Going Away This Fall or Winter? Call Your Insurance Company Before You Pack

Every fall, thousands of GTA homeowners lock the front door, head to the airport, and assume their home insurance is quietly doing its job while they are gone. From Clarkson and Lorne Park to East Oakville, The Junction, and Trinity Bellwoods, the same scene plays out: the suitcases go in the trunk, the thermostat gets a quick glance, and nobody thinks about the policy sitting in a drawer. Here is what most of them do not know: the moment you leave your home unattended for more than a few days during the colder months, many policies change the rules on you. And the coverage most likely to be affected is the one you are most likely to need, water damage.

The Fine Print

The Clause Almost Nobody Reads

Most Ontario home policies contain a condition about homes left unattended during the heating season. The details vary by insurer, but the pattern is the same: if you are away for more than a set number of consecutive days, often somewhere between four and seven, your water damage coverage can be voided unless you took specific steps before leaving. Usually that means either shutting off the main water supply and draining the pipes, or arranging for a responsible person to check the home regularly, sometimes daily, and in some policies to be able to prove it.

A burst pipe in an empty house in January is one of the most expensive claims in Canadian insurance. It is also one of the most commonly denied, precisely because of this clause. And the housing stock in our neighbourhoods raises the stakes: a century home in The Junction or Trinity Bellwoods with original plumbing, a 1960s bungalow on a mature Clarkson street, or a larger East Oakville or Lorne Park property where a slow leak can run for days without being seen. The difference between a covered claim and a denied one can come down to whether your neighbour walked through the house on Tuesday.

The Checklist

What to Do Before Any Trip Longer Than a Few Days

Call your insurance company or broker and ask two questions: how many days can the house be unattended under my policy, and what exactly counts as "checking" it. Get the answer in writing if you can. Then:

◈  Line up your person: a family member, a trusted neighbour, or a house-sitting service, and have them keep a simple log of the dates they came by
◈  If nobody can check in, shut off the water at the main valve and drain the taps before you leave
◈  Set the thermostat no lower than about 15 degrees so the pipes stay warm
◈  Stop the mail or have someone collect it
◈  Put a light or two on timers, an obviously empty house is a target for more than frozen pipes

Extended Absences

Going Away for the Season?

If you are a snowbird heading south for the winter, or leaving for more than 30 days, tell your insurer before you go. An extended absence can move your home into a different category, and some insurers require a vacancy permit or an additional endorsement to keep coverage intact. It is a quick call, and it is far better than discovering the gap in March. Condo owners are not off the hook either: your unit policy can carry the same unattended-home conditions, and a leak that travels to the suite below is exactly when you want your liability coverage standing.

The Bottom Line

One Call and One Favour

None of this is a reason to skip the trip. It is one phone call and one favour from a neighbour. But the homeowners who make that call before the airport are the ones whose claims get paid, and with premiums rising across Ontario, protecting your claims history matters more than ever.

Planning a winter away and wondering what it means for your home, or thinking about a move when you are back? We are always happy to talk it through.

Book a call with us or get in touch to receive new listings and market updates.

D'Amico Real Estate Team, RE/MAX Realty Enterprises Inc., Brokerage

This post is for general information purposes only and does not constitute insurance, legal, or financial advice. Policy conditions vary by insurer and change over time. Confirm the terms of your own policy with your insurance company or a licensed broker before travelling.