The COVID-19 pandemic is certainly not what you would call an ordinary natural disaster like an earthquake or a flood, for example. But regardless of the factors, certain emergency situations in your city or district have implications for your home insurance as they can change what you do in your home or also if you can live there.
Both Ontario and Alberta have declared an emergency situation due to the coronavirus pandemic and the risks to the health and well-being of the communities they place in.
If you live between the provinces, now is a good time to review your plan’s language with regards to natural disasters or talk to your insurance provider or broker for information. While you may be covered for serious events such as wildfires or unforeseen hail, most standard home insurance coverage eliminates earthquake, flood, and dump reserves. You will need to purchase additional protection for these hazards.
Depending on why the specifics of the emergency situation are stated, you may be forced to leave your home neglected or end up spending more time inside your home. In either case, it can affect your insurance coverage.
If You Have to Evacuate Your Home
Many natural disasters that cause certain emergencies can result in the destruction of people’s homes — the Alberta wildfires that hit Ft McMurray in 2016, and the tornado that landed in the Ottawa location in 2016, for example.
But also if your home is not under physical risk, needing to leave it vacant during certain emergency situations affects your liability under your insurance coverage and whether your coverage will continue. In Canada, there is a “30 day guide”. It put a house left vacant and neglected for more than thirty days. However, the COVID-19 lockdown imposed by the government and the provincial federal government does not require you to leave your home, but requires you to stay at home to stay safe.
If you are ordered to leave your home for an extended period of time due to certain emergency situations, you should notify your insurance provider. While home insurance won’t cover you for a pandemic, if you can no longer live in your home, you may need to monitor your home regularly to keep it properly insured. Which highlights the need to manufacture the house stock first to ensure the components are protected.
It is important to remember that certain emergency situations can affect and also resist new plans in your home if it faces prospective or impending physical risks.
When You Have To Stay At Home
If certain emergency situations require you to stay home, your insurance coverage may need to be adjusted to reflect what you do while you are there for a longer period of time.
You may end up operating an industrial business of domestic property for some time, and regular home insurance may not represent every liability. For example, you may have workers and customers going in and out and may also have moved some equipment or stock directly into your home. Also if the business is only part time, you should consider supplementing your current plan with home based business insurance so that you are fully covered. This provides protection for on-site and off-site business stock, workplace equipment, as well as additional responsibilities for workers, customers, and delivery workers. There is also business interruption insurance in case something happens to your home.
Many insurers recognize the COVID-19 pandemic has had a unique effect on how individuals use their homes and provides the versatility to accommodate policyholders with little or no monetary cost. However, for some, it means they just stay at home with no income and wonder how they are going to pay their expenses.
Maintaining Resettlement with Home Insurance
For some people, certain emergencies mean they can no longer work. Whether they have to leave the house or be stuck there, they want assurance that their home still has adequate insurance coverage.
Many insurance providers and brokers are available for more flexible terms and resettlement during these extraordinary times, which include deferred payments, elimination of missed payment fees and various other options for monetary deductions. Regardless of what your circumstances are, you should always review your current home insurance coverage and discuss it with your provider if you do have a problem.
The coronavirus pandemic is a clue for every homeowner to review their home insurance needs and make sure they have the coverage they need.