Most home insurance policies cover storm damaged tree removal when the tree has caused damage to an insured structure. Removing a tree that fell but caused no damage is usually excluded or only partially covered, so it pays to know the difference before you make a claim. It’s also worth checking that whoever removes the tree carries their own insurance, since that matters to the job as much as your own policy does.

Will Home Insurance Cover Tree Damage After a Storm?

Yes, generally, if the tree fell as a direct result of a storm, wind or lightning event and damaged an insured structure such as a house, fence or shed. Policy wording varies between insurers, so it is worth checking your specific document.

What Documentation Does an Insurer Ask For?

Dated photos of the damage taken before clean-up, an itemised invoice of the work performed, and sometimes a written arborist report confirming the tree’s condition and the cause of failure. It’s also worth contacting your insurer promptly, generally within 24 to 48 hours of the damage occurring, since most policies require prompt notification.

Does Insurance Cover Removing a Tree That Has Not Fallen Yet?

Generally no, unless a qualified arborist’s report identifies an imminent risk of failure, which some insurers accept as grounds for preventative removal cover ahead of storm season.

What if a Neighbour’s Tree Falls on Your Property?

This is usually treated as an act of god and each party typically claims through their own insurer, though liability can shift if the tree owner knew it was hazardous and failed to act.

Why Does the Contractor’s Own Insurance Matter to Your Claim?

A tree removal job carries real risk to your property, from the tree itself, from equipment, or from work carried out at height under time pressure. If something goes wrong and the contractor isn’t properly insured, that damage can fall back on you rather than being covered. It’s worth confirming any contractor doing storm-damage work holds the same before booking. Stump Pro carries public liability and worker’s compensation cover on every job.

Stump Pro has provided insurance-covered tree removal across Hobart, the greater Hobart region and for most areas of Southern Tasmania since 2010. We want you and your family protected, and our crew of tree experts as well, which is what tree work insurance in Hobart is really about. Call us on 0437 339 063 or email office@stump-pro.com.au for enquiries.

For the full guide, see “Insurance Claim Tree Removal Services: What to Know Before You Book“.