Condo Insurance for Owners in Québec
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Do you own a condo in Québec? Get coverage that’s right for you
Whether you live in a condo in Montreal, a townhouse in Québec City or a condo in Laval, you need to have the right insurance for your condominium. You can get a condo insurance quote online in minutes. Get a customized quote, in language you can understand, at a competitive price – and do it all online. We’ve simplified getting condo insurance, so you can focus on what you love.
Are you renting a condo as a tenant? Get a quote online for
What is condo insurance?
Your Condominium Corporation has insurance for the building itself and its common areas. But, it doesn’t cover your things inside your unit or any condo improvements you’ve made. This is why as a condo owner, it’s important to have condo insurance that covers your stuff and more if something happens.
What does condo insurance cover in Québec?
Although condo insurance policies can differ, here are some of the common coverages you can find under a condo insurance policy. Don’t forget to review your policy to learn how you’re covered (and where you aren’t).
Standard condo insurance coverages
Liability protection covers you and the people in your home in case you’re sued. You’re covered if someone gets hurt while visiting or for damage you may unintentionally cause.
Often called contents insurance, this protects anything you own that you could pack in a bag or put in a moving truck. Contents insurance in Québec covers things like your clothing, electronics, furniture, etc. Your stuff is covered no matter where it is (whether it’s in your condo in Québec or not). Just keep in mind, if you’re renting out your condo, only major appliances (like your fridge, stove and washing machine) are covered for theft.
In case something happens and you can’t live in your home – you’re covered while your condo is being repaired. You can choose to stay in a hotel or with friends and family. We’ll provide you with the cash either way. Renting out your condo at the time of loss? You’ll be covered for your net rental income until your tenants can move back in.
This includes three extra protections:
- Unit Improvements Coverage
Have you been making improvements or betterments to your unit – like installing special lighting or customized closets? Don’t worry, they’re covered. - Unit Contingency Coverage
This coverage protects you if your Condo Corporation’s insurance isn’t enough to take care of damages to your unit, that would normally be its responsibility to repair or replace. - Property Loss Assessment Coverage
Your Condo Corporation could require its members to collectively pay for any damage to common areas (like the lobby or elevators). This coverage will pay for your share.
This covers you and anyone else on your policy in case your identity is stolen. We’ll reimburse you for legal fees as well as certain other costs that could happen, up to a limit. These could include lost wages if you have to take time off work to sort it out, and payment for services that help you get back to where you need to be.
Additional condo insurance coverages
This coverage can help in some smelly situations. For example, if water from a sewer, sump, septic tank, or floor drain, backs up or escapes into your condo’s lobby or lower levels and you can’t get to your unit, this will help provide you with additional living expenses. It also covers belongings kept in your condo’s basement storage unit that are damaged. Coverage offered depends on eligibility.
You’re covered for damage caused by fresh water, such as excessive rain, spring run-off and melting snow, coming in at ground level through windows and doors. If you can’t get to your unit due to an overland water flood in your condo’s lobby or lower levels, this will help provide you with additional living expenses. It also covers belongings kept in your condo’s basement storage unit that are damaged. Coverage offered depends on eligibility.
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Questions about condominium insurance? We’ve got you covered
Insuring your condo should be simple. We’ve made getting a
Yes. As a condo owner, your Sonnet condo insurance policy covers you, your personal property and
Heads up! Are you a tenant renting a condo from someone else? If so, your landlord’s insurance will generally cover the appliances, since they’re the owners – not you (unless you’ve bought them yourself).
Need more answers about condo insurance?
If you have a homeowner’s policy with Sonnet, you’re allowed to rent a portion of your home to a maximum of two people or a separate unit in your home to a family as long as you’re living there at the time.
If you’re not living there during the time it’s rented, or this isn’t your primary residence, then it’s not covered under your homeowner’s policy and you’ll need a landlord policy.
If you have a condo owner’s policy with Sonnet, you’re allowed to rent out your entire condo regardless of whether you’re living there or not. However, your coverage for burglary or theft is limited.
Heads up! If you have a long-term rental unit in your home and also rent out a portion on a short-term rental network, this could exceed the limitations of your policy. Please contact us if this applies to you and we’ll make sure you’ve got the right coverage.
For more information on insurance and short-term renting, check out our blog on
Whether it’s a house or a condo, buying a new property is a big investment. But, it’s more than a piece of property, it’s your home. That’s why it’s important for every home and condo owner to buy property insurance in Canada. Without property insurance, you’d be responsible for covering the cost if something were to happen to your home or your stuff, you’d have to pay out of pocket for covering the cost.
Plus, if you have a mortgage on your house or condo, your lender will also likely require you to have home insurance coverage.
During home insurance calculation, insurance companies look at a complex set of factors. These will determine the likelihood of you making a claim – and how much a claim could cost. The higher the likelihood is, the higher your premium will be.
Factors that can affect your home insurance premium include:
- Where your home is located
Based on your postal code, an insurer can find out how many claims are made in that area – and why they happen. For example, if your area has frequent windstorms, there could be more frequent claims for damage. This could cause your home premium to be higher than that of a house in an area that doesn’t have windstorms very often. - Home age and condition
The older the building, the higher the likelihood of a claim. That’s because things like old wiring (fuses, for example) are a bigger risk for fire. And, old plumbing increases your risk of claims due to sudden leaks or burst pipes. - Heating equipment
If your home is heated with oil (like it is in many rural areas), your premium could be higher. Oil tank leaks increase risk of damage and environmental hazards. Wood stoves are also a common source of house fires, so they could raise your payments, too. - Proximity to fire support
If your home is close to a fire station and fire hydrants – like in an urban area – your premium could be lower than a home in a rural location, where travel distance is longer. - Number of past claims
The longer you’ve been claims free, the lower your premium will be. If you’ve had a claim in the last year, you can expect your premium to go up at renewal. - Your age and other information about you
As you get older, your premium will tend to decrease. The fact is, many insurance providers consider homeowners with more experience as less risky to insure. Some insurers could also look at your credit score. - How you use your home
Do you rent out rooms or a basement unit in your house? Factors like this may also impact your premium since they can increase damage and liability risks.
Depending on where you live, additional coverages are available to add on for certain events that aren’t covered by a standard home policy. These coverages are hail, sewer back up, overland water and earthquake. All of these coverages can be added when making your quote.
Already purchased? You can add on these coverages at any time through your account.
Wondering if your townhome needs a condo or a homeowners policy? There are a couple of questions that help with this:
- Do you have a Condo Corporation?
- If something were to happen to the outside of your home, such as to your roof, are you responsible for repairing it?
If you answered yes to the first question and no to the second, then a condo policy would best fit your needs.
Average monthly premiums for condo insurance in Québec are based on current Sonnet policies as of February 2021, with assumptions made to determine demographic groups.