What do coverages for Voluntary Medical and Property Damage include?
Voluntary Medical Payments coverage pays reasonable medical expenses in the year after an accident when you unintentionally injure another person or if they are accidentally injured on your property - even though you are not legally liable.
Voluntary Property Damage Payments coverage covers unintentional direct loss or damage you cause to somebody's property - even though you are not legally liable. It can also cover loss or damage to someone else's property caused intentionally by a minor child (12 years of age or under) in your care.
You don't have to be legally liable to use either of these coverage options, and there is no deductible.
Do I need to insure my valuables separately?
Your home policy will cover the personal items in your home (subject to limits) which can include your furniture and appliances, clothing, electronics, cameras, etc.
Although specialty items (such as jewelry, furs, artwork, coin collections, bicycles, etc.) are included in your personal property, they are often subject to specific limits.
When higher limits are required for specialty items, you can purchase optional riders to enhance coverage.
Please connect with us to ensure that you have adequate coverage to protect you and your valuables.
Do I need insurance if I live in a condominium?
Condominium owners need insurance. Condo insurance is recommended to provide protection for both personal property and liability.
The Condominium Corporation has its own insurance that covers incidents outside of your personal unit that typically covers the building and common areas. Only you can insure your unit improvements, personal property and liability.
Condo insurance includes:
Loss or damage of your contents and personal property
Additional living expenses if you have to move out of your unit because of an insured loss
Personal liability coverage
Unit Improvements and Betterments
Loss Assessment (covers your share of any assessment by the condo corporation because of an insured loss or damage to the common areas of the condo building, e.g. the lobby, elevator)
Unit Additional Protection* (covers your unit itself in case the condo corporation does not have adequate insurance that will fully cover a loss to your unit)
Please connect with us to ensure that you have adequate coverage to protect you and your family.
*Not available in Quebec.
What is a peril?
This is the cause of loss or damage to your home or contents. Examples are windstorms, fire and theft.
Will I have to pay any of the costs when I make a claim?
You will have to pay the deductible amount shown in your policy. If there are losses not covered by your policy, you would pay for those too.
Do I have to inform belairdirect about major changes to my home?
You must keep us up to date on changes and renovations. Some important changes would be:
• Adding a rental suite in your home or converting to a multi-living space • Operating a business from your home • Making alterations to the structure or the way your home is used (for example, home sharing through a service such as Airbnb)
For renovations, in most provinces*, you must notify us within 90 days of the start of the work, if any improvement, extension or addition has been made to your dwelling that will increase the replacement cost of the dwelling by $10,000 or more.
Even before you begin renovations, ensure you contact us to ensure you have proper coverage during the renovations and once the renovations are complete. Depending on the extent of the renovations, the type of policy and/or coverage may need to be amended.
Please connect with us to ensure that you have adequate coverage to protect you and your family.
*In Quebec, you must notify us within 30 days of the start of the renovation if it increases the replacement cost by $15,000 or more.
What is vacancy and how does it affect my policy?
Vacant dwellings face increased risk for loss or damage.
Vacancy means all occupants have moved out (and are not returning) or occupants have not yet moved in. A home could still have furnishings, and be considered vacant.
Most insurers will only insure a vacant property for a certain number days. The first 30 days of vacancy has limited coverage. In order to arrange coverage after 30 days, you must connect with us, otherwise, coverage may cease.
Unoccupied has a different meaning; your home is unoccupied with the intent to return, such as while you are on vacation.
Please connect with us to ensure that you have adequate coverage to protect you and your family.
Do I have to pay for anything if the other person’s insurance company admitted it was the other person’s fault?
It depends on the situation. Your Claims Adjuster can help answer this question.
Home Insurance