Tenant insurance for renters
Buy tenant insurance online in minutes.
Get contents and liability coverage for renters online
Living in a basement apartment or high-rise condo rental? Make sure you’re covered with rental insurance. Available across Canada, from B.C. to Alberta, Ontario to Québec, New Brunswick to Nova Scotia and even P.E.I. You can get a tenant insurance quote online with Sonnet in just minutes. Our online renters insurance quote offers customized coverage, easy to understand language and competitive pricing.
What is renters insurance?
Tenant insurance (or renters insurance) is a policy designed for people who are renting or leasing the place they live in. It’s a type of personal property insurance that offers coverage for anyone who doesn’t own the building or unit they’re living in. Renter's insurance includes tenant liability, coverage for personal items in your rental and more. This differs from landlord insurance, designed to meet the unique needs of a landlord, with coverages like for the loss of rental income.
Why do I need tenant insurance?
Living in a rental apartment or condo, the stuff you put inside it is what makes it your home. Your landlord’s insurance policy doesn’t offer tenants contents insurance or personal liability coverage. With renters insurance you can protect your personal belongings and be covered for additional living expenses if you can’t live in your rental unit. Tenant insurance also includes personal liability, an important coverage for any renter to have.
What does tenant insurance cover?
Tenant insurance coverage protects more than just your belongings. Here’s a breakdown of the coverages you could find on a renters insurance policy. The coverage you choose for your tenant policy will be based on your personal situation. This includes how much stuff you have and the type of house, condo, or apartment you’re renting. Make sure you know what’s included in your tenant insurance policy and what’s not.
Standard tenant insurance coverages
Liability Insurance
Protect yourself and the people in your home in case you’re sued with tenant liability insurance. You’re covered if someone gets hurt while visiting or for damage you may unintentionally cause.
Personal Belongings
This protects property you own that you could pack in a bag or put in a moving truck. It’s often called contents insurance for renters. Things like your clothing, electronics, furniture, etc. are covered. And, they’re covered while they’re on your property or temporarily removed (like when you’re travelling to work – or out of the country).
Extra Expenses
In case something happens and you can’t live in your rental – you’re covered while your unit is being repaired. Choose to stay in a hotel or with friends and family, we’ll provide you with the cash either way.
Unit Improvements
You’re covered for the cost of any damage to improvements you’ve made to your rental unit to make it your own. This could be built-in closet organizers or unique light fixtures.
Identity Theft
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 tenant insurance coverages
Sewer Backup
This coverage can help in some smelly situations. If water backs up or escapes into your rental unit through a sewer, sump, septic tank, or floor drain, this will cover you for the damage caused. Coverage offered depends on eligibility.
Overland Water
You’re covered for damage to your home caused by fresh water, such as excessive rain, spring run-off and melting snow, coming in at ground level through windows and doors. Coverage offered depends on eligibility.
Why buy tenant insurance with Sonnet?
Self-serve
Log in anytime to manage your account, access your policy, update your coverages and more.
Express claims
On top of our 24/7 claims support, you have the option of an express claim for small losses.
Customer satisfaction
Online doesn’t have to mean on-your-own. Our licensed Insurance Agents are here to help. Email, chat or call our fully-licensed agents and experience our top-quality customer care for yourself.
Save on more than just insurance
How much does renters insurance cost?
$382/year is the median cost of tenant insurance with Sonnet in Canada. Get renters insurance for the average cost of two concert tickets.
How is my tenant insurance quote calculated?
The cost of renters’ insurance will depend on your unique info. An insurance company will base a quote on how much coverage you need, the property type, the location of your rental unit and your claims history.
How to get the best tenant insurance prices
Want a cheaper price on your insurance? It’s simple! When you get a tenant insurance quote with Sonnet, we combine your unique information with our analytics to build our best price just for you – savings automatically included. Here are a few ways you could save on your renters insurance and more:
Multi-location
Insuring more than one property could qualify you for a multi-location saving.
Bundle home and auto
Bundling your home insurance and car insurance could mean up to 20% savings for you.
Canadian University & College grad discount
Get a juicy discount if you’re a graduate or a student of an eligible Canadian University or College.
Employee and Group discounts!
We are partnered with more than 2,000 organizations! You can save if you’re a member of an eligible association, an affinity partner, or an employee or retiree of a sponsored company.
Claims free
No claims in the last 5 years? This could mean extra cash in your pocket.
Get more with Sonnet Connect
Join Sonnet Connect to take advantage of exclusive discounts, promotions, and free offers
How to protect yourself with tenant insurance
Renters insurance is something many tenants think they don't need – until they do. Whether you're getting a tenant insurance quote for your first apartment or looking to switch, follow these key steps to make sure you're fully protected:
Step 1. Make sure you have enough contents insurance. Make a list of everything you own and select a personal belongings coverage limit that will fully cover it. Some of your more expensive stuff may need special coverage, so be sure to add it if you have any high value items.
