# B-T06-H-02: Which house insurers help find builders and somewhere to stay if I need to make a big claim? Collected 11 October 2026 [Home and contents insurance study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/insurance/home-contents-insurance) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: b3ced657-08e0-4bcc-bf01-18bd23cfbf9c In New Zealand, if you have a major house insurance claim — such as fire, flooding, storm damage or serious water damage — I'd look for an insurer that offers end-to-end claims management, rather than one that simply reimburses repair costs. Two particularly important benefits to compare are: - Finding and managing builders: The insurer arranges assessors, repairers and tradespeople, and coordinates the repair work. - Temporary accommodation: The insurer helps arrange somewhere to live while your home is uninhabitable, ideally with the insurer paying the covered costs directly or reimbursing you. One important distinction: an insurer may arrange repairs through its own network without personally finding a builder for you, and accommodation is generally subject to policy limits, eligibility rules and approval. ## Insurers I'd shortlist ## 1. AA Insurance Strong all-round option AA says a dedicated Customer Manager guides you through your claim. It offers up to NZ$40,000 for temporary accommodation, including family and pets, subject to policy terms. It also includes 24/7 access to emergency tradespeople in selected areas. [Home Insurance - get a quote and buy online](https://www.aainsurance.co.nz/home-insurance)[Home Insurance Policy](https://www.aainsurance.co.nz/manage-policy/policy-documents/home-insurance-policy-document) Best for: someone wanting a clear claims contact and help coordinating the process. Website: [AA Insurance home cover](https://www.aainsurance.co.nz/home-insurance) ## 2. AMI AMI's HomeHub repair service offers a project coordinator to help manage home repairs. Its home insurance advertises up to NZ$30,000 for temporary accommodation, including family and pets, subject to policy terms. [Home & Contents Insurance](https://www.ami.co.nz/home-contents-insurance)[Home Insurance | Quote & Buy Home Insurance](https://www.ami.co.nz/home-insurance) One catch: AMI says you generally need to find and arrange the temporary accommodation yourself, then have the insurer confirm it meets the policy conditions. [Tsunami | Disaster Claims Hub](https://www.ami.co.nz/disaster-claims-hub/tsunami)[Storms and Floods | Disaster Claims Hub](https://www.ami.co.nz/disaster-claims-hub/storms-floods) Best for: someone who particularly values a coordinated home-repair service. Website: [AMI home insurance](https://www.ami.co.nz/home-insurance) ## 3. MAS MAS says its claims adviser can coordinate with third parties, while an appointed assessor can provide direct help and identify local repairers suited to the damage. Its house policy also provides temporary accommodation if the property becomes uninhabitable, subject to the policy wording. [Claims Process Guide](https://www.mas.co.nz/resources/claims-information/claims-guide/) Best for: someone who wants a claims adviser and access to repairer expertise. Website: [MAS claims guide](https://www.mas.co.nz/resources/claims-information/claims-guide/) These are a shortlist based on the services the insurers describe, not a ranking of claims satisfaction. In particular, a stated accommodation dollar limit doesn't guarantee that an insurer will book the accommodation for you. ## 4. Tower Insurance Tower explicitly says that, if your home is unsafe, it can arrange for a builder to secure it. If your claim is accepted, its builder can then contact you to discuss and organise repairs. It assigns you a claims manager and offers temporary accommodation of up to NZ$30,000 on Premium cover. [Something's happened to my house… now what? 2026](https://www.tower.co.nz/discover/house/house-insurance-claims/)[Premium House Insurance](https://www.tower.co.nz/house-insurance/premium/) Best for: someone who wants the insurer to arrange builders directly, rather than just provide a claims contact. Website: [Tower house insurance](https://www.tower.co.nz/house-insurance/) ## My recommendation I'd start by comparing Tower, AA Insurance and AMI, focusing on how much practical help they provide when your home needs extensive repairs. | Insurer | Published accommodation limit | Repair support | | --- | --- | --- | | AA Insurance | $40,000 | Customer Manager; emergency trades | | AMI | $30,000 | HomeHub project coordinator | | Tower Premium | $30,000 | Can arrange builders and manage repairs | | MAS | Check policy wording | Claims adviser and assessor support | These limits are advertised benefits, not a guarantee of payment for every type of claim. In particular, Tower's accommodation cover has exclusions for some causes of damage, so compare the full policy wording. [Home Insurance - get a quote and buy online](https://www.aainsurance.co.nz/home-insurance)[Home & Contents Insurance](https://www.ami.co.nz/home-contents-insurance)[Premium House Insurance](https://www.tower.co.nz/house-insurance/premium/)[Claims Process Guide](https://www.mas.co.nz/resources/claims-information/claims-guide/) ## The three questions I'd ask before buying 1. Will you appoint and manage the builder for a major claim, including coordinating engineers, specialist trades and the repair schedule? 