Your winter ‘get-away’ checklist should include a review of condo insurance policy
You are ready to head off for your long-awaited vacation or are one of many Canadian “snowbirds” planning to spend a few months in the sunny south. You’ve reviewed your last-minute checklist and have your passport, updated your travel health insurance coverage and packed your suitcase. But wait, did you check your condo’s and strata’s insurance policy as well as the bylaws to determine your obligations when you are away from home?
Yes, it may come as a surprise, if you’re a snowbird planning to be away in the winter months or are a snow-weary family looking for a mid-season break, that many unit owner policies contain an exclusion for damage caused by freezing during “the usual heating season,” which is typically between October and May.
Your first step should be to read your insurance policy and see if there are any exclusions. An exclusion could read: The insurer does not insure loss or damage caused by freezing during the usual heating season within a heated portion of your dwelling if you have been away from your premises for an extended period. It is also prudent to review the bylaws of your strata to determine if you could be held responsible for the condo’s deductible if you haven’t taken adequate steps to prevent pipes from freezing.
Most insurers require that someone check in with the property every two to three days (policies may set specific hours). While the details may vary from insurance company to company, there are often provisions under the unit owner’s policy relating to damage caused by freezing that owners should recognize. It is important for the policyholder to know what their responsibilities are if they are going to be away during the cold weather months.
Consult, read and review your insurance policy
To determine this time requirement owners should refer to their insurance contract or contact their insurance representative. Depending on the insurance company, you may be required to shut off the water supply, drain all the pipes and domestic water containers and have an alarm system for the plumbing and heating system that is monitored 24/7 to avoid frozen and burst water pipes. If you require a designated visitor, they will need to make sure that the heating is working, there are no leaks or water entry if there’s a basement, windows are locked and secure, alarms are set, and there is no damage from fallen trees or branches and ice-dams on the roof.
Again, owners should refer to their insurance contract or contact their insurance representative to see what provisions will grant continued insurance coverage. If there is water damage caused by freezing, the condominium corporation’s policy could address and respond to any damage to the unit, including unit owner improvements and betterments (depending on how the by-laws are stated), subject to the deductible.
However, in cases where the owner did not comply with the subjectivities for this and is away for an extended period, the owner may not have coverage from their policy including damage to their personal belongings, additional living expenses and deductible assessment. It is possible that repairs to the condo could fall back onto the unit owner’s personal policy. Also, improvements within a unit are typically not covered under the condo policy and would need to go under the unit owner policy.
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In addition to protecting your investment, BFL CANADA offers guidance focused on claims prevention, coverage education and by-law review to property managers, landlords and condominium boards.
