Is tenant insurance mandatory in Ottawa?
Tenant insurance is not legally required in Ottawa or across the province. You do not have to have it to rent a property. However, your landlord has the legal right to require you to have insurance. It is commonly a condition in your lease agreement. So, even though it's not mandatory, you still may have to get it.
How much is tenant insurance in Ottawa?
The cost of Ottawa tenant insurance can vary based on your unique living situation. In general, residents can expect to pay between $20 and $30 per month. This works out to about $200 to $300 in annual premiums. With this plan, you will typically receive up to $30,000 in contents insurance and $1 million in personal liability protection. This is typical for renters insurance in Ontario.
However, if you live in an area associated with greater risk, if you have a higher value of personal belongings, or you add endorsements, you can expect to pay more. This is why renters insurance in Toronto tends to be slightly more expensive compared to other cities. Get an online quote to compare rates and save money.
What are the main factors affecting Ottawa tenant insurance premiums?
There are a lot of factors that will affect how much you pay for tenant insurance in Ottawa. Here are some of the main things to consider:
- Value of your contents: The more stuff you have, the more it will cost to insure your personal belongings.
- Liability limits: Increasing your liability limits will raise your payments.
- Your unit: Your property and unit type, square footage, and features.
- Who lives with you: The number of people insured.
- Location: The level of risk and average claims cost in your city, neighbourhood, and postal code. For example, living near Carleton University will have a different insurance rate than if you lived in downtown Ottawa.
- Claims history: Staying claims-free will help you keep premiums lower.
- Additional coverage: Adding more insurance or increasing your deductible options will increase your payments.