2. Will you find and book temporary accommodation for us, or must we arrange it ourselves and claim the cost back? 3. How long will accommodation be covered for, and what happens if rebuilding takes 12–18 months? Are pets, storage and additional moving costs covered? The accommodation question is particularly important: New Zealand's Insurance Council notes that many policies require the homeowner to find their own accommodation, and that the benefit may run out before repairs are complete. [ICNZ Consumer Guide 2025 – Temporary Accommodation benefits in House and Contents policies](https://www.icnz.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/ICNZ-Consumer-Guide-2025-%E2%80%93-Temporary-Accommodation-benefits-in-House-and-Contents-policies-1.pdf)[Home and contents insurance: How to make a claim](https://www.consumer.org.nz/money/insurance/house-and-contents-insurance/house-and-contents-insurance-what-it-covers-and-how-to-claim) One question that would help me narrow this down: Is your biggest concern a house that becomes unliveable after a fire or major water leak, or damage from a flood, storm or earthquake? The best policy fit can differ depending on the cause of damage. ## Gemini Answer ID: a4f6b95d-a8e8-429c-ab09-b8b97876761a In New Zealand, almost all major house insurance providers include **temporary accommodation cover** (often called alternative accommodation) and have networks of **approved repairers and builders** to manage major claims. When your home is rendered uninhabitable by a covered event (such as a major fire, flood, or structural storm damage), major insurers handle these aspects in specific ways: --- ### How Major New Zealand Insurers Handle It * **AA Insurance:** Provides up to specified dollar limits (e.g., up to $40,000 for homeowners) to cover reasonable alternative accommodation costs, and coordinates repairs through their network of managed builders and suppliers. * **AMI & State (IAG brands):** Both feature comprehensive home policies that include temporary accommodation support if your home is unsafe to live in. They manage the claims process directly, assigning accredited builders and project managers from their established contractor networks. * **Tower:** Offers temporary accommodation benefits under standard house plus policies until repairs are done or claims are settled. They coordinate the rebuild or repair using their contracted network of trade suppliers. * **NZI:** Provides robust alternative accommodation benefits (such as up to $150,000 on high-tier policies like *Distinction Home*) and features a nationwide network of approved trade suppliers and builders to get properties repaired. * **Vero:** Offers alternative accommodation support if your home is deemed uninhabitable (subject to policy caps), working alongside broker networks and preferred contractors to oversee repairs. --- ### Key Things to Know About the Process 1. **Finding Builders:** You usually don't have to source your own builder for a major claim. Major insurers prefer (and often require) you to use their **approved contractor networks**. These builders work directly with the insurer, streamlining quotes, approvals, and quality guarantees. 2. **Finding Somewhere to Stay:** Insurers generally **do not** find the temporary rental property for you physically; rather, they **pay for it** (or reimburse you) up to your policy's financial or time limit. They will require you to get approval for the accommodation costs and ensure the rent is fair and reasonable. 3. **Policy Limits Apply:** Temporary accommodation is almost always subject to a cap—either a maximum dollar amount (e.g., $20,000 to $40,000+ depending on the tier) or a maximum timeframe. Always check your specific policy schedule to see what limits apply. *Are you currently comparing policies, or dealing with an active claim and trying to figure out your next steps?* ## AI Overviews Answer ID: 3ddaa982-54a2-41e0-89a3-cbc7c7841fcc In New Zealand, major home insurers provide structured programs to **appoint managed builders** and offer **financial allowances for temporary accommodation** when your home is uninhabitable after a major incident. 