QBE building insurance: what each policy covers, and who underwrites it
4 building policies from QBE. 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 QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited.
- Website
- qbe.com/au
- What it is
- Insurer
- Listed on
- Houses and rental properties, Business premises and property owners
- Underwriter
- QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited
- APRA
- Authorised by APRA to write new general insurance (listed as QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited)
Building policies
QBE Small Business Insurance
- Type
- Business property · Commercial
- Sold
- Direct
- Flood
- Not covered
- Accidental damage
- Included
- Left empty
- No cover after 60 days. You must tell the insurer. Unless QBE gave written consent (not unreasonably withheld). Occupied means used for business at least two days in a row.
- Who it is for
- Small businesses in listed occupations; the page gives trades 'up to 5 employees and under $1 million turnover' and hospitality and retail 'up to 10 employees and $2 million turnover'. Business Buildings and Contents is an optional add-on to the Business Liability base cover.
- Documents
- QBE Small Business Insurance Policy Wording QM9264-0723 (15 July 2023)
- Buildings cover is an add-on: 'Add any of the following to your Small Business Insurance: Business Buildings and Contents, Business Interruption, Portable Items, Glass, Breakdown, Money and Tax Audit.'
- Business Interruption can only be added if Business Buildings and Contents is selected.
- Buildings include lessors' fixtures and fittings and structural improvements used by the business; buildings used as a residence are excluded.
- Flood is not listed among the Insured Events in the QM9264-0723 wording.
- Latest wording listed on QBE's page is dated July 2023; not verified whether it is still current.
The policy
“QBE’s Small Business Insurance automatically comes with Business Liability cover as your base.”
Source: qbe.com/au/business-insurance/small-business · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
How it is sold
“Buy online and tailor your cover to meet your needs.”
Source: qbe.com/au/business-insurance/small-business · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Flood
“Wind, water and rain (includes snow and hail) and any other liquid discharged, overflowing, leaking or bursting from mains, fixed pipes, gutters, drains, fixed tanks or fixed apparatus used to hold or carry liquids, but not loss or damage: (a) by sea, tidal wave, tsunami, high water, storm surge or flood;”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=3B50CC50-C41A-46BA-A8A7-55A3B3B115AD · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Accidental damage
“11. Accidental damage (a) Loss of or damage to buildings or contents caused by any accident except loss or damage caused by:”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=3B50CC50-C41A-46BA-A8A7-55A3B3B115AD · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Left empty
“This policy excludes loss, damage or liability during any period in excess of 60 consecutive days during which the business premises are left unoccupied, unless with our written consent (which we will not unreasonably withhold).”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=3B50CC50-C41A-46BA-A8A7-55A3B3B115AD · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Who it is for
“Designed for eligible retail businesses with up to 10 employees and $2 million turnover.”
Source: qbe.com/au/business-insurance/small-business · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
QBE Commercial Property Insurance
- Type
- Business property · Commercial
- Sold
- Through a broker
- Left empty
- Not stated.
- Who it is for
- Medium to large businesses across industries, including wholesalers, manufacturers, property owners and multinational placements; smaller businesses with high-value assets by arrangement.
- QBE says its Business Packages product may suit small and medium businesses instead; that page (qbe.com/au/business-insurance/business-packages) returned a Cloudflare 403 and could not be read.
- PDS and TMD are available only from brokers; QBE's TMD page hides broker TMD links behind an accordion that could not be read.
The policy
“QBE’s Commercial Property insurance provides cover for a whole range of medium to large businesses covering all types of industries and sectors – including wholesalers, manufacturers, property owners and multinational placements.”
Source: qbe.com/au/business-insurance/property · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
How it is sold
“Our Property insurance is available through brokers and QBE authorised representatives.”
Source: qbe.com/au/business-insurance/property · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Who it is for
“We can also provide cover for smaller businesses with high value assets.”
Source: qbe.com/au/business-insurance/property · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
QBE Home Insurance (home building cover)
- Type
- Home building · Residential
- Sold
- Direct
- Building valued as
- Sum insured + 30%
- Flood
- Included
- Accidental damage
- Optional extra
- Left empty
- Extra $1,500 excess after 90 days; extra $4,500 excess after 365 days. You must tell the insurer. Only if you did not tell QBE; not charged for riot, lightning, earthquake, tsunami, collision or falling trees. Agreed periods carry a different excess.
- Who it is for
- Owners of a home in Australia used for residential purposes; not for rented-out homes, strata units insured by a body corporate, or homes under construction or unoccupied for more than 90 days.
- Documents
- Home Insurance Product Disclosure Statement (QM8697-1124) (11 November 2024) · Home Insurance Additional Information Guide (QM8700-0425) (1 April 2025) · Home Insurance - Buildings Key Facts Sheet (QM8703-1020) (10 December 2020) · Target Market Determination (QM9143-0826) (18 August 2026)
- The 30% Buildings Sum Insured Safeguard only applies if it is shown on the Certificate of Insurance ('if eligible' on the product page).
