RUMS Overview
An important area of risk for Resident Unit Manager’s (RUM’s) is the cover required for Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance. There has been an increase in recent times for claims against RUM’S for various Bodily Injury and Property Damage incidents such as slip and falls, balcony railing collapse and failure to maintain equipment causing damage and injury to name a few.
Resident Unit Manager’s should ensure they have cover for both Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance. It is preferable to have both covers with the one insurer as there are some claims which can fall into a grey area between the two covers which can leave Resident Unit Manager’s caught in the middle as each insurer argues over which cover is to respond.
The main difference between Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance can briefly be described as follows.
Public Liability insurance protects RUM’S against claims such as bodily injury or property damage for which the RUM can be held legally liable. It is important to note though that most Public Liability policies exclude claims arising out of a breach of Professional Duty, so you should also obtain Professional Indemnity insurance for this exposure.
Professional Indemnity insurance protects you for claims made against you by third parties for errors, omissions or negligent acts arising out of the operation of your professional business and therefore potentially a breach of Professional Duty which then results in the (alleged) loss or damage including financial loss and personal injury or property damage.
There is a long list of circumstances which may give rise to an incident/claim where RUM’S can be held legally liable and/or a breach of Professional Duty, it is therefore essential to ensure you have adequate cover for all types of insurance, particularly Public Liability and Professional Indemnity.
Unfortunately we now live in a very litigious society with the legal profession employing a tactic in many cases which sees all parties joined in the action, be they the Body Corporate, RUM’S, contractors or sub-contractors, therefore it is also important to ensure you have adequate insurance cover for your own protection.
Wymark Insurance Brokers, in conjunction with CGU Insurance an APRA licensed Australian Insurer, have developed a tailor made insurance product which incorporates both Professional Indemnity and Public Liability in one package with the one insurer and provides numerous additional benefits specifically for RUM’S.
Some advantages of this tailor made package cover: