Home Insurance Ottawa: Rates, Quotes, Consumer Tips

What are typical Home Insurance premiums in Ottawa?

This chart shows average renters and homeowners insurance premiums in Ottawa and other locations across Canada. Homeowners insurance is more expensive than renters insurance. This is because of the nature of the insurance – homeowners covers more. Renters insurance only covers contents and liability, while homeowner’s covers the rebuilding cost of the dwelling and the property in addition to liability and some other risks.

People living in Ontario have lower home insurance premiums than Albertans or those in British Columbia due to the lack of Ontario’s seismic activity and wildfires. However, flooding and ice storms have impacted the region in recent years, increasing home insurance premiums as a result.

Flooding is not just the typically covered instances such as pipe bursts. Overland flooding is not usually covered (unless you get a rider). Overland flooding includes flooding from excessive rain, snow melt, overflowing rivers, etc. While some emergency government programs could help with costs, insurance provides the best protection. Discuss overland flooding riders with your insurer today.

Cheap Home Insurance in Ottawa: 10 Tips

1. Renovations: Renovating your house can result in lower home insurance premiums because premiums can be higher for older homes if those homes do not have upgraded components like shingles, plumbing, or wiring.
2. Change it up: If you have tenant’s insurance and do not have expensive items in your rental, lower the value of the content’s insurance to save money.
3. Wood stoves: Wood stoves likely mean an inspection before you will be offered insurance, and higher premiums if you qualify for insurance.
4. Pipes: Galvanized and lead pipes are considered extremely risky. Copper or plastic pipes mean cheaper home insurance premiums.
5. Water damage: When buying a house, have the inspector check for water damage, as any sign of it on, in, or behind the walls and ceiling can mean a history of water entry problems and/or mold.
6. Stop smoking: Smoking is a fire risk and always results in higher premiums.
7. Annual vs monthly payments: Annual payments mean less paperwork and processing for the insurer, so they reward you with lower premiums.
8. Yearly review: Review your policy once a year. Your needs and risk change over time, so your policy should change to reflect your situation. For example, if you paid off your mortgage you may need lower coverage.
9. Bundles: Does your insurer also sell auto and life insurance? If so, ask about a bundle discount.
10. Mortgage insurance: Mortgage insurance is a form of life, critical illness, and disability insurance that pays off your outstanding mortgage if the life/lives insured pass away. However, traditional life insurance is cheaper and can even leave some of the benefit left over for beneficiaries.  If your life insurance policy is large enough, you may not need mortgage insurance too.

5 Elements that will increase your Home Insurance costs

1. Working from Home: Work equipment and inventory in your home can increase your premium due to the risk of lost, stolen, or damaged business property.
2. Expensive items: Items like furs, wine collections, fine art, sports or music equipment may not be covered by the limit of your policy. Ask your insurer about a separate rider for expensive or specialized items.
3. Knob and tube wiring: Knob and tube wiring is universally disliked by insurance companies because this type of wiring is antiquated and not suited to today’s high energy consumption levels. You may need to re-wire the house or pay extra to obtain coverage.
4. Fireplaces and wood stoves: While a beautiful addition to any home, fireplaces and wood stoves increase your fire risk, and therefore increase your premium as well.
5. Finished basement: Finished basements are expensive to repair if flooding occurs, so while a finished basement adds to the value of the home, it can also add to your premium.

Ottawa Home Insurance quotes, examples

Ottawa home insurance quote #1: Homeowners insurance for a two-storey detached house in Nepean on Withrow Ave. This is a brick home with an attached single-car garage. The home also has a basement and a new roof.

Monthly premiums: $71 per month ($852/year)

Ottawa home insurance quote #2: Tenants insurance for a single storey detached house located in Kanata next to Hayward Park. This is a brick home, under 1,000 square feet, and has an attached single-car garage.  

Monthly premiums: $24 per month ($288/year)

Ottawa home insurance quote #3: Homeowners condo insurance for a unit in Center Town on Bay Street.

Monthly premiums: $31 per month ($372/year)

5 Home Insurance myths to know

Myth #1: Home insurance is mandatory
If you outright own your home with no mortgage, you are not obligated to insure it. However, if your home does suffer from an incident, without insurance the entire cost of repair and rebuilding is your responsibility. Lenders have every right to ask homeowners to insure the property and list the lender as an interested party. Landlords can also ask renters to obtain tenant’s insurance.

Myth #2: My house is covered while I’m on vacation
Your policy stipulates the precautions you must take while away. Typically, this involves shutting off the water supply and having someone check on the home periodically. It also means not leaving if major in-progress issues, like basement flooding, are happening. Failure to follow the vacated property requirements usually results in a denied claim.

Myth #3: Home and condo upgrades are automatically covered
You must find out how your policy treats upgrades and add them to the policy. Always inform your insurer of improvements, upgrades, or the purchase of expensive items (art, wine collection, etc.). Do not assume automatic coverage.

Myth #4: My condominium corporation’s insurance covers my condo
Condominium corporation insurance only covers the building envelope and common areas. As a unit owner, you need condo insurance to cover your contents, unit upgrades, and liability.

Myth #5: Claims increase my premiums
Some insurers will not increase your premium for your first claim, or may simply remove your claim-free discount.

5 Differences between Condo and Home Insurance:

When it comes to home insurance, there are a number of differences among various types of policies. Given that Ottawa has several completed and planned condominium projects, it is important to know how condo insurance is different from traditional home or house insurance. Here are five key differences.

1. Policies involved in the coverage

House insurance: A policy on a typical single family home has one component – insurance for the home and property.

Condo insurance: has two components. First is your personal insurance. This covers the interior of your unit and your liability. Second is the commercial condo policy which covers the building envelope and common areas. The condo’s policy does not cover your unit’s interior, contents, or liability, so you need your own separate condo insurance. Condo corporation requirements differ – you may or may not be responsible for clearing your walk; if you are and someone slips on ice you failed to remove, you are liable. Click the link to find out more about the split of responsibilities for condo insurance.

2. Building coverage

House Insurance: Homeowner’s insurance covers your house, contents, and liability. The rebuilding value of the home is covered (not the market value) and riders can be added if other items such as trees and gardens are not covered by the policy.

Condo insurance: Condo insurance has two parts. The condominium corporation is responsible for coverage for the common areas, roof, external windows, parking lot, etc. You are responsible for coverage for your unit’s interior, unit upgrades, and liability.

3. Other structures

House Insurance: Freehold dwellings with several additional buildings like a garage or shed can be covered under your house insurance policy.

Condo insurance: Although condo insurance only covers your unit’s contents and liability, your storage locker is considered part of your unit. If you have a storage locker, be sure to inform your insurer.

4. Claim processing

House Insurance: Although some claims are expensive and lengthy, like a claim for a flooded basement, house insurance claims are straightforward to process. There is only one party and one insurer involved.

Condo insurance: When a condo insurance claim involves both parties – the corporation and the unit owner – the process gets more complicated. For example, if a pipe burst in the wall and your unit is damaged, both insurers come into play.

5. Amount of coverage

House Insurance: Your house insurance covers the building, contents, house upgrades, some aspects of the property, and liability. Remember, however, that the rebuilding value of the home, not the market value, is covered. Coverage typically includes debris clean up in the case of a fire, hailstorm, etc.

Condo insurance: Coverage limits are lower for condos because only the contents and liability are insured, not the physical condo building (which is insured by the condo corporation).