@Austman said:
Having both building and contents insurance is really the key to getting all damage covered. But as the OP has discovered, a contents insurer might not pay until they are satisfied that the building insurer has denied cover.
At the risk of being seen to promote our sponsors, if your strata scheme has CHU insurance and you have their home and contents insurance, you are covered and don’t have to pay your excess.
And, more generally, anyone who doesn’t have home and contents insurance with any firm is taking a gamble that they shouldn’t expect anyone else to pay for when they get a fruit salad instead of three cherries.