Household worker insurance

A household worker is a worker you employ in and about, or in connection with, a private dwelling or the grounds of the dwelling. If you employ a household worker, you are required to take out a Household worker insurance policy with us.

The premium is currently set at $45 (including taxes) during the period of 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2012. This premium is non-refundable and is not pro-rated if you take out or cancel the insurance mid-term.

Who should I cover?

You should cover anyone you employ in connection with your house or connected property.

This does not include persons operating their own business. Independent contractors who operate their own business will usually bring their own materials and equipment to your home to do their work. They are usually set up in a specific line of business and sometimes employ their own workers.

If you are a landlord, you are not required to cover workers connected with rented houses, flats, boarding houses or similar property arrangements. A holiday home is considered as a private dwelling provided that it is not also used as a rental property, and workers employed there may be considered household workers.

Depending on the employment conditions, workers employed in or about a residence where you are conducting a business may need to be covered by an accident insurance policy.

Call us on 1300 362 128 if you have any questions about who you should cover as a household worker, or see below for some examples of who you should cover.

What does this policy cover?

You are covered for the cost of compensating a household worker you employ who sustains a work-related injury while working for you. These costs may include:

• lost wages payments
• hospital, medical and rehabilitation expenses
• lump sum compensation for permanent impairment
• damages costs associated with a common law claim against you.

Common law damages are paid when an injured worker sues you and proves that you (as their employer) were negligent.

How do I take out a household worker insurance policy?

Please call us on 1300 362 128 with your name, address and contact details. We will set your policy up with you over the phone.

Your premium payment options will be listed on your premium notice.

Read our product disclosure statement for more information on household worker insurance.

Maintaining your Household worker insurance policy

These policies insure you for all or part of a two-year period. The current period of insurance is running from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2012.

You will receive a renewal notice in early December 2012. To insure yourself for another two years, simply pay your premium. If you do not want your policy to continue, do not make payment and your policy will lapse.

If you are continuing to insure, please make sure we have your current contact details at any time during the insurance period.

Insurance examples

Household worker insurance is required

Example A—a cleaner (inside a private residence)

Mrs Smith engages a worker to clean her home once a week. The home is her private residence and the worker has been employed to clean inside it. The worker has been employed to work solely in and about the private residence. Therefore, a household worker insurance policy is required.

Example B—garden maintenance (in the grounds of the private residence)

Mr Clark engages a worker to maintain his garden once a month. The garden maintenance is done in the grounds of his private residence. The worker is employed solely in and about the grounds of a private residence; therefore a household worker insurance policy is required.

Example C—childcare (work done away from the private residence)

The Becks employ a worker to care for their child. The carer’s duties include driving the child to music and sports lessons, taking the child to play in a local park, and doing grocery shopping. While these duties are not done in and about the Beck’s private residence, they are all done in connection with the private residence. The carer in this case is a household worker because they work solely in and about, and in connection with the Beck’s private residence.

Example D—renovation of house (in connection with the domestic residence)

Mr Mitchell is renovating the private home that he lives in. While the renovations are being undertaken, he will be living off-site. He plans to return to the house once the renovations are complete. As the house was Mr Mitchell’s private residence immediately before renovations began and will be his private residence once the work is complete, the house is considered as his private residence while the renovation work is being done. Any person employed to do the renovation work who is considered to be a ‘worker’ would also be considered to be a household worker.

Household worker insurance is not required

Example A—business activity conducted within the private residence

Mr Bright employs a cleaner at his private residence. He runs a photographic business downstairs at his home. The cleaner is employed to clean the entire house, including the business area. The cleaner is employed partly in connection with the business. As the cleaner is not employed solely in and about or in connection with the private residence, the cleaner is not a household worker. Mr Bright would be required to cover them under a WorkCover Queensland accident insurance policy.

Example B—rental property

Mr Rhodes owns a block of four units, which are rented to third parties. He employs Rob to perform maintenance duties for the property. As Rob is engaged in relation to a business (being the provision of rental accommodation), a WorkCover Queensland accident insurance policy is required.

Example C—construction of house

Ken and Natalie Denning are building a house, which they do not reside in. While the construction work is being undertaken Ken and Natalie need to cover the construction workers employed by them under a WorkCover Queensland accident insurance policy.

Please call us on 1300 362 128 if you have any questions about your insurance requirements.