Did you know that roughly 20% of all New Zealand house fire claims involve a chimney or a fireplace? Because of this high risk, your home insurance policy comes with strict conditions regarding solid-fuel heaters.
The ‘Reasonable Care’ Clause
Major New Zealand insurers like AA Insurance, Tower, and FMG explicitly state in their policies that homeowners must take “all reasonable steps” to maintain their property and prevent loss. If a chimney fire occurs and a building investigator finds years of uncleaned creosote neglect, your insurer may reduce or outright decline your claim payout.
What is a Chimney Sweep Certificate?
When Flue and Fire services your fireplace, we don’t just clear out the soot; we provide a formal Chimney Sweep Certificate. This written record acts as your official proof of maintenance. Keep this document safely stored in your digital records so you have immediate evidence to validate your policy if an unexpected incident ever strikes.