Sharon Fox-Slater
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CONTRIBUTORS
COVID-19: Keeping up with changes to investment property insurance
Last year was a bumpy ride for the property industry and the rollercoaster is continuing. Landlords and agents have had to keep on top of the evolving market and adapt to the changes. EBM RentCover managing director Sharon Fox-Slater says many of these changes impact on insurance cover too. When the year started, most of us were hoping the disruption we lived through in 2020 would come to an end. …
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Elite Agent
What to do if a tenant dies: Sharon Fox Slater
EBM RentCover managing director Sharon Fox-Slater looks at what needs to happen when a tenant passes away from an insurance perspective. …
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CONTRIBUTORS
Protecting your property from Mother Nature: Sharon Fox-Slater
Hotter, wetter, drier… as Australia’s environmental conditions change, the need to better protect investment properties crystallises. EBM RentCover Managing Director Sharon Fox-Slater says having the right insurance can protect landlords from the financial devastation Mother Nature can unleash. Natural disasters killed 10,400 people globally in 2018 and left millions more homeless. In the same year,… …
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CONTRIBUTORS
Safeguard your legal liability: Sharon Fox-Slater
As a property manager, you are expected to reduce the risk associated with a landlord’s investment. But what about the risks you face? In an industry where legal liability claims are common, it is important property professionals safeguard themselves, writes EBM RentCover’s Sharon Fox-Slater. …
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Elite Agent
Off the leash and on the lease – the pros and cons of pets in rentals
Did you know Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world? And did you know we have more pets (29 million) across the country than there are people (just shy of 26 million)? …
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Elite Agent
Learning through a crisis
While the complete fallout of the pandemic is still unknown, it is safe to say that it has fundamentally changed the way we all do business. It is also safe to say that the social and economic impacts have been wide-ranging and far-reaching, and few have remained unscathed. However, the prioritisation of innovation during the COVID-19 crisis has been key for many in unlocking potential growth. …
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OPINION
Pandemic sheds light on landlord insurance myths
The global pandemic has taught us a lot, but not all of it is about hand hygiene and social distancing. COVID-19 has also highlighted important misconceptions about landlord insurance. The insurance industry is already complex… …
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Brand Editorial
Renovating and insurance cover
With COVID-19 resulting in higher rental vacancies in some states and the announcement of the HomeBuilder program, landlords may be thinking about renovating their investment property. But before they get started there are insurance matters to think about, cautions EBM RentCover Managing Director Sharon Fox-Slater. Aussies love property and they love renovating too, if the number of shows on the television is anything to go by: The Block, …
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Brand Editorial
Landlord insurance and the Goldilocks principle
Too little or too much is a conundrum many landlords face when it comes to their insurance. While having too little (under-insurance) is rife among property owners, having too much (over-insurance) is also an issue, so landlords need to find the right balance to ensure they appropriately and adequately protect their investment. Under or over?Under-insurance is when a portion of a property has not been insured, …
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EPM
A step-by-step guide to natural disaster claims
It is hard to imagine the tragedy hundreds of Australians are facing as they slowly return to homes, businesses and communities ravaged by Mother Nature. For many, there will be nothing left but the heartbreaking task of cleaning up and starting over or moving on altogether. In these difficult circumstances, landlords and tenants will often… …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
NYE parties in rentals: What are the risks for PMs?
