Guide to Home Insurance in Canada: Everything You Need to Know

Do you need to buy or renew your home insurance soon? Whether you are a homeowner, renter, or condo owner, there are many types of insurance coverage and options available. It can often be difficult to sort through them all. This article explains, among other things, the types of home insurance in Canada, strategies for reducing your insurance premiums and tools for comparing home insurance.

What Is Home Insurance in Canada?

Canadian law does not require you to take out home insurance, but mortgage lenders and banks do require it for properties that are not fully paid off. Specifically, you must provide proof of insurance to obtain a loan or a mortgage line to guarantee that your property is protected against risk.

Why Is It Important to Get Home Insurance?

For many of us, buying a home is the biggest investment of our lives. But while there are many advantages to becoming a homeowner, it’s essential to protect your investment. That’s where home insurance comes in! It provides a safety net by covering repair or replacement costs in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

Home insurance protects not only your home, but also your personal property and any civil liability claims. This is important for:

Homeowners with a mortgage
Homeowners without a mortgage
Condo owners
Owners of vacation home or cottage

Although home insurance is not compulsory for tenants, it is nonetheless important. Renters’ insurance protects your personal belongings against the unexpected: theft, vandalism, water and fire. What’s more, the building owner’s insurance policy will not cover your personal belongings.

What Is Covered by Home Insurance?

Home insurance policies in Canada are fairly comprehensive, generally covering housing, personal property, liability, living expenses and detached structures. But you can also add options to customize your policy to suit your needs.

Items generally covered include:

Dwelling: Protection for the physical structure of your home, including foundations, walls and roof.
Personal belongings: Protection against loss or damage to your possessions due to covered risks.
Civil liability: Protection against possible legal action for accidental injury or property damage caused by you or members of your household.
Living expenses : Financial support for expenses incurred if you are temporarily unable to live in your home due to damage.
Detached structures: Insurance for structures on your property that are not connected to the main dwelling, such as a garden shed or garage.

Optional protection options generally include:

Water damage: Protection against water-related damage, such as sewer backup and surface water – optional protection
Theft and burglary: Reimbursement in the event of theft or burglary-related damage – optional coverage
Earthquakes: Protection against damage caused by seismic shocks and associated events – optional protection
Identity theft: Security against identity fraud, covering legal costs and the recovery of your identity – optional protection

For each of these coverages, conditions and limits apply. Check with your insurer.

What Is Not Covered by Home Insurance?

Although home insurance offers comprehensive coverage, it does have its limitations. Home insurance policies in Canada generally do not cover damage caused by lack of maintenance, normal wear and tear, pest infestations, mold, rot, intentional damage, commercial activities, high-value items exceeding standard limits, vehicles and unoccupied homes.

What Are the Types of Home Insurance in Canada?

In Canada, there are generally three types of home insurance: basic, extended and comprehensive. They differ in their level of protection.

Basic home insurance: Basic home insurance provides coverage limited to the risks listed in your insurance policy. Although more affordable, you should be prepared to cover the cost of any damage not included.
Comprehensive home insurance: Comprehensive (all-risk) home insurance offers the broadest coverage, including fire, theft, vandalism, natural disasters and civil liability. Although more expensive, it provides optimum protection for your home and personal belongings.
Extended home insurance: Extended home insurance is a compromise between basic and comprehensive coverage. While not as complete as comprehensive coverage, it offers relatively broad protection at an affordable price. It can be interesting for those who want better protection without exceeding their budget.

To make the right choice, assess your needs and determine what you can afford to pay in the event of an uncovered claim. Then, find a balance between coverage and cost based on your financial situation. Also check the limits and conditions for covered items.

If necessary, don’t hesitate to talk to an insurance agent or a property and casualty insurance broker like ClicAssure.

How Is the Cost of Home Insurance Calculated?

