Spring Home Maintenance Takes on New Urgency as Storm and Bushfire Risk Rises
Routine roof maintenance is one of several jobs Australian homeowners are tackling this spring.
New data from the Bureau of Meteorology and the insurance industry point to a higher-stakes spring for Australian homeowners
The job list itself is the same list service.com.au sees homeowners work through every year, it barely changes: gutters and downpipes cleared before the first heavy rain finds the blockage, roofs checked for cracked or lifted tiles while the weather's still mild enough to get up there safely, air conditioning serviced before the first hot week rather than during it, and decks, fences and overhanging branches checked for general wear.
The Bureau of Meteorology's long-range spring outlook, issued 27 August, expects above-average temperatures across most of the country through to November. "The warmer forecast increases the risk of early-season heat, particularly across southern Australia," said senior meteorologist David Crock. Spring is already Australia's peak season for severe thunderstorms, and the Bureau expects that risk to be elevated again this year along the east coast.
The Insurance Council of Australia's Catastrophe Resilience Report for 2025-26, also out in August, shows what happens when that maintenance doesn't get done in time. The industry recorded $3.98 billion in insured losses from seven declared catastrophes over the past financial year, up from three the year before, with one event alone, labelled "Spring storms," accounting for $1.07 billion of that. The same report notes repair costs have climbed well ahead of general prices: roof tile prices are up 77% over five years, and rebuilding a storm-damaged home now costs 30-45% more depending on location.
The numbers don't predict what happens to any single home. What the data does say is that the spring maintenance list carries more weight than it has done in previous years.
Lois Mansfield
Service.com.au
+61 1300523787
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