geordiebloke

Hi,

we need to arrange life insurance to cover our house, which
we will be renting out in the UK.
Would it be cheaper/better to arrange this when we arrive in Australia
in August, or would we be better off sorting this whilst still in the UK ie
using a UK insurer?

Cheers

Steve

Red_V_Roger

What visa will you be on..?

It makes a big difference to price and cover available.

geordiebloke

a 120 labour agreement

Rosscarbery

I would use a UK insurer; just tell a broker that you will be living in Oz and they will shop around for a company that will allow that (not all do and you do need to ensure your policy doesn't have any residence clauses that may make it invalid if you needed it). We have found insurance here more expensive and have kept paying our UK policies.

Red_V_Roger

Yes, we were in the difficult position that our UK insurer would not honour the policy for us living outside the UK...and most Aussie insurance wont touch 457 visa holders. We did however (through BE) find a broker in QLD that sorted it out for us - although I am sure it is much more expnsive than if we had PR.

See thread http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5542991

geordiebloke

Thanks for the replies, appreciated

Steve

JAJ

They have no choice in the matter if the policy wording does not contain such a clause. Did you look at your policy?

Red_V_Roger

The problem is the interpretation of ‘temporarily overseas’ and ‘permanently overseas’ in the policy wording. As a 457 visa holder claiming LAFHA, I would say I was temporarily overseas….but as we know for Australia tax on 457 we are classed as permanent. The insurance company also takes the Australian tax office’s view, so invalidates the cover.

JAJ

I think the courts are the ones who would interpret that, not the insurance company.

Surprising that such wording is in the policy - many policies have no such limitation.

Kooky.

The Geek has kept his Skandia policy throughout our 6+ years out of the UK.

Red_V_Roger

That would not be much comfort to my wife if something happend to me and she had to go through court to get a pay out and then the judge rules against her. Its not breakdown cover for a TV!!!

Better to cancel the UK policy and start a fresh here...even if it does cost a quite bit more.