Protecting Shared Property, Common Interests and Community Assets

Strata Insurance

Strata insurance is essential for both residential and commercial properties under strata or community title. It protects common property, shared areas, and liability exposures - helping owners, committees and managers meet their legal responsibilities while maintaining the long-term value of the building.

At Bruce Chiene Insurance Brokers, we work with strata managers, owners corporations and investors to tailor cover that reflects the scale, use, and risk profile of each property.

Core Strata Cover

Strata insurance typically includes protection for:

  • Building & common property - shared areas, structural elements, driveways, stairwells, roofs, balconies
  • Public liability - for injuries or property damage within common areas
  • Temporary accommodation or rent loss - following damage from an insured event
  • Catastrophe cover - insurers often include an automatic increase (e.g., 10–25%) on your building sum insured to help cover costs from declared natural disasters like bushfire, earthquake, or cyclone.
  • Legal defence costs - including some cover for owner disputes or claims

Commercial Strata Insurance

Tailored for shops, offices, medical centres, showrooms and light industrial buildings

Commercial strata buildings bring their own set of risks, especially around occupancy, tenant activities, and machinery exposure. We help arrange policies that:

  • Cover high-foot-traffic areas like lobbies, carparks or retail arcades
  • Reflect the presence of cafes, surgeries or service businesses
  • Include glass cover, loss of rent, machinery breakdown and public liability extensions
  • Offer optional flood, statutory liability and excess layer protection
  • Support common plant and infrastructure like lifts, HVAC or fire systems
  • Address strata manager or committee responsibilities with office bearers’ liability

Also ask us about cover for embedded solar, battery storage, EV chargers, and shared plant rooms.

Optional Add-Ons & Extensions

We can enhance your strata policy with tailored options such as:

  • Office bearers’ liability
  • Fidelity guarantee (fraud cover)
  • Machinery breakdown - lifts, gates, pumps
  • Underground services & utility infrastructure
  • Legal expenses or dispute cover
  • Lot owners’ fixtures and improvements (betterments)
  • Excess layers for large buildings or high public foot traffic
  • Cyber cover - for strata management IT breaches

Did You Know?

Flood cover is not always included in strata insurance.

Some policies include it as standard, while others exclude it or offer it only by request - often depending on location or insurer appetite. If your building is near a creek, river, or in a low-lying area, it’s important to confirm whether flood is currently insured under your policy.

If you’re unsure, we recommend reviewing your policy schedule or contacting your insurer or broker for clarification.

Residential Strata Insurance

Designed for apartments, unit complexes, and townhouses under strata title

Residential strata properties typically require compliance with state legislation and protection for shared living spaces. We ensure your policy reflects:

  • Common property including foyers, stairwells, lobbies and pools
  • Fire, storm, escape of water, and impact damage
  • Optional cover for floodlandscaping, or gardening equipment
  • Public liability in communal areas including gyms, BBQ areas or rooftop gardens
  • Loss of rent and temporary accommodation for affected units
  • Machinery breakdown (e.g. lifts, pumps, automatic gates)
  • Committee protection through office bearers’ liability and fidelity guarantee

Specialist options are available for short-stay tenancies, mixed-use residential/commercial blocks, and boutique or multi-stage developments.

Get in touch

Talk to our team today

Whether you're managing a retail complex, an apartment block, or a mixed-use precinct, we’ll help ensure your strata scheme is properly protected.

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