What is tenant insurance in Canada?

Home insurance isn’t just for homeowners. Tenants’ insurance protects their personal belongings when renting an apartment or house, as well as their civil liability. Although tenant insurance is not legally required in Canada, your landlord may require it to rent one of his or her apartments. This article begins by explaining the importance of tenant’s insurance. Then, tips on how to pay less, such as grouping your home and car insurance or using an online insurance comparator.

Tenants’ insurance covers the personal belongings of tenants. It protects you against civil liability and loss or damage to your personal belongings. What’s more, it protects you from unforeseen events such as theft, vandalism, water damage and fire. Finally, tenant insurance includes coverage for additional living expenses, if you have to leave your home temporarily following a covered loss.

Examples of personal belongings covered are :

• Clothing
• Furniture
• Jewelry or other valuables
• Entertainment equipment
• Books

In short, tenant’s insurance is important because it protects your personal belongings in many situations, including civil liability. Your personal belongings are not covered by your landlord’s insurance. Your landlord’s home insurance only covers the physical structure of the building, not the goods inside.

Tenant’s insurance covers your personal belongings against theft, vandalism and other property damage. Natural disasters and other unexpected events such as fire, water damage and subsidence are also covered. Tenant’s insurance coverage also applies to your personal belongings when you’re temporarily away. For example, when you go on a vacation trip.

Tenants’ insurance covers the following items:

• Accidental damage (standard coverage): This coverage protects you against accidental damage to someone else’s property.
• Liability insurance (standard protection): This coverage protects you against legal action in the event of injury to someone on your property or the property of others.
• Additional living cost (standard coverage): If you have to temporarily leave your apartment or rental home because it becomes uninhabitable following a covered loss, your insurance covers all or part of your living expenses (e.g. hotel accommodation, food, etc.).
• Water damage (additional protection): This coverage protects you against water damage. For example: sewer backups (floor drains, septic tanks, etc.), surface water (rain and snow) and above-ground water (roofs and windows).
• Identity theft (additional protection): This coverage protects you in the event of identity theft and fraud, covering legal fees and the recovery of your identity.

For each of these coverages, whether standard or supplementary, conditions and limits apply. What’s more, the losses covered may differ from one insurance company to another (e.g. earthquakes, windstorms, sewer backups, landslides, river overflows). Check with your insurer.

Tenant’s insurance premiums vary from person to person, depending on a number of factors. For example:

• The type and location of your rental property
• The value of your physical assets
• Your personal claims history
• The additional coverage you add to your policy
• Security of your rental property (alarm system, smoke detectors, window locks, etc.)
• The deductible amount you have chosen
• The limits and conditions of your insurance policy

Sharing a home with others is an issue when comparing and negotiating tenant’s insurance coverage. In some cases, the insurance policy may only cover personal belongings in your room. Inform your insurer if you live in shared accommodation and make sure you understand the conditions and limits that apply. If necessary, don’t hesitate to talk to an insurance agent or a damage insurance brokerage firm like YouSet. He can answer any questions you may have about tenant insurance.

Here are our tips for reducing your tenant insurance premiums:

• Combine your insurance policies: you can combine your car insurance and home insurance on the same policy and save money. For example, you can save up to 15% when you combine your home and car insurance with our partner YouSet.
• Compare home insurance premiums online: you can use our home insurance comparator to get several home insurance quotes.
• Increase your insurance deductible: increasing your insurance deductible reduces your insurance premium.
• Pay your insurance premium in one lump sum: many insurance companies offer a discount when you pay your home insurance premium for the year in one lump sum.
• Maintain a good credit score: a good credit score confirms to the insurer that you are able to pay your premium on time. If so, authorize your insurer to run a credit check, which will save you money.
• Install an alarm system: a security system and an anti-theft alarm reduce the likelihood of damage and theft, which in turn leads to lower insurance premiums.