Home Insurance Exclusions

Find Out What Might be Missing on Your Policy

When you need to make a claim on your homeowner’s insurance policy, that’s a rotten time to find out the situation is not covered. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the exclusions included in your policy that your insurance company will not provide coverage for, so you can avoid nasty surprises.

Common Home Insurance Exclusions

Most basic home insurance policies sold in Ontario contain similar exclusions, which are generally predictable or preventable events. The details may differ slightly between insurers; however, several categories of exclusions are common to all insurance companies.

Home insurance exclusions typically include:

• Flooding Water damage caused by a flood or flood water.
• Freezing outside the home: Damage caused to the exterior of your home by freezing, heaving caused by frost, or a snow slide.
• Frozen indoor plumbing: Damage from frozen indoor plumbing, unless you take specific precautions as outlined in your policy.
• Ground movements: Damage caused by earthquakes, landslides, and other earth movements. Damage from a fire or explosion caused by earth movement, however, would normally be covered.
• Illegally acquired property Losses or damage to illegally acquired property.
• Intentional application of heat
• Intentional loss: Intentional or criminal acts committed by you (fraud).
• Losses caused by criminal acts by the policyholder
• Losses due to war, terrorism, nuclear risks
• Pollution Damage from contaminants or pollutants, unless the loss or damage results from the sudden and accidental bursting or overflowing of your home’s oil tank or pipes;
• Vermin: Damage caused by insects and rodents such as termites, squirrels, mice, or any other animals.
• Wear-and-tear: Damage caused by wear and tear, rust, corrosion or gradual deterioration.

Optional Coverage is Available

If there is a particular situation or peril that concerns you, ask your insurance expert about coverage options for it, known as endorsements. To protect your home against generally excluded perils, such as earthquakes and floods, you may be able to purchase optional coverage. There’s no harm in asking for a quote to add an endorsement to your homeowners policy and then decide if it is worth it or not.

Homeowner’s Insurance Advice

To be sure what coverage and exclusions are in your homeowner’s insurance, feel free to ask the insurance experts at Mitchell & Whale about your policy. Give us a call at 1-800-731-2228 or email us at info@mitchellwhale.com; we’d be happy to talk with you.