Home insurance in Québec: Get a quote and buy online

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Own a home in Québec? Make sure you’re covered

Home is where the heart is. Whether it’s your very first family home in Montréal, an empty nester’s bungalow in Laval, or your chalet up north, make sure you have the protection you need in case the worst happens. Home insurance provides coverage for your property, your belongings and so much more, and gets you back to where you need to be. Get a customized home insurance quote, in language you can understand, at a competitive price. And, do it all online in just a few minutes without even having to call us to purchase. We’ve changed homeowners insurance for the better, so you can worry less and live more.

Why do I need home insurance in Québec?

Your house is one of the biggest purchases you’ll make. You never know when the unexpected can happen, like a fire, windstorm or flooding. In Québec, the average cost of a claim for water damage is $13,995. Home insurance protects your investment, so you can get back to making memories in the place you love.

What does home insurance cover?

Here are some of the main coverages you can find under a standard home insurance policy in Québec. Don’t forget, property policies can differ, and your needs will be different from your neighbour’s. Carefully review your online quote to make sure you’ve got the best home insurance that’s tailored to you and your property, and to understand what’s not included.

Standard home insurance coverages

Liability Insurance

Protect yourself 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 – whether it’s in Québec or not.

Dwelling and Detached Structures

If something happens to your home, we’ll pay to repair or rebuild it. Also, because your home isn’t just four walls, we also cover things like your detached garage and shed.

Personal Belongings

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 includes things like your clothing, jewellery, electronics, furniture, etc. These are 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 home – you’re covered while your house is being repaired. Choose to stay in a hotel or with friends and family, we’ll provide you with the cash for living expenses either way. Renting out part of your home at the time of loss? You’ll also be covered for your net rental income until your tenants can move back in.

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 home insurance coverages

Sewer Backup

This coverage can help in some smelly situations. If water backs up or escapes into your home through a sewer, sump, septic tank, or flood drain, this will cover you for the damage caused. Coverage offered depends on eligibility (typically based on where your home is located in Québec).

Overland Water

You’re covered for damage to your home cause 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 (typically based on where your home is located in Québec).

"Seriously, the prices are so competitive that I called twice to make sure there wasn't a mistake with my online quote!" "Finally, an insurance company that fits in with my life: 100% self-serve (with a REALLY NICE, user-friendly website), easy to understand, personalized and fast. Hooray for Sonnet!" "I just got my insurance with Sonnet and I'm definitely saving on my annual premium. On top of that, they have excellent customer service. Get a quote and see for yourself!"

Canadian University Alumni

More than just a degree – save on home insurance in Québec with Sonnet’s Canadian University Alumni discount.

More ways to save in Québec

Save more with an exclusive group discount. It’s easy - start an online quote and search for the name of your organization or association. A few organizations that trust Sonnet:

The Canadian Society of Association Executives

Learn more

goeasy

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NHLPA

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Questions about home insurance? We’ve got your back

Insuring your home should be simple. We’ve made getting a home insurance quote for your Québec property quick and easy, and we’re here to help from start to finish. Read through our current blogs or most commonly asked questions on home insurance to get started.

Does my Sonnet policy cover me for short-term rentals or home sharing through networks like Airbnb?

No. Sonnet doesn’t cover short-term rentals through any home sharing service, including Airbnb and Vrbo. This applies to all our property policies ¬(homeowners, condo, and landlord). Under the terms of our renters insurance, tenants also aren’t allowed to offer short-term rentals of their apartment or house – or a room in their unit – through one of these networks.

If you’re offering short-term rentals via one of these services and something happens where you need to file a claim, your claim could be denied.

Want to know more about how Sonnet covers long-term rentals? Check out our FAQ about renting out your home, condo, or rental property. Or, contact us! We’re here to help.

What is Above and Beyond home coverage?

If you upgrade your Custom Limits for your special belongings, you’ll receive our Above and Beyond home coverage, which adds three extra perks to your policy:

First Claim Forgiveness. This means your rate won’t increase after your first claim. We’ll pretend it didn’t even happen.

Replacement Cost Guarantee. You’ll have the flexibility to settle claims at replacement cost, even if you decide not to repair or replace the damaged items.

Enhanced Deductible Waiver. We’ll waive your deductible for claims of $10,000 or more. Sorry, this doesn’t include claims caused by earthquakes.

Heads up! These perks cannot be added to a tenant or landlord policy.

Can I get insurance coverage with Sonnet for my vacation home?

Yes, you can cover your vacation property with a separate home insurance policy. Your vacation home must be located in Canada.

If you’re not at your second home during the winter, there are a few things you’ll need to do to protect your home. Drain the plumbing system and close the water inlet to keep the pipes from freezing and bursting. If your vacation home has central heating, set the thermostat low enough to conserve energy but high enough to keep pipes from bursting. Burst pipes due to freezing isn’t covered under your vacation home coverage if you’ve been away from the property for more than 14 days and haven’t had anyone checking on it.

Do I need property insurance in Canada?

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.

How are home insurance premiums calculated?

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. 
What are some extra home coverages I should know about?

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.

I rent my home out from time to time. What kind of coverage should I get?

Well, it depends. If there are no more than two renters, you’re allowed to rent part of your house out under your Homeowners Policy. You’re also covered if you have one additional unit within your home that’s rented to one family only.

If you’re renting out a property separate from your home our Landlord Policy will make sure you’re covered if there’s any damage to items that belong to you and the property. Things like major appliances, fixtures or tools (a lawn mower or snow shovel are a couple of examples). If you live in your home, but you have more tenants than our Homeowners Policy allows for, you can purchase our Landlord Policy in addition, to cover you and your home adequately.

Don’t wait to start saving

Already have home insurance? Find out how much it could cost to cancel your current policy.

Average monthly premiums for home insurance in Québec are based on current Sonnet policies as of February 2021, with assumptions made to determine demographic groups.

The average cost of a water damage claim in Québec is based on 2019 claims data from Sonnet and Economical Insurance.