Insurance claims don’t always go to plan. In recent years, there’s been a noticeable rise in insurance disputes across Australia. In 2023–24, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority received more than 29,000 general insurance complaints—a 5% increase from the year before. While that figure spans everything from property to car insurance, it reflects a broader trend: claims are facing more scrutiny, and insurers are under growing pressure to justify their decisions.
In property-related claims, delays and disagreements often come down to a lack of reliable evidence. Without a clear understanding of what caused the damage, how severe it is, or when it happened, the claims process can quickly stall—or escalate into a dispute.
Accurate, independent building reports help bring clarity to these situations. When structural issues are involved, a well-prepared structural building report can provide the level of insight and confidence needed to support a fair outcome for insurers and the insured.
Why claims get questioned or delayed
Most insurance disputes don’t start with a flat-out rejection. They usually begin with uncertainty—missing details, unclear evidence, or conflicting opinions about what actually happened.
Some of the most common reasons property claims are challenged or delayed include:
- Limited or poor-quality documentation
- Disagreement about when the damage occurred
- Signs of gradual wear, poor maintenance, or pre-existing issues
- Different assessments from builders, trades or assessors
- Uncertainty around how much of the damage is actually covered
These challenges become even more common in the wake of natural disasters—floods, storms, or major weather events. With high claim volumes and pressure on resources, insurers rely heavily on the quality of the supporting information to make timely, confident decisions.
Building reports can act as an anchor for progressing the claim. Without a clear, detailed view of the damage and its likely cause, it can be difficult to move forward.
How building reports help resolve uncertainty
When a claim is held up by questions—about the cause, the severity, or even whether the damage is new—a detailed building report can help fill in the blanks.
Prepared by a certified engineer or qualified building consultant, these reports provide a clearer picture of what’s actually going on. That includes:
- What was damaged, and to what extent
- Whether the damage is likely linked to a recent event
- Signs of any underlying or structural issues
- Whether the condition appears long-standing or new
- Recommendations for repair, monitoring or further assessment
When structural elements are involved—like footings, framing or load-bearing walls—a structural building report gives insurers and property owners confidence that nothing’s being missed.
Beyond documenting what’s there, these reports help explain why the damage matters, how it likely occurred, and what needs to happen next. And in a dispute situation, that clarity can be the difference between ongoing delays and a claim that moves forward with confidence from all parties.
When to engage a building consultant or engineer
Not every claim needs a detailed report—but in the right situations, bringing in a certified expert early can save time, stress and second-guessing later on.
It’s worth considering a building consultant or structural engineer when:
- The damage is complex or involves structural elements
- You’re dealing with cracking, movement or signs of instability
- Initial reports or repair quotes don’t align
- The insurer has asked for more detailed evidence
- The claim is high-value or already heading toward a dispute
In these cases, a formal building report helps put the facts on the table early—before assumptions take hold or decisions are made without enough technical input.
It also shows due diligence. When a qualified professional prepares a report, it demonstrates that the claim has been taken seriously and that there’s credible evidence to support what’s being presented.
Independent reporting when it matters
When a claim is questioned, it’s often because something’s unclear. A well-prepared building report helps cut through that uncertainty—bringing structure to the process and confidence to the decisions that follow.
At Morse Building Consultancy, we work with insurers, brokers and property owners to provide independent reporting that supports fair, efficient outcomes. If you’re dealing with a complex claim or structural concerns, we’re here to help.
Contact us today.