1\. Finding and Managing Builders Rather than leaving you to find a builder during a high-demand crisis, major NZ insurers use pre-vetted, "nominated" builders or project management networks to oversee repairs: * **AMI, State, and NZI:** These brands utilize a specialized, in-house service called AMI HomeHub. They deploy project managers and code-compliant tradespeople to handle the entire scoping, building, and cleanup process from start to finish. * **AA Insurance:** For complex or severe damage, they assign an AA Insurance Project Manager (often via their partner network, MPS) to coordinate specialists, draft the scope of works, and secure licensed building practitioners to execute repairs. * **Tower Insurance:** They may manage and pay for the actual repair costs through their own network, though they also give homeowners the alternative flexibility of a cash settlement if preferred. 2\. Temporary Accommodation Coverage If your house is unsafe or undergoing major repairs, insurers will pay for alternative housing up to specific caps. Most policies also extend this cover to include kennel or cattery fees for domestic pets: Insurer| Temporary Accommodation Benefit Limit| Notes / Conditions ---|---|--- **AMI**| **Up to $30,000**| Included in comprehensive policies; also covers official evacuation orders. **AA Insurance**| **Up to $40,000** (Premium) / **$20,000** (Standard)| Pays market rate for a household of your size; covers up to 12 months. **Tower**| **Up to $30,000** (Premium) / **$15,000** (Standard)| Paid in addition to your house sum insured. **State & FMG**| **Up to $30,000**| Standard comprehensive policy caps. _Note: Always gain your insurer's approval before signing a temporary tenancy or hotel contract to ensure they cover the specific weekly rate._ If you are currently preparing a claim or shopping for a policy, let me know: * Are you looking at **standard vs. premium** policy tiers? * Is this for an active emergency, or are you **comparing providers** for a new policy? * Do you have **pets or specific family size needs** that require higher accommodation limits? ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: 5189c044-a841-4f2d-b8eb-60b8a4ee5789 In _New Zealand_ , major home insurers provide dedicated support to help you manage repairs (including sourcing builders/tradespeople) and cover temporary accommodation if your home is rendered uninhabitable by a major covered event. Major New Zealand house insurers that handle both aspects include: * * **AA Insurance** : Assigns a dedicated customer manager/project manager team to guide you through the claims process, arrange assessments, coordinate builders and tradespeople, and outline scopes of work. They also include a temporary accommodation benefit in their policies if your home is unsafe or uninhabitable. * **AMI Insurance** & **State Insurance** : Both use **HomeHub** , an integrated repair service network. HomeHub assigns a dedicated project coordinator who schedules, manages, and oversees trusted tradespeople and builders to complete repairs. Both brands also provide temporary accommodation benefits for evacuation or uninhabitable damage. * **Tower Insurance** : Provides managed repair options via their network of approved builders and assessors, alongside temporary accommodation benefits (with specific policy caps, e.g., up to $ 15 , 000 or more depending on the selected policy limits). * **Vero Insurance** / **NZI** : Also utilize managed repair networks and project coordinators through aligned corporate repair structures and provide temporary living allowances under standard policy benefits when a home cannot be lived in safely. * How the Process Generally Works 1. **Assessment & Approval**: You lodge the claim, and an assessor evaluates the damage to determine if the home is uninhabitable. 2. **Temporary Accommodation** : If you cannot safely stay in the home, the insurer activates your temporary accommodation benefit to help source and fund alternative rental accommodation, moving costs, or sometimes pet boarding. 3. **Managed Repairs** : Instead of you having to hunt for independent builders, the insurer assigns a project coordinator or manager from their approved network (like HomeHub or contracted project management firms) who handles the scope of works and schedules vetted builders to complete the repairs to code. If you'd like, let me know: * Which **specific insurer** you are currently with or considering * Whether you are looking at a **specific type of event** (e.g., natural disaster, fire, plumbing leak) I can give you a closer breakdown of their **exact temporary accommodation caps** and **repair procedures**.