The cost of home insurance in Canada varies according to a number of criteria:

Location of your home
Type of property (house, condo, rental)
Type of coverage (basic, extended, comprehensive)
Characteristics and value of your home
Value of your personal belongings
Additional options (theft, water damage, earthquakes, etc.)
Insurance claim history
Etc.

Tips to Reduce Your Home Insurance Premiums

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you reduce your home insurance premiums.

Bundle Your Home and Auto Insurance

First of all, you can combine your home and car insurance with the same insurance company. In this way, you can obtain a discount or a customized offer. For example, with ClicAssure, you can save up to an additional 15% when you combine your home and auto insurance.

Compare Home Insurance Premiums Online

You can compare and even take out a home insurance policy yourself online. This method has many advantages, because you control exactly what you’re looking for. However, as insurance is a complicated subject, you may want to talk to a professional to explain the terms and conditions of the different offers. You can use our home insurance comparator to get several home insurance quotes.

Get Quotes from Multiple Home Insurance Companies

Don’t make the mistake of renewing your home insurance policy without getting several quotes. Don’t settle for the first quote you receive. Conversely, get several home insurance quotes and compare them before making a decision. For most insurance companies, you can get quotes online or over the phone.

Contact a Home Insurance Broker

To reduce the number of quotes, you could contact a damage insurance broker such as ClicAssure. Insurance brokers have access to several insurers and will usually present you with the best offer. Plus, they often have access to exclusive discounts.

Maintain Your Home

When your home is well maintained, you’ll be in a better position to pay less for insurance over time. Although some events are beyond your control, regular maintenance can certainly help reduce your insurance costs. As a rule of thumb, you should budget between 3% and 5% of your home’s value each year for maintenance or renovations.

Increase Your Insurance Deductible

Increasing your insurance deductible is another excellent way to reduce your insurance premiums. Of course, your deductible in the event of a claim will be higher. But, if you maintain your home, the likelihood of a claim will be reduced, and your monthly premiums will be lower. Consult your insurance company to find out about the different deductible options available to you.

Pay Your Insurance Premium in a Single Payment

When you pay your home insurance for the year in one lump sum, some home insurance companies offer a discount. This way, you can reduce your home insurance premium. Check with your insurer.

Tips for Filing an Insurance Claim

Filing an insurance claim can be stressful, especially if your property has been damaged. Here are some useful tips to help you:

Prepare your information: insurance company, policy number, date and time of claim, etc. Take photos and document as much as possible.
Call your insurance company as soon as possible to report your claim.
Provide your insurer or adjuster with as many details as possible.
Discuss the limits of your coverage and your deductible (the amount you pay in the event of a claim).
Keep all receipts for additional living expenses, if you have to leave your home for an extended period.
Take photos before and after the work begins.

Service standards may vary from company to company, depending on the extent of the damage. So keep these tips in mind if you need to submit a claim.

Bottom Line

Although not mandatory, home insurance is essential to protect your home and personal belongings. In this guide, we’ve explained the types of protection and costs to help you choose the best coverage for your needs. Now, the next step could be to compare home insurance with our tool.

Frequently Asked Questions About Home Insurance

Is home insurance legally required?

No. Canadian law does not require you to take out home insurance, but mortgage lenders and banks do require it for properties that are not fully paid off. For tenants, home insurance is still important, because the building owner’s insurance policy won’t cover your personal belongings against the unexpected: theft, vandalism, water and fire.

What is the average price of home insurance in Quebec and Ontario?

The average cost of a home insurance policy varies according to a number of criteria, including place of residence, type of property (house, condo, rental) and type of coverage (basic, extended, comprehensive). At Quebec and in Ontario, the average cost of home insurance is $87 ($1044/year) for a house, $31/month ($372/year) for a condo and $23.50/month ($282/year) for a rental.

What’s the best home insurance?

The best insurance to cover your home and personal belongings is comprehensive home insurance, but it’s also the most expensive. What’s more, the cost of home insurance varies according to a number of criteria, such as where you live, the type of property you own, the type of coverage you have, and the value of your home and personal belongings.

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