New Year’s Eve is traditionally when people reflect on the year past and what the next 12 months may hold. It’s also a time when people let their hair down and revel! Hosting NYE parties, and entertaining in general, can expose investment properties to a few risks. And while most would rather be a party-popper than a party-pooper, a bit of pre-party prep by landlords and PMs could save you a post-party headache. …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
Five big issues that affected the real estate industry in 2019
The real estate industry is never stagnant. It is impacted by regulation changes, the rise and fall of the economy, buying motivations and the generosity of banks. Heck! Mother Nature can even wreak havoc and play a part in the way we buy, rent and manage property. This year has been no different. There have been ups and downs, and everything in between. …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
Protecting properties this festive season
For many people, the image of the festive season is one of joy. But sadly, once the last of the Pavlova has been eaten, many landlords and agents will face the harsh reality of what the season can bring for investment properties. Now, I don’t want to be a party-pooper, but things happen and you and your landlords and tenants need to be prepared. …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
The do’s and don’ts of landlord insurance
When you are in a highly-regulated industry such as real estate, things can change quickly and get complicated. Throw in the complexities of insurance, and we wouldn’t blame you if you started pulling your hair out. START AT THE BEGINNINGTo keep your locks intact, it is a good idea to know your rights and responsibilities as a property manager and to ensure you are working within the laws so you can make well-informed decisions when protecting investments. …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
Top tips for streamlining insurance claims: Sharon Fox-Slater
My client has suffered a loss (property damage or loss of rent). What is the first step I should take? First, ask yourself: is the loss even covered? If you don’t know, that is okay – landlord insurance is complex. If you are unsure, the best thing to do is chat with your insurer about the policy and find out if you are able to claim for your client. …
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Brand Editorial
Responding to changes in domestic violence laws
The changes to family and domestic violence laws are a welcomed change for Australians who believe in a strong and resilient justice system. While the amendments are designed to better respond to those suffering abuse, they also affect landlords and property professionals who own and manage rental properties. Previously, rental laws have restricted tenants affected… …
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Brand Editorial
Now is the time for that annual insurance review: Sharon Fox-Slater
A new financial year has dawned and chances are you’re busy setting some fresh business goals while gathering all your paperwork for your tax agent. While reviewing the insurances on your RE business might not be at the top of your list, now just might be the best time to do so. Many small business owners take out insurance at the start of the financial year, …
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Brand Editorial
Mi casa es su casa: The insurance perils of sub-letting
Increasing costs of living and high prices for rentals in desirable areas mean the idea of sub-letting is appealing for many tenants. And while many think this is just a matter between landlord and tenant, it’s important to consider the landlord’s insurer – as generally sub-letting is not covered. Sub-letting is where a tenant privately organises for someone to pay for use of the home they themselves are renting – when they transfer part of their interest under the lease to another person. …
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Brand Editorial
Don’t let your insurance become a disaster
What advice would you give to property investors, landlords and property managers impacted by a natural disaster? Natural disasters like bushfires, floods, storms and cyclones can not only cause widespread devastation, but also confusion. When a rental is caught up in a disaster, there can be a lot of uncertainty about how owners, tenants and agents should respond. This is where insurers can step in and provide guidance. …
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EPM: Industry News
If it’s not dinner, then what’s cooking? Sharon Fox-Slater
Australia’s expanding illicit drug problem is having an ever-increasing impact on investment property owners, with a growing number of rentals being contaminated by meth. Along with contamination come accusations – squarely levelled at the agent – about how it was allowed to happen. There’s a new headline every day, it seems, about the problem of meth in rental properties. Also when agents are accused of being responsible for allowing unsavoury elements to rent the property or not conducting adequate inspections. …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
Cover Yourself: Sharon Fox-Slater
No matter how diligent an agent you are, sometimes issues arise and you can find a tenant or landlord accusing you of failing in your duties. This is where Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance is a safety net, protecting you from financial loss following a claim of negligence against you by covering your legal defence costs and damages payable. PI cover is a necessary and smart move, …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
Legal liability at Airbnbs: Sharon Fox-Slater
As we rocket towards the festive break, many landlords will be looking at tapping into the Airbnb juggernaut and offering their properties on shared accommodation platforms. But before they welcome guests, it’s imperative that the right landlord insurance is in place. In a heart-breaking incident, a four-year-old boy was killed at a property being rented out via Airbnb on the Sunshine Coast in September. …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
Spring open that little black book of tradies: Sharon Fox-Slater
As the weather heats up, a little seasonal TLC at investment properties may be on the cards. Sharon Fox-Slater says now is a great time to get out your little black book of tradies and arrange some springtime maintenance. Spring is traditionally when property owners give their homes a good clean and refresh. The arrival of warmer weather also heralds the need for a little TLC at investment properties, …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
Preparing for bushfire season: Sharon Fox-Slater
Bushfire season has just begun, but already there have been devastating fires across New South Wales, in Queensland’s Far North, near Darwin and in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. And as spring moves into summer, many other parts of the country will also brace for fires. For agents managing rentals in bushfire-prone areas, it is time to make sure your landlord clients and tenants are prepared: Know the bushfire risks in the area. …
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EPM: BD & Growth
Do you want insurance with that?
