New South Wales Consolidated Regulations

HOME BUILDING REGULATION 2004 - REG 58

58 Limitations on liability and cover

(1) An insurance contract may contain the following limitations on liability under the contract:

(a) the contract may limit claims that may otherwise arise under the building contract in the nature of liquidated damages for delay or damages for delay provided that any such limitation must not extend to any increase in rectification costs caused by the effluxion of time,

(b) if the contract is required to be entered into under section 95 of the Act, the contract may provide that the insurer is not liable in respect of any defect that is referred to in any report on the owner-builder work required by the insurer to be obtained before the insurance contract was entered into,

(c) the contract may exclude a claim for such loss or damage as could be reasonably expected to result from fair wear and tear of the building work covered by the contract or failure by the beneficiary to maintain the building work,

(d) the contract may exclude a claim in relation to a defect in, or the repair of damage to, structural elements in the non-residential part of a building that supports or gives access to the residential part, unless it is a defect or damage that adversely affects the structure of the residential part or the access to it,

(e) the contract may exclude a claim in relation to damage caused by the normal drying out of the building work, if the damage has occurred despite the contractor taking all reasonable precautions in allowing for the normal drying out when carrying out the building work,

(f) the contract may exclude a claim in relation to damage due to, or made worse by, the failure of any beneficiary to take reasonable and timely action to minimise the damage,

(g) the contract may exclude a claim in relation to an appliance or apparatus (such as a dishwasher or airconditioning unit) if the claim is made after the expiry of the manufacturer’s warranty period for the appliance or apparatus or, if there is no warranty period, outside the reasonable lifetime of the appliance or apparatus,

(h) the contract may exclude a claim in relation to damage to work or materials that is made outside the reasonable lifetime of the work or materials or the manufacturer’s warranty period for the materials,

(i) the contract may exclude a claim in relation to a defect due to a faulty design provided by a beneficiary or a previous owner,

(j) the contract may limit liability resulting from non-completion of building work to an amount that is 20% of the contract price (including any agreed variation to the contract price) for the work,

(k) the contract may exclude a claim for loss or damage resulting from any of the following if the exclusion is a standard policy provision of the insurer and the exclusion is not inconsistent with this Regulation and does not contravene this Regulation:

(i) war,

(ii) an act of terrorism,

(iii) civil unrest,

(iv) asbestos contamination or removal,

(v) a nuclear event,

(vi) risks normally insured under a policy for public liability or contract works,

(vii) an act of God or nature,

(viii) failure by the beneficiary to maintain appropriate protection against pest infestation or exposure of natural timbers,

(ix) consequential loss, including, without limitation, loss of rent or other income, loss of enjoyment, loss of business opportunity, inconvenience or distress,

(x) malfunction in any mechanical or electrical equipment or appliance, if the insurer proves that the malfunction is not attributable to the workmanship of, or installation by, the contractor.

(2) An insurance contract may contain any other limitation on liability, but only if it is not inconsistent with this Regulation and does not contravene any requirement of this Regulation.

(3) For the purposes of this clause, an "act of terrorism" is an act that, having regard to the nature of the act, and the context in which the act was done, it is reasonable to characterise as an act of terrorism.

(4) Any lawful activity or any industrial action cannot be characterised as an act of terrorism for the purposes of this clause. An act can only be so characterised if it:

(a) causes or threatens to cause death, personal injury or damage to property, and

(b) is designed to influence a government or to intimidate the public or a section of the public, and

(c) is carried out for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, ideological, ethnic or similar cause.