance offerings in Australia. Our top 5 list of the best tiny home insurance companies either have a tiny home-specific policy or a good caravan/motor home insurance to cover your tiny home and its contents.
Since its establishment in 1962, CIL has been a pioneer in providing insurance solutions to mobile homeowners to cover their nomadic lifestyle. Although they initially designed products to cover motor homes and caravans, the Brisbane-based insurer now offers comprehensive tiny home insurance to protect tiny homes both while parked and in motion.
The CIL tiny house on wheels insurance policy includes; collision, own damage, content protection, and liability coverage for both the tiny house and its contents.
QBE caravan and trailer insurance policy offers flexible options to tiny homeowners. To begin, you can select comprehensive coverage for your tiny house on wheels. When insuring your tiny house on wheels, you have the option of covering it either nationally or locally. In the latter scenario, you specify a safe location in Australia where your tiny house on wheels will be domiciled.
QBE requires you to specify the primary use: private, business, including Airbnb. You will not receive compensation for any loss suffered while using your tiny home for a purpose other than its intended use at the time of the event.
In addition to insuring tiny homes, the Youi Caravan cover protects you in the event of damage to someone else’s property and, includes a traveler incentive if you visit each state and territory. There are three options: third-party property damage, third-party fire and theft, and comprehensive coverage.
Youi provides a few additional alternatives for further coverage, including:
CGU provides comprehensive trailer insurance to cover tiny homes on wheels, including $30 million in liability insurance and a variety of free extras.
You have the option of on-site or Australia-wide coverage. The former only protects a tiny home sitting on a selected address in Australia, but the rates are lower as a result.
NRMA Caravan Insurance offers a variety of coverage options, including a 24-hour claims line. The policy covers you for loss or damage to your tiny house on wheels caused by specific incidents, liability coverage, storage fees, emergency repairs, and vandalism or malicious damage.
Tiny house on wheels insurance is essential because it protects you financially in the event that something adversely affects your tiny home. Costs depend on location, coverage limits, and the excess. Be aware too, that a tiny house must be completed before most of these policies can be taken out. If your tiny home is not fully built (i.e. You’ve paid to have it partially built and you are now decking out the interior yourself), you need a different insurance setup. We will cover this in a future article.
Tiny house living isn’t for all, but those who adopt it can benefit from lower living costs, the freedom to relocate and try new places, a lesser carbon footprint, and the opportunity to live off the grid. We’ve done the homework for you. Just remember to purchase sufficient insurance coverage to safeguard your home—and your way of life—before you start living in your tiny home.
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