Shopping Centre Insurance

Yes. Public liability cover on a shopping centre policy extends to car parks, including multi-level and underground car parks. This covers claims for personal injury (such as trip-and-fall incidents) and property damage occurring in the car park areas under your management and control.

Loss of rent cover is a standard component of most shopping centre insurance packages. It reimburses rental income lost when tenants are displaced by an insured event such as fire, storm or flood damage. The indemnity period should be set to cover the full rebuilding and re-leasing timeframe, which can be two to four years for major damage.

Yes. Fire damage originating from food court tenancies is covered under the building section of your shopping centre insurance. Food courts present elevated fire risk due to cooking equipment, exhaust systems and grease build-up. Ensure food court tenants maintain compliant exhaust cleaning schedules and fire suppression systems.

Yes. The shopping centre landlord policy covers the building and common areas but does not cover tenant stock, fit-out, contents or tenant-specific liability. Most shopping centre leases require tenants to hold their own public liability insurance (typically $20M) and contents and stock cover, and to provide certificates of currency annually.

Mechanical and electrical breakdown cover for lifts, escalators, HVAC systems and other plant is typically available as an extension on shopping centre insurance policies. Given the operational importance and maintenance cost of this equipment, it is a recommended inclusion for most centres.

Terrorism is excluded from standard commercial property insurance policies in Australia. However, separate terrorism insurance is available through the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation framework. Larger shopping centres with high public traffic should consider this cover given the potential exposure.

Major commercial insurers offering shopping centre insurance in Australia include CGU, QBE, Zurich, Vero, Hollard, Allianz and AIG. Larger centres may require co-insurance arrangements across multiple insurers. At Shielded, we structure shopping centre insurance programs across these insurers to achieve comprehensive cover at competitive pricing.

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.