As a homeowner, you are likely well aware of the risks that come with owning a property, such as fires, thefts, natural disasters, and accidental injuries, as well as the substantial damage and financial losses these risks can potentially cause.

Fortunately, home insurance can help protect you, your home, your belongings, and your financial interests against such things.  In fact, here’s a list of what home insurance covers and doesn’t cover in Canada.

While this list provides a general sense of what to expect, keep in mind that coverage details can vary from policy to policy. Therefore, you should always refer to your insurance documents or contact your insurance company/broker directly for information about specific items or types of coverage.

Key takeaways

Home insurance protects your home, personal belongings, and liability against common risks like fire, theft, wind, and certain types of water damage. However, issues such as wear and tear, pests, or uncovered natural disasters are usually excluded. Coverage and limits vary by policy, so it’s important to understand what’s included (and what isn’t) before you need to file a claim.

Bike theft

Yes, home insurance typically covers bike theft. As your bike is considered a personal belonging, contents insurance will usually help pay to replace it if it is stolen from your property or while you’re out in public. If your policy’s coverage limit for bikes isn’t sufficient and you want the full value of your bike covered, you can add it as a specific item on your policy.   

Break-ins and theft

Yes, home insurance typically covers break-ins, theft, and burglaries. While it’s no replacement for invaluable family heirlooms or keepsakes, home insurance can often help reimburse you for your stolen property, even if the theft occurs while you’re temporarily away from home, such as on a vacation.  

Car theft or damage

No, home insurance typically does not cover car damage or theft. For that, you would rely on your car insurance policy. As for your belongings inside the car, the contents coverage included in your home insurance policy might extend to them, however, you should always consult with your car insurance company first.  

Cash

Yes, home insurance may cover cash, but the coverage limit is often quite small. Typically, just a couple hundred dollars.   

Contents

Yes, home insurance covers the contents of your home, otherwise known as your personal property, since contents insurance is one of the standard coverages included in all home insurance policies in Canada. However, you should review your policy details to understand the extent of your coverage, as there will be limits on certain items and specific exclusions that may apply.  

Chimney repairs

Yes, home insurance covers chimney repairs but typically only if the chimney is damaged or destroyed by a covered peril, such as a fire. If the damage is caused by wear and tear, neglect, poor construction, or defective materials, though, you would likely have to pay for the necessary repairs yourself.   

Damage caused by tenants

While home insurance may cover damage caused by tenants, landlord insurance is better suited to protect you as it is intended to specifically cover property damage caused by tenants, loss of rental income, and liability protection.  

Dog bites

Yes, home insurance typically covers dog bites, however, if your dog has a history of biting or is a certain breed, you may not be eligible for coverage. If you are eligible though, your liability coverage may help cover the cost of medical expenses, legal fees, and damages resulting from the incident, up to a certain amount.   

Driveways

Yes, home insurance covers driveways but typically only if it’s damaged or destroyed by a covered peril. So if the damage is due to wear and tear, poor installation, or a peril such as an earthquake for which you didn’t select additional coverage, you would likely have to pay to repair or replace it yourself.   

Electrical issues

Yes, home insurance usually covers electrical issues caused by a specified peril, such as a fire, power, surge, or lightning strike. With that said, you should always confirm which perils are covered and any exclusions that may apply to electrical issues by carefully reviewing your policy documents.  

Engagement rings and jewellery

Yes, home insurance typically covers engagement rings and jewellery. However, high-value items often come with coverage limits, so if you want the full value of the item covered, you might need to add it as a specific item on your policy.   

Fences

Yes, home insurance typically covers fences that are damaged or destroyed by unpredictable and unexpected perils. However, if the damage results from factors such as wear and tear, pet damage, or a dispute with your neighbour, you should assume you will be responsible for covering any repair or replacement costs.  

Fire and smoke damage

Yes, home insurance typically covers fire and smoke damage, unless you intentionally caused it. So long as it’s deemed accidental, home insurance can help cover the costs to replace your damaged or destroyed belongings, as well as additional living expenses if your home is deemed uninhabitable, up to a certain amount that is listed in your policy.   

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Foundations

Yes, home insurance covers your foundation, however, it usually only applies if a covered peril damages or destroys it. This means that if it’s damaged due to poor maintenance, defective materials, or a peril such as an earthquake for which you didn’t opt for additional coverage, insurance will likely not cover the damages.  

Gas leaks

Yes, home insurance can cover the damages caused by a gas leak, but it depends on the specifics of your policy and the cause of the leak. This is why it’s important to fully understand the terms of your policy and any exclusions that may apply to ensure you have adequate coverage in the event of a gas-related incident.  

Hail damage

Yes, hail damage is covered by home insurance, so long as hail is listed as a covered peril in your policy. If so, you may be able to file a claim to get reimbursed for the damages caused by hailstorms.   

