DSH Insurance (Defence Service Homes) building insurance: what each policy covers, and who underwrites it
1 building policy from DSH Insurance (Defence Service Homes). For each: how the building is valued, whether flood and accidental damage are covered, and what happens once the building is left empty, with the sentence from its own documents. Underwritten by Defence Service Homes Insurance Scheme.
- Website
- dsh.gov.au/insurance
- What it is
- Insurer
- Listed on
- Houses and rental properties
- Underwriter
- Defence Service Homes Insurance Scheme
- APRA
- A government scheme, not on APRA's register
Building policies
DSH Home Building Insurance
- Type
- Home building · Residential
- Sold
- Direct
- Building valued as
- Sum insured
- Flood
- Included
- Accidental damage
- Included
- Left empty
- Cover may be refused after 90 days. You must tell the insurer. Applies only if you did not tell DSH before the home became unoccupied.
- Who it is for
- Current and former Australian Defence Force members, and widows or widowers of members, who own the property.
- Documents
- Product Disclosure Statement (1 September 2020) · Key Facts Sheet · Target Market Determination
- The same policy covers a home you live in or a rental property.
- Only for people eligible under the Defence Service Homes Act 1918.
The policy
“Our comprehensive home building insurance covers your home (or your rental property) as well as building and structural improvements such as garages, domestic outbuildings, pergolas, fences, swimming pools, concrete paths and paving.”
Source: dsh.gov.au/insurance/home-building · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
How it is sold
“This product can only be sold via Defence Service Homes Insurance Scheme, ABN 97 191 187 638.”
Source: dsh.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-07/home-building-tmd.pdf · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
How the building is valued
“Your sum insured for Part 1: Home Building is the total amount that you insure the home for, using the calculation below. We calculate this amount and show it on your certificate.”
Source: dsh.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-07/building-insurance-pds.pdf · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Flood
“We insure you for loss or damage to the home caused by flood, or a tidal wave, or the action of the sea.”
Source: dsh.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-07/building-insurance-pds.pdf · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Accidental damage
“Loss or damage to the home that is accidental and directly caused by a sudden and unexpected event.”
Source: dsh.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-07/buildingkfs.pdf · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Left empty
“the home is going to be unoccupied for more than 90 consecutive days, or”
Source: dsh.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-07/building-insurance-pds.pdf · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Who it is for
“If you have ever served in the Australian Defence Force (for one day or more) or you are the widow/widower of someone who has ever served in the Australian Defence Force (one day or more), and you are the owner of the property, you are eligible for DSH Insurance Home Building Insurance.”
Source: dsh.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-07/home-building-tmd.pdf · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Who underwrites and sells it
Underwriter
“‘we’ or ‘our’ or ‘us’ means the Defence Service Homes Insurance Scheme.”
Source: dsh.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-07/building-insurance-pds.pdf · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Defence Service Homes Insurance Scheme: licence
The underwriter's licence number is not given in the documents read for this page.
Deep Almanac is a secondary source and this page is provided for general information and reference. It is not financial, investment, legal, valuation, educational or other professional advice, and it is not a substitute for checking the original source. What each policy covers and who underwrites it are read from each insurer's own documents by hand and re-checked daily, so a change can take a day to appear, and the policy wording you are issued is what applies to you. You are responsible for any decision you or your software makes in reliance on this page. See our terms of use.