Step 2. Keep a high enough liability limit. A limit of at least $1 million is recommended to protect you if you injure someone or damage their property, or are responsible to pay for unintentional damage to your rental property.
Step 3. Consider anyone else living with you. Your spouse and children living with you are automatically covered under your tenant policy. Roommates aren’t covered. They’ll have to get their own policy to cover their stuff.
Step 4. Add important optional coverages. Even if you live in an apartment or condo, your stuff could still be damaged by water or a backed-up sewer - especially if you live in a basement or have a storage locker. It's a good idea to add overland water and sewer backup coverage just in case.
Step 5. Update your policy when things change. Certain life events – like a move or getting a fancy engagement ring – can affect your insurance. Let your insurer know as soon as they happen to make sure you're fully protected.
Need to update your tenant policy or maybe you want to bundle your car insurance? Sonnet is simple! You can do it directly through your online account, 24/7. No call needed.
Questions about tenant insurance? We've got your back
Insuring your stuff should be simple. We’ve made getting a tenant insurance quote quick and easy, and we’re here to help from start to finish. We’ve gathered some helpful info and common questions to get you started.
How do you calculate the cost of tenant insurance?
We ask you a few key questions to access public information about the place you’re renting along with personal information you provide to determine your rate. The information we use includes:
- Where your rental is located
- Home structure, age, type of heating, etc.
- Number of past insurance claims
- Information about you (age, credit score if applicable, etc.)
Using this information and a whole lot of math and statistics, you get the most competitive price – savings included. The whole process takes just minutes and the price you’re quoted is final. Buy online right away or save your quote and lock in your price for 45 days or until the coverage start date (whichever is sooner).
How do I get a quote for tenant insurance?
Here’s how to get renters insurance with Sonnet in just a few easy steps. Sonnet is a completely digital insurance company – we use new technology that means you don’t have to answer many questions to get an instant tenant insurance quote that’s tailored to you. You can quote and buy your tenant insurance – all online.
Step 1: Enter your rental details
The first page you will see is “Tell us about yourself and your place”. Here, we want to know your property type (home, condo or apartment). Under Ownership type, select “I rent it from someone else.” Then, enter your address.
Heads up! Enter your address as it is recognized by Canada Post. Your address should pre-populate as you enter it into the field.
Step 2: Enter your personal details
Enter in your first and last name, plus your date of birth. Click “Continue”.
Step 3: Select your coverage start date
Here, we’ll need you to enter your coverage start date – this is when you’d want your tenant insurance to start. Usually, it’s the start date of your lease and the day you’d be moving in.
Step 4: Add your group discount (if you’re eligible)
If you’re a graduate of a Canadian University, or a member of an eligible association, an affinity partner or an employee/retiree of a sponsored company you could get a discount on your policy.
Learn more about who qualifies for a group discount.
Step 5: Review and agree to the consent statement
Read the consent statement – this is where we verify the information you’ve provided to us about your claims history. Then, click “View your quotes”.
Heads up! You’ll need to agree with the consent statement to proceed with the quote.
Step 6: View your quote
Here, you can view your pre-set coverages and limits. Click the “View and customize” button to personalize your coverage and make changes if you’d like to.
Step 7: Review your coverage
You’re nearly there! This page is “Your coverage details” – here we explain all the coverages in detail to help you understand how you’d be covered. Click on each coverage to learn more about it. Also, you can customize the limits and deductibles of certain coverages – you’ll see the quote reflect any changes.
Step 8: Buy your tenant insurance or save your quote
Once you’re happy with your renters insurance quote, click on “Buy now” to purchase. Or if you’re not ready to buy, you can click “Save quote” beneath the price to review it later, and move on to the next step.
Step 9: Enter your email address to save your quote
Success – you’ve got a quote! All you need to do now is enter in your email address. We’ll send you an email with a link that brings you back to this page at any time.
Are there any coverage limitations for certain belongings?
A small number of personal belongings fall into a category called Standard Limits, which means you’re covered for these items up to a fixed dollar amount. These amounts cannot be increased (unlike Specialty Belongings). Some examples of these items are business property, gift cards and spare auto parts.
The list of items that fall into Standard Limits can be found during the quoting process, or in your Policy Wordings document (if you’re already a home customer).
Check out our blog for more information on how all of your belongings are covered.
What if I’m renting with other people – can I add my roommate?
Your spouse or common-law partner and your kids are already covered by your policy. Anyone else who is living with you and is also on your lease can be added to your tenant policy to share coverage. To do this, just add them as a tenant when you buy your tenant insurance online.
If you’ve already purchased and want to add them to your existing Sonnet policy, log in to your account and click on your tenant policy. Select the Tenants tab and click Add a tenant.
Here are the details you’ll need to have ready for your roommate:
- Their full name
- Their date of birth
- Their email address
- Their phone number
Once all of this has been entered, click Add. Your policy documents will update to include their name.