Insurers have again been pressed to make concessions for landlord policyholders, as the industry continues to come under fire over its response to the pandemic crisis.

Major players such as IAG, Suncorp and QBE have already unveiled a raft of financial measures to support SMEs, home and motor customers, but there has been little in the way of support for landlord clients.

Many landlord policyholders are unable to make a claim for rent default or loss of rental income because of the six-month eviction moratorium put in place to protect tenants.

“In the current circumstances, it would be great to see insurance companies taking a more flexible approach and being more supportive of their insureds in the current environment,” Real Estate Institute of Queensland CEO Antonia Mercorella told insuranceNEWS.com.au today.

“Many landlords are now suffering potentially their own financial detriment because of COVID-19. Further to that, they might be receiving a lot less rent from their tenants.

“I would like to see more of a focus on residential landlords, because these are mum and dad investors. They are everyday Australians who are feeling the pain, and it would be great to see insurance companies offering more support.”

At yesterday’s House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics hearings, the industry was grilled over its lack of action to support landlord policyholders.

Representatives from the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) told the hearing all insurers are different and it has not been possible to agree a united position on how the sector should respond to COVID-19.

ICA says it is up to particular companies how they respond, but the committee’s Deputy Chairman, Andrew Leigh, criticised what he says is a "hands-off" approach.

At today’s final round of hearings, Suncorp CEO Insurance Gary Dransfield said the group’s Terri Scheer landlord brand would not void a claim due to a lack of eviction.

A similar policy is in place for landlord covers issued by other Suncorp brands and will be limited to the period of the moratorium, a spokesman says.

And a spokesman for Allianz told insuranceNEWS.com.au the insurer has adjusted its position to take into account the eviction moratorium that is currently in place.

“Allianz does not require a landlord to issue an eviction notice in order to make a loss of rent claim under a Landlords Insurance policy, if the rent default option has been purchased,” he said.

“Allianz will also generally provide cover in line with the terms and conditions of the policy, for a shortfall arising from a temporary rent reduction negotiated between a landlord and tenant during state and territory governments’ moratoriums on residential tenancy evictions.”