Hotel stays

Yes, home insurance will cover a hotel stay if your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered peril. This is called additional living expenses coverage and it’s one of the standard coverages that are included in home insurance policies in Canada.   

HVAC units

Yes, home insurance covers HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) units but usually only if a covered peril damages or destroys it. Damage caused by wear and tear, negligence, or improper installation on the other hand, is not covered.   

Ice and snow

Yes, damage caused by the weight of ice and snow will be covered by home insurance, so long as it is listed as a covered peril in your policy. With that said, you should always confirm your coverage limits and exclusions by carefully reviewing your policy documents.  

Identity theft

Yes, home insurance can cover identity theft, but it’s not automatically included. It’s an optional coverage that you need to add to your policy to be covered.   

Lost luggage

Yes, home insurance typically covers luggage when you’re temporarily away from home against perils such as theft. This is because luggage is considered personal property and is therefore covered by contents insurance.

Mold

Yes, home insurance may cover mold if the damage occurs suddenly as a result of a covered peril, such as water damage or a flood. Otherwise, insurance companies will often consider it a maintenance issue and will not cover the damage.   

Natural disasters

Yes, home insurance covers natural disasters such as earthquakes, forest fires, and floods, but only if these perils are explicitly named in your policy. Therefore, if you live in an area at risk for a specific type of natural disaster, you might consider adding the necessary coverage.  

Normal wear and tear

No, home insurance doesn’t cover normal wear and tear because it isn’t caused by an unpredictable or unexpected event. Instead, wear and tear happens gradually over time due to regular use and aging, making it both predictable and expected.  

Permanent fixtures

Yes, home insurance typically covers permanent fixtures such as kitchen cabinets, ceiling fans, and lighting fixtures, as they are considered part of the structure of your home. However, for dwelling coverage to take effect, the damage to these fixtures must usually be a result of a covered peril.  

Personal injury

In Canada, liability coverage is included as a standard feature in all home insurance policies. So yes, if someone gets injured on your property, your home insurance will likely cover the associated medical and legal costs.  

Pest and wildlife damage

No, home insurance does not cover pest and wildlife damage. This is because insurance companies will often consider damage caused by animals, including mice, insects, raccoons, birds, bats, snakes, or squirrels, a maintenance issue.  

Pools and hot tubs

Yes, home insurance may cover pools and hot tubs under certain circumstances. For instance, in-ground pools are often considered part of your home’s structure, so they might be protected against covered perils by dwelling coverage. Meanwhile, above-ground pools and hot tubs are often classified as personal property, meaning your contents insurance may be used to cover their repair or replacement.  

Renovations

No, home insurance typically does not cover the cost of renovations themselves. However, it does provide liability coverage to protect you against potential injuries that may occur in your home during a renovation.  

Roofs

Yes, home insurance covers your roof, but typically only if it’s damaged or destroyed by a covered peril. So if the damage is due to wear and tear, negligence, poor maintenance, or a peril such as an earthquake for which you didn’t select additional coverage, you would likely have to pay to repair or replace it yourself.   

Septic tanks

Yes, home insurance may cover your septic tank if it’s damaged or destroyed by a covered peril. So if the damage is due to wear and tear, negligence, poor maintenance, or a peril such as an earthquake for which you didn’t select additional coverage, you would likely have to pay to repair or replace it yourself.   

Storage units

Yes, if it’s specified in your policy, home insurance can cover personal belongings located in a storage unit against covered perils, such as fire or theft.   

Structural damage

Yes, home insurance usually covers structural damage made to your home by the elements, be it fire, water, snow, or wind. So, if your porch gets damaged by tree branches during a particularly strong storm, then your home insurance would most likely cover the repairs.  

Trees

Yes, home insurance may provide coverage for the removal of trees and any resulting damage to your home or other structures on your property, if a covered peril causes it. However, if a tree on your property falls due to a lack of maintenance or because it is diseased, you should assume you will be responsible for covering any cleanup or repair costs.  

Vandalism

Yes, home insurance typically covers vandalism, whether it affects the structure of your home, personal belongings, or other structures on your property. With that said, you should always confirm your coverage limits and exclusions by carefully reviewing your policy documents.  

Water damage

Yes, home insurance typically covers water damage caused by unpredictable and unexpected perils like burst pipes, plumbing leaks, appliance malfunctions, or accidental overflow. However, not all types of water damage are covered. For details regarding your specific policy, check your policy documents.   

Wind damage

Yes, wind damage is covered by home insurance, so long as it’s listed as a covered peril in your policy. If so, you may be able to file a claim to get reimbursed for the damages caused by strong winds.   

Windows

Yes, since your windows are considered part of the structure of your home, they are covered by home insurance against the listed perils in your policy. With that said, you should always confirm your coverage limits and exclusions by carefully reviewing your policy documents.