Suncorp has cut the premiums of 31,000 customers in northern Australia after they made their homes more cyclone-resilient under the insurer’s Protecting the North initiative.

Customers who upgraded roofs, covered windows, strengthened doors, and undertook cyclone-season maintenance and preparation received the Cyclone Resilience Benefit, which in some cases has taken hundreds of dollars off their premiums.

The initiative was introduced a year ago after Suncorp commissioned research on cyclone-proofing homes.

“What we found was that some simple, low-cost upgrades can pay for themselves after just one major Yasi-like cyclone,” CEO Insurance Anthony Day said.

“Homeowners should be rewarded for putting effective safeguards in place to fend off the impacts of a cyclone. The benefit is the best example of the industry playing its role. This helps build safer communities, fosters economic development and improves insurance affordability.”

Beneficiaries include 7000 customers from Mackay and 6000 from Cairns.

Mr Day says Suncorp will continue to advocate for a government-sponsored retrofit scheme to improve resilience and address insurance affordability in north Queensland.