Get Cheap Tenant Insurance in Vancouver

Tenant insurance in Vancouver 

Protecting your belongings is often top of mind whether you are a homeowner or a renter. Likely some of your most prized and valuable possessions reside in your home. As a renter, you have options such as a tenant or renter's insurance (both terms refer to the same product) to protect yourself and your things from such occurrences as fire and theft.

Is tenant insurance mandatory? 

Tenant insurance in Vancouver is not mandatory. It's a personal choice in some cases, and it may seem like an unneeded expense initially, but Vancouver tenants need insurance. It's an important investment in your financial security: costs will quickly add up if you ever need to replace or repair damaged or stolen items.

Also, many landlords require their tenants to have insurance as a lease condition. In this sense, Vancouver tenant insurance is mandatory. Either way, you are taking a step that will protect you and your finances in the future.

Tenant insurance coverage in Vancouver

A tenant insurance policy will cover the following:

1. Your possessions: We often take out insurance, hoping never to need it, but stuff happens. Because fire and theft are real possibilities, you'll want the peace of mind that goes with the protection against these events. Replacement costs can add up, and Vancouver tenant insurance will help reduce those bills should you need the protection.
   
   Tenant insurance can help cover things that don't occur in your home, such as an item stolen at work or while out. Greater protection against other, more expensive items requires you to ask your Vancouver tenant insurance provider for extra coverage.
   
   
2. Your liability: Vancouver tenant insurance will help pay for lawsuits or liability claims stemming from accidental property damage to another person's property and accidental injuries in your home.
   
   For example, your insurance will help pay for the damage caused by water leaking from your condo into another person's unit. The minimum recommended coverage is $100,000, but it might make sense to go higher for potential liability risks if it is within your means.
   
   
3. Your living expenses in an emergency: Vancouver tenant insurance can help pay for those temporary living expenses such as rent, transportation and even meals if fire or flood (among other perils) temporarily forces you to leave your home.
   
   Some tenant insurance companies in Vancouver limit the amount they will provide for living expenses, so it’s best to talk to your provider about the caps.

Factors that determine the cost of your Vancouver tenant insurance 

Several different things determine the cost of a Vancouver tenant insurance policy, like:

• The type and amount of coverage: You can purchase additional insurance to broaden your policy's coverage, but optional insurance increases your premium. One way to control costs is to adjust any deductibles (the amount your insurer expects you to pay before they pay the claim) your policy includes; a higher deductible will lower your rate, while a lower one will increase your rate.
• The size of your rental: You can buy tenant insurance for any rental unit: be it an apartment, basement unit, laneway home, townhouse, or even a full-on detached house. However, the more square footage it claims, the more it will cost to insure your rental.
• Where you live: Neighbourhoods with low rates of theft, break-ins, and incidences of arson will command cheaper premiums. The reverse is true for areas with high crime rates.
• The building's claims history: If many previous tenants have filed claims due to theft, fire, or water damage, it will also impact your premium (i.e., it will be higher than if the building had a limited claim history).
• Your personal claims history: Your premium will be lower if you have not made any claims.
• Your belongings: Expensive belongings require additional coverage (a standard insurance policy won't be enough to repair or replace them), raising your premium. Your insurance will cost less if you don't have high-value items you'd want to replace.

It's hard to say which factors will significantly impact your insurance premium, so consider examining them all and reducing your risk for each one. It can help you get the cheapest rate for the most coverage.