Street with no insurance

AS IF having their houses ruined wasn’t bad enough, the residents of an Ipswich townhouse complex have been shocked to find they don’t have flood insurance.

An aerial shot of Mi-Hi Grove on Haig Street at Brassall. . Picture: Rob Williams

AS IF having their houses ruined wasn't bad enough, the residents of an Ipswich townhouse complex have been shocked to find they don't have flood insurance.

The 43 residents of Mi-Hi Grove in Haig Street, Brassall were trying to come to terms with the floods last week when they were told the body corporate didn't have coverage for flood damage.

Normally a well-maintained complex, with neat townhouses giving the impression of a quiet street, now it looks like the set of a disaster movie.

Lauren Way, 32, who put all her money into buying a townhouse three years ago, got a second blow when she found out her personal contents insurance didn't cover flood damage either.

“The water went half-way up the second level and everything is gone,” Ms Way said yesterday.

“I just want to get the message out there so the government will put pressure on insurance companies to pay up.

“I don't want this to be about me; everyone here is up in the air. I've got a six-figure mortgage I've got to pay.

“All my life savings have gone into it and to have nothing to show for it except a mortgage; it's heart breaking.

“I've been paying insurance premiums thinking I had flood insurance.

“It's the same with the body corporate; when I read the agreement I thought they had flood insurance.”

She said she contacted the Queensland Government Flood Help Hotline and was told she was only eligible for a $1000 grant.

“I now have a large home loan, one income, and no money to rebuild with little support from the government and no support from the insurance companies,” she said.

Mi-Hi Grove complex manager Rob Jeckells said he was employed by the body corporate management to manage it.

He confirmed he told the residents the body corporate didn't have flood cover.

“I was told the body corporate can't get flood insurance,” Mr Jeckells said. “We certainly feel bad for the residents.

“We are having a meeting with the body corporate management on Friday and we'll certainly be asking a lot of questions.

“I have a unit there and an office, so I've been affected as well.

“I thought we had flood insurance as well. But you don't really think about it until you need it I suppose.”

Originally published as Street with no insurance