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Public liability for vacant landowners

Own vacant land?
You're still liable if
someone gets hurt.

Simple, affordable public liability insurance for landowners. Protect yourself from claims for injury or property damage on your vacant block — even if you're not doing anything with it.

Get an instant quote → See what's covered

Vacant land liability — your exposure

$75,000+

Average cost of a personal injury claim on vacant land, including legal defence and compensation. Even a trespasser can hold you liable.

🏗
Trespasser injury Covered
🔥
Fire spreading to neighbours Covered
🌳
Falling trees / debris Covered
⚖
Legal defence costs Covered
✓
Underwritten by leading insurers
✓
AFSL 491165 — licensed in Australia
✓
Quote & bind online in minutes
✓
Cover up to $20M per claim

Who needs vacant land insurance?

If you own land and someone could access it, you need this cover

🏠
Investors holding vacant blocks
Even if you're waiting for the right time to build or sell, you're liable for what happens on your land.
📋
Developers awaiting approval
Cover for the period between purchase and construction commencement.
🔑
Property owners between tenants
Your existing landlord policy may not cover vacant periods between leases.
📈
Land bankers & speculators
Holding land as an investment doesn't reduce your legal exposure.
🌾
Farmers with vacant paddocks
Unused paddocks and rural blocks still attract trespassers and liability.
📜
Estates with vacant property
Administering an estate? You may be personally liable for property in the estate.

What's covered

Comprehensive protection for vacant landowners

✓
Public liability
Claims for injury or property damage arising from your ownership of the land — up to $20 million per claim.
✓
Trespass incidents
Injuries to people who enter your land without permission. Courts have found owners liable even with warning signs.
✓
Property damage
Damage to neighbouring properties caused by conditions on your land — fences, sheds, vehicles, and more.
✓
Natural hazards
Claims from falling trees, grass fires, or landslides originating on your property.
✓
Legal defence costs
We pay your lawyers even if the claim is groundless — costs paid in addition to your policy limit.
✓
Australia-wide cover
Protection for vacant land anywhere in Australia — residential, commercial, rural, or industrial.

Real scenarios

How claims happen on vacant land

The trespasser injury
Claim: $75,000

Kids use your vacant block as a shortcut to school. One trips over rubble and breaks their leg. The parents sue you for failing to secure the site.

Coverage: Legal defence costs, medical expenses, and compensation if you're found liable.
The fire spread
Claim: $45,000

A grass fire starts on your vacant land and spreads to your neighbour's property, destroying their fence and shed. They sue for property damage and clean-up costs.

Coverage: Property damage compensation, clean-up costs, and legal defence.
The falling tree
Claim: $35,000

A dead tree on your land falls during a storm, crushing a car parked on the neighbouring property. The owner claims you failed to maintain the land.

Coverage: Property damage, legal costs, and investigation fees.
The illegal dumping
Claim: $120,000

Someone dumps asbestos on your land. Before you discover it, it blows onto neighbouring properties. Multiple claims follow.

Coverage: Clean-up costs on neighbouring properties, compensation payments, and legal defence against multiple claimants.

What's not covered

Know the limits of your policy

✗
Construction activities
If you're building or developing, you need Contract Works Insurance. This policy is for vacant, undeveloped land only.
✗
Deliberate acts
Intentional damage or illegal activity on your part is never covered.
✗
Pre-existing pollution
Contamination that existed before the policy started — unless you disclosed it.
✗
Business activities
If you're using the land for business (farming, storage, commercial use), you need a different policy.
✗
Employee injuries
Workers' Compensation is required if you have employees working on the land.

How it works

Get covered in 3 simple steps

1
Answer a few questions
Tell us about your property — land type, size, location, and the cover level you need. Takes about 2 minutes.
2
Get your quote
We'll generate an instant quote based on your property details. No paperwork, no phone calls.
3
Pay & activate
Accept your quote and pay online. Your certificate of currency is issued instantly.
Get an instant quote →

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about vacant land insurance

Do I really need insurance if the land is just sitting there? +
Yes. Australian law holds landowners responsible for injuries or damage arising from their property — even if you're not actively using it. If someone trespasses and gets hurt, you could be liable.
What if I have 'No Trespassing' signs? +
Signs help, but they don't eliminate your liability. Courts have found landowners liable even when trespassers were warned.
I'm planning to develop soon. Is this the right cover? +
Only until construction starts. Once you begin building, you need Contract Works Insurance. This policy is for vacant, undeveloped land only.
Does this cover me if I occasionally mow or maintain the land? +
Yes, basic maintenance is covered. But if you're conducting business activities (farming, storage, commercial use), you need a different policy.
What if the land is in a bushfire zone? +
This policy covers you if fire from your land damages neighbouring property. You should also maintain firebreaks as required by local councils — failure to comply could affect your claim.
What are the coverage limits? +
You can choose from $5 million, $10 million, or $20 million per claim. Legal defence costs are paid in addition to your limit. Excess starts from $500.

Protect your vacant land today

Quote in 2 minutes. Certificate issued instantly. Cover starts when you need it.

Get an instant quote → Speak to a broker

Need help?

Talk to a broker

Not sure if this is the right cover? Planning to develop? Our brokers can help you find the right policy for your situation.

📞 1300 475 092 hello@withpocket.com.au

Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm AEST