The landlord’s policy is not your contents policy
A landlord generally insures the building and the landlord’s own liability. That does not provide a tenant with personal coverage for furniture, clothing, electronics and other belongings, or for the tenant’s personal liability.
Ontario’s standard residential lease allows a landlord and tenant to agree that the tenant must carry liability insurance. Contents insurance is the tenant’s choice under the standard lease, but it is commonly packaged with liability and additional-living-expense coverage in a tenant policy.
What a tenant policy may include
The available policy can address:
- Personal belongings after an insured loss, subject to limits and the settlement basis
- Personal liability if the tenant is legally responsible for injury or property damage
- Additional living expenses, within stated limits, if a covered loss makes the rental unfit to occupy
- Belongings temporarily away from the rental, subject to policy conditions
- Optional protection or increased limits for jewellery, bicycles, computers or other special items
The policy does not cover every cause of loss. Review exclusions, deductibles and any limits that apply to water damage, theft from a vehicle, business property or high-value belongings.
Estimate belongings before choosing a limit
It is easy to underestimate the combined cost of clothing, furniture, kitchenware, electronics and recreational equipment. A room-by-room inventory, photos and receipts can help establish an appropriate contents limit and support a future claim.
Ask whether the policy settles covered contents at replacement cost or another basis and what conditions apply. The policy wording controls.
Tell the advisor about the rental arrangement
Share the address, type of building, number of occupants, move-in date, prior insurance and claims history. Mention roommates, subletting, home-based work, business inventory, short-term rental activity, extended absences, pets and any high-value items. A shared address does not necessarily mean one policy protects every occupant.
If you own the unit, see condo-owner insurance or home insurance instead.
Get proof when the lease requires it
If the lease requires liability insurance, confirm the requested limit and when proof must be provided. Do not wait until move-in day to discover that information or underwriting is incomplete. Contact Westoak to review the rental, contents and available tenant-policy options.