Tenant insurance covers three things: your belongings, your personal liability — including damage you cause to the building, like a kitchen fire or an overflowed tub — and additional living expenses if the unit becomes uninhabitable. Typical Ontario cost: $250–$450 a year.
Landlords increasingly require proof of tenant insurance before keys change hands. The requirement is not bureaucratic — it protects both sides of the lease, and the liability piece protects the tenant far more than most realize.
| Coverage | What it pays for | Typical limit |
|---|---|---|
| Contents | Your belongings — fire, theft, water (per wording) | $20K–$50K |
| Personal liability | Injury to others and damage to the building you are responsible for | $1M–$2M |
| Additional living expenses | Hotel and food above normal costs while the unit is uninhabitable | % of contents limit |
A cooking fire that damages three units above yours is a liability claim against you. The landlord’s insurer will pursue the responsible tenant — this is what “tenants’ legal liability” exists for, and it is the part of the policy most tenants never think about until the worst week of their lease.
This article is general information, not insurance advice. Insurance Genie is not an insurer, brokerage or agency. Coverage is defined by the policy wording issued by the insurer and confirmed by the licensed organization that places it.
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