Tenant insurance (also referred to as renter’s insurance) helps renters cover the cost of replacing or repairing their personal belongings in the event of an incident (i.e. fire or break-in) on the property.

No, tenant insurance is not required by law in St. John's. However, many property managers won’t lease their units without tenant insurance coverage in place. 

Yes! Always consider it. If you can afford it, renters insurance is usually worth it. It will protect your belongings, provide liability coverage, and may cover your personal items when you travel. Renter's insurance protects you from a long list of perils, as well.

Yes, tenant insurance and renter’s insurance are the same. They are policies purchased by a renter to protect themselves financially.

Tenant insurance typically costs between $20 and $50 per month. The exact amount can vary, however, depending on various factors, including your location and insurance record. Some are as low as $10 a month, but typically people need more coverage than that.

Many different factors will impact the cost of your tenant insurance coverage. Here are the main ones to consider when getting a quote:

1. Property Type
2. Location
3. Personal Belongings
4. Credit Score
5. Pets
6. Living Situation
7. Insurance History
8. Applicable Discounts

Even if your landlord doesn't make tenant insurance a requirement of the lease, it's still a great idea to purchase it. Here are a few reasons.

Peace of Mind

Tenant insurance offers incredible peace of mind. If you've ever experienced loss or damage of your personal belongings, you likely know how welcome this peace of mind can be.

Without tenant insurance, you'd be entirely on your own as far as repairing or replacing damaged items, which can make an already stressful situation even worse.

You'll find this peace of mind especially helpful if an incident ever leaves your dwelling uninhabitable. As you look for an alternative housing arrangement, renter's insurance will cover the cost of temporary accommodations. Given that hotels and most other short-term arrangements aren't cheap, this can be a massive help.

Affordability

Tenant insurance provides incredible peace of mind for relatively little money. Rates dip as low as $15 per month, which is less than you'd spend on parking for a couple of hours in some parts of Vancouver!

In other words, it's a very small price to pay in exchange for knowing your personal property is protected.

Receive Coverage Out of Your Home, Too

Renter's insurance also typically includes coverage for certain items even when you're outside of your home. Depending on the policy, this may include electronics, bicycles, and other items. Renter's insurance is often much cheaper than dedicated insurance for those particular items.

Keep in mind this coverage typically won't extend to more expensive items like jewelry, which you'd want to insure separately.

Benefit from Legal Liability Insurance Coverage

Even if you don't own anything you're financially incapable of replacing, tenant's insurance offers something very valuable: liability coverage.

If a guest injures themselves at your property and attempts to hold you liable, for example, tenant insurance may shield you from the financial burden.

This is especially important if you frequently have guests over or if you have pets capable of harming someone visiting your home.

You’ll need to provide basic information about yourself and the property you’re renting, including:

• The address
• Your belongings’ cumulative value
• Who else will be occupying the rental property

At Surex, we make the tenant insurance application process remarkably easy. Fill out your information once then we'll use it to compare quotes from dozens of companies.