Category Archives: news

The Australian Property Insurance Paradigm: Navigating Underinsurance and Valuation Risks in 2026

Commercial Buildings and Property insurance valuation

The Australian property insurance landscape in 2026 is defined by extreme climate volatility, sweeping legislative reforms, and escalating macroeconomic pressures. Extreme weather events generated an estimated $4.8 billion in insured losses across 2025, driving commercial and retail premiums to historic highs. Rising inflation and the technical demands of the National Construction Code (NCC) 2025, have […]

Construction Dispute Resolution: 5 Strategies for Settling Claims Smoothly

Walk onto any storm-damaged property or stalled construction site, and the tension is immediately palpable. For insurers, TPAs, and dispute resolution teams, construction dispute resolution in Australia rarely starts in a courtroom. It begins in the living rooms of frustrated homeowners and on the muddy boots of site managers. Bridging the gap between the physical […]

Capital works plans and common property risk: a practical guide for strata committees

Strata committees rarely get warned with a single dramatic failure. More often, the warning signs are small. A recurring leak in the foyer. Rust staining at a balcony edge. Mould that returns after every wet spell. A crack that gets patched, then quietly reappears. The problem is that these issues are easy to treat as […]

Independent assessment after a catastrophe: why getting the facts first matters

When a major weather event hits, the pressure to move fast is real. Quotes are needed, repairs feel urgent, and everyone wants clarity. But that urgency can create a problem of its own when the first repair estimate becomes the working truth. According to the Insurance Council of Australia’s 2025 industry fact pack, insured extreme […]

The High Cost of “Cheap” Reports: Why Comprehensive Assessments Streamline Dispute Resolution

Structural roof tie-downs requiring National Construction Code (NCC) compliance upgrades.

In the current insurance landscape, the pressure to reduce claim costs is relentless. We hear it in every meeting with insurers and claim managers: “Keep the costs down.” It is a directive that comes straight from the top, driven by shareholders and boards looking at the bottom line. It is understandable. When claim volumes spike […]

Beyond the Claim: Why Strata and Property Managers Need Independent Maintenance and Valuation Reports

If you are a Strata Manager or a Real Estate Agent, your inbox is likely a never-ending stream of maintenance requests, compliance notices, and insurance renewals. It is a high-pressure role where you are constantly balancing the demands of owners, tenants, and committees. At Morse Building Consultancy, we see the challenges you face when things […]

Preventing Post Summer Insurance Disputes: Ensuring Quality in Storm Repairs

Back‑to‑back hailstorms and gales in late 2025 hammered homes across south‑east Queensland and northern New South Wales. The Insurance Council of Australia declared a catastrophe across more than 140 postcodes and said over 16 000 claims were lodged. With tradespeople in short supply the stage was set for disagreements over repairs. This article outlines why disputes […]

Independent Engineering Services In Complex Claims: How To Avoid Costly Structural Surprises

Engineer inspecting property and roof damage after a storm

In late November 2025 severe storms pounded eastern Australia. The Insurance Council declared a catastrophe and more than 16 000 insurance claims were lodged across 140 postcodes in south-east Queensland. This is not an unusual story, as Australian’s we a use to wild weather catastrophes, but are our property’s? Witnessing builders shore up hail-damaged property, […]

Disaster Assessment Done Right: Lessons From Recent CAT Events For Insurers And Property Owners

Solar panel damage from storms

In recent months, Australian communities have been hit from all sides. On the New South Wales Central Coast, fast moving bushfires have destroyed homes and triggered natural disaster declarations, with more properties lost in other regional parts of the state. In Tasmania, townships around Dolphin Sands and Glenlusk have faced emergency bushfire warnings and significant […]

Certified vs Registered Engineers: What Owners Need to Know in Australia

Engineer on site reviewing report

Australia’s construction sector is tightening professional standards after several building failures. New state laws require many engineering tasks to be carried out or signed off by registered engineers, while Engineers Australia’s Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) credential remains a respected marker of expertise. For insurers, loss assessors and property owners, knowing the difference between certification and […]