Upselling, value-adding and alternative income streams are all part and parcel of modern-day business. The business growth strategy du jour is ‘adjacencies’. Adjacency is a strategy where a company looks outside its boundaries for new sources of income, moving into related areas that use and reinforce its core business. In real estate, the most common partnerships are with related services such as mortgage broking, …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
Going to the dogs: Sharon Fox-Slater
As new legislation in Victoria is set to see pets in rentals become the norm instead of the exception, Sharon Fox-Slater says the fear of damage might not be justified. With the Victorian Government tabling its ‘Fair Rent’ Bill in Parliament, the issue of pets in rentals is in the spotlight again. Amongst the 130 reforms, the proposed new legislation provides protections for pet owners, …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
Are your listings at threat from meth contamination?
“Meth House of Horror!”, “Ice Epidemic!”, “Rental Properties Test Positive for Meth/ice”. The headlines are alarming and fuel widespread fears about meth contamination. Concerns are particularly prevalent in the rental industry, with stories about investment properties being used as clandestine laboratories or smoking dens, and subsequent tenants suffering ill-effects from exposure to the toxic residue. With alarm bells ringing, agents are worried that they may be managing a ticking health time bomb. …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
Fiddling on the roof: Sharon Fox-Slater
We are mid-way through winter and many parts of the country are getting windy and wet (although unfortunately not the right places right now!) When wild weather descends, roofs take a battering – and many come off second best. At RentCover around 55 per cent of all storm damage claims we receive relate to roofs. Last winter alone approximately $1.5 million was paid for storm damage claims. …
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EPM: Technology & Social
A game of drones: Sharon Fox-Slater
It wasn’t long ago that drones were developed only for military purposes. Today, remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS), or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are mainstream and flocks can be seen flying over local parks and beaches every weekend.But it’s not only enthusiastic families taking to the skies; real estate agents have been quick to adopt the technology. When the first commercial drones came on the scene, early adopter agents hired professional drone operators to produce impressive flyovers and fly-throughs to help sell property. …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
Vacation rentals & insurance: Sharon Fox-Slater
For many landlords with property in cities and prime holiday locations, the lure of the short-stay accommodation market is strong. Some choose to rent their property to holidaymakers, others may look for a corporate lease. Some have their property available to rent all the time, and some switch, looking to cash in during peak season. Although the financial rewards can be lucrative, …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
(Rental) House Rules: Sharon Fox-Slater
When it comes to Rental House Rules, rule number one is don’t DIY, cautions Sharon Fox-Slater. Seduced by the plummy tones of Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen (aka LLB) or the ocker Scottie Cam, the return of home renovation shows like House Rules and The Block is often a siren call to would-be DIYers. And while picking up the power tools at their own home is one thing, …
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EPM: BD & Growth
MVP: Why An Insurance Broker Can Be A Great Asset To Your Business: Sharon Fox-Slater
“You don’t know what you don’t know.” It might sound like an off-hand statement, but it is really at the heart of why real estate professionals should partner with an insurance broker to help them protect their businesses. The risks facing real estate businesses are diverse and insurance can be complex, which is why engaging the services of a broker who understands the intricacies of the industry (including relevant legislation and best practice) makes good business sense. …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
A secure rental can mean a secure tenant: Sharon Fox-Slater
One in 40 Australian homes are burgled each year, sending a clear message to landlords and agents about the importance of security at rentals, says Sharon Fox-Slater. Home burglary is one of the most widespread crimes in Australia with more than 300,000 break-ins recorded each year, according to the Australian Institute of Criminology. This sobering statistic coincides with a number of new initiatives that shine a spotlight on the provision of security at rentals. …
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EPM: Best Practice & Legislation
Sharon Fox-Slater: When weather goes bad
Seven cyclones – Hilda, Irma, Joyce, Kelvin, Linda, Marcus and Nora – have battered communities across northern Australia in the last four months. Add in storms and flooding in Northern Queensland and numerous bushfires devastating properties in southern Australia, including parts of the NSW Far South Coast and south-western Victoria in the last couple of weeks alone. It’s been an awful disaster season and Mother Nature has certainly kept the insurance industry on its toes. …
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EPM: Technology & Social
How to protect your business from cyberattacks: Sharon Fox-Slater
Sharon Fox-Slater of EBM’s RentCover explains how real estate businesses need to mitigate the risk of cybersecurity, with ransomware attacks and data breaches on the rise. It wasn’t that long ago that the only Trojans we knew of were an ancient people who made the fatal mistake of accepting a gift of a horse from their neighbours. Today, a real estate business could be besieged by a Trojan of a different kind. …
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