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The owner of a property that was destroyed by its tenant last week during a police ‘siege’ is lucky to have had landlord insurance, according to RentCover.
The property on the Gold Coast was left in ruin with the insurer claiming the damage stretches into tens of thousands of dollars.
“The property has been totally trashed,” said EBM Insurance Brokers’ RentCover general manager, Sharon Fox-Slater.
“Every window and a number of walls were smashed. Most of the walls that weren’t smashed had graffiti all over them. And there was also a small fire,” she said.
“However, we are so thankful that nobody got hurt.”
Police arrested Jamie Ross Odering, 31, 29 hours after an emergency situation was declared last week.
Mr Odering was posting on Facebook during the siege and allegedly threatened to blow up the house where he’d taken refuge with gas bottles stockpiled inside after his relationship broke down.
The owner of the property had a RentCover policy from EBM Insurance Brokers, which covers not only tenant damage but the rent they will miss out on while repairs are made.
Ms Fox-Slater warned that it was quite common for tenants to smash up properties if their relationship with the landlord or property manager turns sour, and having adequate insurance cover was vital for property investors to be able to cover their costs.
“Property investors think it will never happen to them but, as insurers, RentCover sees examples of tenants smashing properties all the time," she said.
“This incident provides a timely reminder about the importance of landlord insurance.”
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