- Accidental damage cover is an option added for extra premium, and only if QBE agrees.
- The buildings Key Facts Sheet on QBE's site is dated 2020, older than the November 2024 PDS.
The policy
“Need home insurance for a property you own and live in? Select cover for your home, its contents, or both.”
Source: qbe.com/au/home-insurance · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
How it is sold
“Home Insurance – QM8697can only be sold by the following Distribution Channel/s: • QBE; or • An approved Authorised Representative of QBE who operates under our AFS licence.”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=3EB77648-7E3C-43AC-89F5-BF6070517391 · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
How the building is valued
“If you have the Safeguard and make a claim that exceeds your buildings sum insured, we’ll pay up to 30% more than the buildings sum insured shown on your Certificate of Insurance.”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=E6E46774-12E2-4D2A-A23B-C0FC76C95763 · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Flood
“Cover for damage or loss caused by storm, fire, theft, flood and more”
Source: qbe.com/au/home-insurance · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Accidental damage
“If we agree, you can choose to add the Accidental Damage option for an additional premium.”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=E6E46774-12E2-4D2A-A23B-C0FC76C95763 · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Left empty
“This excess applies when: • you do not tell us that your property will be unoccupied for more than 90 consecutive days; and • you make a claim for an incident that occurs more than 90 days after your property was first unoccupied.”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=E6E46774-12E2-4D2A-A23B-C0FC76C95763 · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Left empty: the extra excess
“Number of consecutive days unoccupied: 91-365 days: $1,500 366+ days: $4,500”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=C3990775-94F1-4049-B261-DA6E5F289744 · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Who it is for
“own a home in Australia used for residential purposes.”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=3EB77648-7E3C-43AC-89F5-BF6070517391 · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
QBE Landlord Insurance (building cover)
- Type
- Landlord · Residential
- Sold
- Direct
- Building valued as
- Sum insured + 30%
- Flood
- Included
- Accidental damage
- Included
- Left empty
- Extra $1,500 excess after 90 days; extra $4,500 excess after 365 days. You must tell the insurer. Only if you did not tell QBE; not charged for riot, lightning, earthquake, tsunami, collision or falling trees. Agreed periods carry a different excess.
- Who it is for
- Owners of a residential home in Australia rented to tenants under a lease, or a holiday home rented to paying guests; not for owner-occupiers or strata units insured by a body corporate.
- Documents
- Landlord Insurance Product Disclosure Statement (QM8699-1124) (11 November 2024) · Landlord Insurance Additional Information Guide (QM8702-0425) (1 April 2025) · Target Market Determination (QM9145-0825) (1 August 2025)
- The 30% Buildings Sum Insured Safeguard only applies if it is shown on the Certificate of Insurance.
The policy
“Cover for your rental property and, if it’s furnished, choose cover for your contents too.”
Source: qbe.com/au/home-insurance/landlord-insurance · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
How it is sold
“Compare options below and get a QBE Landlord Insurance quote online in minutes.”
Source: qbe.com/au/home-insurance/landlord-insurance · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
How the building is valued
“If you have the Safeguard and have a claim that exceeds your buildings sum insured, we’ll pay up to 30% more than the buildings sum insured shown on your Certificate of Insurance.”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=8B024B34-0FCB-402A-9462-C0FF59805FAF · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Flood
“Insured Event Storm, storm surge, rain, hail or flood Storm includes cyclone.”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=8B024B34-0FCB-402A-9462-C0FF59805FAF · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Accidental damage
“Cover for accidental damage caused by you, your tenant or a paying guest”
Source: qbe.com/au/home-insurance · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Left empty
“This excess applies when: • you do not tell us that your rental property will be unoccupied for more than 90 consecutive days; and • you make a claim for an incident that occurs more than 90 days after your rental property was first unoccupied.”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=8B024B34-0FCB-402A-9462-C0FF59805FAF · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Left empty: the extra excess
“Number of consecutive days unoccupied: 91-365 days: $1,500 366+ days: $4,500”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=6B07394D-C9AA-4824-B039-B30B6676112B · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Who it is for
“own a home in Australia used for residential purposes that they rent out to tenants under a lease agreement; or”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=276223B4-CEA0-4E6C-888E-B171F6EF5912 · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
Who underwrites and sells it
Underwriter
“This insurance is issued by QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited, ABN 78 003 191 035, AFSL 239545.”
Source: qmdocumentlibrary.qbe.com/getfile?revision=3B50CC50-C41A-46BA-A8A7-55A3B3B115AD · Confirmed on the insurer's page on 13 November 2026.
QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited: licence
- AFS licence
- 239545 · QBE INSURANCE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED
- ABN
- 78003191035
- Licensed since
- 10 March 2004
- Principal business
- Sydney NSW 2000
- General insurance
- Licensed to deal in general insurance products
From ASIC's AFS Licensee dataset, release of 11 November 2026, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia.
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