Tenant insurance FAQ

No province requires it by law. But most provinces allow landlords to make it a condition of the lease, and many do — Ontario's standard lease, for example, has a section for requiring liability insurance. If your lease requires it and you don't carry it, you can be in breach of your lease. Manitoba is the main exception, where landlords generally can't insist on liability insurance. Full breakdown: can a landlord require tenant insurance?

Most Canadian renters pay $15–$50 per month depending on province, contents coverage, deductible and building. Published provincial averages for a standard policy ($40,000 contents, $1 million liability, $1,000 deductible) run from about $15–$25 a month in Prince Edward Island to $30–$50 in British Columbia; Ontario and Alberta average $25–$45. See the full table in tenant insurance cost by province.

No. The landlord's policy covers the building itself and the landlord's own liability. Everything inside your unit — furniture, electronics, clothing — is yours, and so is the risk. The same goes for damage you accidentally cause to other units: without your own liability coverage, that bill lands on you.

Enough to replace everything you own at today's prices. Most renters land between $25,000 and $60,000 once they actually add it up room by room — insurers commonly recommend $30,000–$40,000 as a minimum. Underinsuring is the most common mistake: a $15,000 limit on $40,000 of stuff means a total loss leaves you $25,000 short. Try the contents estimator.

Generally no — a policy covers the named insured (and usually a spouse or partner). Each roommate normally needs their own policy for their belongings and liability, even on a shared lease. At student-sized prices, separate policies are rarely a budget problem — see the student guide.

Many policies cover belongings temporarily away from home — a laptop stolen from your car, luggage on a trip — subject to limits. It's one of the less-known perks of tenant insurance. Check the wording of the policy you're quoted, since limits and exclusions vary.

Distinguish the kinds of water. Sudden, accidental water damage — a burst pipe, an overflowing appliance — is typically covered. Water that comes from outside (overland flooding) and sewer backup are commonly sold as add-ons. If you're in a basement unit or near water, ask about them specifically.

A document from your insurer — usually a certificate of insurance or the policy's declaration page — showing your name, the rental address, the policy dates and your liability limit. Landlords typically ask for it before handing over the keys, and leases that require insurance commonly set a minimum of $1 million in liability coverage. More detail in the landlord requirements guide.

Yes. Some insurers factor in credit, but plenty offer policies that don't require it, so newcomers and international students can usually get covered. If one quote feels high, compare another. Our newcomer guide walks through the process.

Not Square One — it serves BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Atlantic Canada renters are served by national insurers with East Coast operations, local brokerages, and bank-affiliated insurers. The coverage, cost and estimator guidance on this site applies the same way when you're comparing their quotes — start with Nova Scotia's cost range.