Self Storage Facility Insurance

Generally, no. Under a standard self storage licence agreement, customers are responsible for insuring their own goods. Your customer goods legal liability cover only responds where damage is caused by your negligence as the operator. However, offering a customer protection plan is good practice and can generate additional revenue for your business.

A customer protection plan is a group insurance policy arranged by the storage facility that customers can opt into for a monthly fee. It provides cover for the customer's stored goods against fire, storm, theft and other events. These plans are typically underwritten by a specialist insurer and provide a revenue stream for the operator while ensuring customers have adequate protection.

Yes. Your building insurance covers fire damage to the facility regardless of the cause, including fires that start from prohibited items stored by customers. However, insurers expect operators to have reasonable prohibited items policies and enforcement measures in place. Repeated fire incidents may result in higher premiums or difficulty obtaining renewal cover.

Automatic sprinkler systems provide the largest premium discount. Smoke detection in every building or unit, fire-rated compartmentation walls between groups of units, fire hydrants and hose reels, and compliance with the Building Code of Australia all contribute to lower premiums. Regular fire safety audits and documented maintenance also support your premium position.

Your policy covers theft of the operator's own property (equipment, office contents). Theft of customer goods from individual units is the customer's responsibility unless the loss was caused by the operator's negligence, such as a failure to maintain security systems. Customer protection plans cover theft for customers who opt in.

Yes. A major fire or flood can destroy storage buildings and take 12 to 18 months to rebuild. During that time, you lose rental income from affected units while continuing to pay loan repayments, insurance, staff wages and other fixed costs. Business interruption cover replaces this lost income and is essential for protecting your cash flow.

Yes. Multi-site self storage operators can cover all locations under a single insurance program with separate sums insured for each site. This typically results in administrative efficiencies and may provide premium savings compared to insuring each facility individually. Shielded regularly arranges multi-site storage insurance programs across our insurer panel.

Commercial property insurance covers a wide range of property types including office buildings, retail shops, warehouses, factories, shopping centres, hotels, motels, restaurants, cafes, medical centres, child care centres, gyms, salons, laundromats, churches, petrol stations, mixed-use developments and more. Whether you own a single tenancy or a multi-storey complex, we tailor cover to match your property.

Premiums vary based on building value, location, construction type, tenant occupation and risk profile. A small retail shop may cost $1,500 to $4,000 per year, a standard office building $3,000 to $10,000, and a large warehouse or industrial property $5,000 to $25,000+. High-risk tenancies (restaurants, manufacturing) attract higher premiums. Request a free quote through Shielded for an accurate indication.

Commercial building insurance covers the physical structure including walls, roof, floors, fixed fixtures, common areas, car parks, fencing and services (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) against fire, storm, flood, impact damage, malicious damage, theft and accidental damage. It typically also covers demolition and removal costs, professional fees (architects, engineers) and compliance with current building codes when rebuilding.

If you own a commercial building and lease it to tenants, you need commercial landlord insurance. This covers the building structure, landlord's contents (common area furnishings, HVAC systems), public liability for common areas, loss of rental income if the building is uninhabitable after an insured event, and plate glass. Your tenants are responsible for insuring their own contents, stock and fit-out.

Loss of rental income (also called business interruption for landlords) provides replacement income if your commercial property becomes uninhabitable after an insured event such as fire, storm or flood. It covers the rental income you would have received during the repair or rebuild period, typically for up to 12 or 24 months. This is essential for property investors who rely on rental returns.

Plate glass cover is usually an optional add-on, not included in the base building policy. It covers the cost of replacing glass shop fronts, windows, doors, display cases and signage glass that is accidentally broken or vandalised. For retail properties with large glass frontages, this is an important cover to include.

Generally, the landlord insures the building structure, common areas and landlord's fixtures. Tenants are responsible for insuring their own contents, stock, fit-out, trade fixtures and their own public liability. Most commercial leases clearly define these responsibilities. As a landlord, ensure your lease requires tenants to hold adequate insurance and provide certificates of currency.

Contact us at Shielded Insurance on 1800 97 98 99 or reach out to your insurer directly. We recommend notifying us as soon as possible after damage occurs, documenting everything with photos, securing the premises to prevent further damage, and keeping records of all emergency repair costs.

We compare quotes from leading Australian commercial property insurers including CGU, QBE, Zurich, Vero, Hollard, Allianz, AIG and others. The best insurer depends on your property type, construction, tenant occupation and risk profile. As brokers, we do the comparison work to find competitive and suitable cover for your property.

Review your policy annually at renewal, or whenever there are significant changes such as new tenants, renovations, extensions, changes in building use, or updated valuations. Building replacement costs increase over time - if your sum insured does not keep pace with construction cost inflation, you risk being underinsured at claim time. We recommend a professional building valuation every 3 to 5 years.