Compare cheap vacant home insurance quotes for free.

Save more than 30% on home insurance with LowestRates.ca.

Get 50+ quotes in 3 minutes.

Compare home insurance rates from Canada's leading home insurance providers

48,005 Canadians

have compared rates and saved money over the last 24 hours

Vacant home insurance in Canada 

Most of the time, when you buy a home, you plan to live in it. However, there are certain situations where a property may remain unoccupied. Leaving a house vacant comes with certain risks. Insurance for a vacant home can help you reduce those risks and deliver peace of mind.

What defines a vacant home?

Whether it's an investment property or your personal dwelling, a vacant home is one that is unoccupied for 30 or more days. It may be that you or a tenant intend to return to the property but aren't there for the time being, or you take an extended vacation, or need to leave your home for a few months.

Regardless, home insurance companies may cancel your policy if they discover it's been left vacant without the proper insurance. The property does not need to be empty to be considered vacant, either, meaning your insurance company could cancel your coverage even if there are personal items, furniture, appliances, or belongings inside.

What is covered under a vacant home insurance policy?

If you're away from your home for 30 days or less, your home insurance coverage likely won't be interrupted. If you're gone for longer, and your home sustains  damage on the 35th day of your abscence, for example, your coverage may no longer apply. This is sometimes referred to as the 30-day occupancy rule.

Because vacant homes are exposed to more risk than occupied ones, many insurers require homeowners to purchase a permit if you intend to leave it beyond 30 days. Typically, permits will cover your home for up to 120 days.

Vacancy permits will ensure that your home insurance policy coverage remains intact — it doesn't provide extra coverage. However, even with a permit, an insurance provider may not cover perils like flood damage, window damage, and vandalism. Your insurance company will also likely require you to make arrangements to maintain your property in your absence, for example, designating someone to check in on your home a few times a week. Each provider is different, so it's best to talk to yours about requirements and coverage exclusions. 

A vacancy permit can increase your premium by $30 to $150 a month.

How to protect your vacant home

It’s important to keep your house in as good a shape as possible, especially when you are not there to help protect it. In order to reduce risks and costly damage you can do the following:

What our users say:

April 28
Quick help from Representative
Quick help from Representative
Shane Closs
April 26
Good tool to use.
Good tool to use.
Ajiri
April 26
Very good advice
Very good advice
Rolf Wachholtz
April 25
Straight forward
Straight forward and to the point.
Ed Campbell
April 25
The Broker was very respectful to me…
The Broker was very respectful to me throughout his service to me. He patiently ...
FallahBraima
April 24
the whole process was so simple
the whole process was so simple, my call was answered quickly all of my question...
cs
April 23
LowestRates.ca
Prompt, friendly and efficient service.
Roger ramsay
April 22
Good communication
Good communication
Suseini Umar
April 21
percise questions asked, timely responce from rep, very polite to my quetions and her responce.
good clear questions
garry morrison
April 17
Quick and easy
Quick and easy
Woody Green
April 15
Really good customer service
Really good customer service, flexibility and transparency of the process, frien...
Teodor Iurea
April 11
SARA WAS VERY HELPFUL AND VERY EFFICIENT
SARA WAS VERY HELPFUL AND VERY EFFICIENT
John Randle
April 11
its always people
its always people, and Erin Upsdell was knowledgeable, helpful and professional....
Antonio
April 11
Good Service.
Clear request of info.... fast results.... follow-up recommendation appreciated.
Myrna Hanna
April 10
Very fast easy-to-use.
Very fast easy-to-use.
ROBERT EDWARD BROWN

How comparing home insurance quotes works. Hint: it’s free!

Compare

Next, we’ll show you quotes from 50+ Canadian providers. It’s free, with no commitment.

Save

When you find the best quote, secure your rate by talking to a licensed broker or agent.

Frequently asked questions about vacant home insurance in Canada

Where can I get vacant home insurance?

Not all insurance companies offer vacant home insurance, since it's a high-risk proposition. Talk to your insurance provider or broker to see what coverage is available to you.

Do I need vacant home insurance during renovations?

It’s best to tell your insurance provider if you're doing extensive renovations and plan to be away during that time. Being away more than 30 days could violate your policy and you might lose your coverage. A vacancy permit that provides extra protection might be a good solution, but you’ll need to discuss this with your provider to see if they offer it.

Does my cottage need vacant home insurance coverage?

Cottages or vacation homes generally do not require special vacant home insurance. There is, however, vacation property insurance which will meet the insurance needs for that dwelling. In many cases you might have the option to incorporate your vacation property with your primary home insurance policy. Alternatively, you can decide to purchase a distinct policy specifically for your vacation property. Talk to your provider about protections, options and cost.

Joel Kranc

Joel Kranc

About the Author

Joel Kranc is an award-winning writer, author and journalist.

Read More

Home insurance news

Read More Like This

*Shoppers in Ontario who obtained a home insurance quote on LowestRates.ca from January to December 2023 saved an average of 30% The average savings percentage represents the difference between the shoppers’ average lowest quoted premium and the average of the second and third lowest quoted premiums generated by LowestRates.ca. Excludes condo and tenant insurance.