Internal water damage is now a bigger risk for households than a fire or a burglary after becoming 72% more common in the last five years.

Insurance company Chubb Australia says the average claim is more than $30,000 with water damage accounting for 34% of property-related claims, compared to 16% for fire and 9% for burglary.

Chubb’s Australia and New Zealand Underwriting Manager Michelle O’Dowd tells Ross Greenwood water damage can have big impacts.

“It’s a terrible thing, but people can take simple steps, they can turn off their water when they go away, they can check their flexi hoses and they can consider putting in one of these water shut off devices.”

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