As spring nears and much of the country waits for mild weather, a significant roofing problem can be worsened by the late winter temperature swings. Ice dams occur because the eaves are generally colder than the rest of the roof. When water melts off the main part of the roof and reaches the eaves, it [...]
Most homeowners know that dealing with water damage can be a costly headache. In its most recent Insurance Matters newsletter, SGI CANADA says that in recent years, insurance companies across Canada have reported an increase in damage to homes caused by water leaks. In some cases, it costs more than $100,000 to repair the home [...]
People with the house number 243 have made more claims on their home insurance than those with any other door number, with 45 per cent having made a claim since January 2007, reveals research from UK-based Confused.com. The price comparison site found that seven of the door numbers in the top 10 ‘unluckiest’ are in [...]
A new report by Legal & General has revealed that almost a third of Brits believe that it’s acceptable to commit home insurance fraud. The research carried out for the FraudStoppers Report identified that nearly a third of Brits (29%) think that it’s acceptable to exaggerate a house insurance claim, for example by adding extra [...]
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) reports that every day, home insurers in the UK detect 335 fraudulent insurance claims, worth £2.3 million (CAD $3.5 million). Among the fraudulent claims, dishonest claims are the most common. The ABI says that 170 cheating householders are caught out each day. Typically these involve alleged accidental damage to [...]
The holidays are a time for giving and sharing, but for many thieves, it’s all about taking. BCAA claims data shows items stolen during the holidays are typically high in value, light and portable making them ideal for thieves seeking an easy cash sale. The ten most stolen items reported to BCAA’s claim department include: [...]
Temperatures have dropped and much of the country is in full-on winter mode. As temperatures continue their descent, State Farm suggests that homeowners take a few minutes to assess pipe vulnerability. It could save you the headache and aggravation caused by water damage. State Farm reports the number of frozen pipe claims it received in [...]
A recent poll commissioned by the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) found that three out of four Ontario residents were not aware that their credit scores were being used to set their home insurance premiums. IBAO is asking the Ontario Government to ban this controversial practice. In 2005 that the Ontario government banned the [...]
View the video here on your mobile device. It’s the time of year when many of us try to take this and convert it to this. Well, maybe something more like this. But definitely not this, or worse, this. The Ontario Electrical Safety Authority wants homeowners to be aware of potential hazards when installing their [...]
Ontario MPP Lisa MacLeod (Nepean-Carleton) has introduced Bill 139, Clandestine Drug Operation Prevention Act, 2010, which would target marijuana grow ops and establish a provincial registry to ensure the protection of Ontario homebuyers in a bill she tabled today. MacLeod says currently Ontario lacks tools to protect homebuyers or realtors from properties that were grow [...]
Many winter-related disasters can be prevented if you take a few simple steps to protect your home from freezing temperatures, snow and wind. “Standard homeowners policies cover winter-related disasters such as burst pipes, ice dams, and wind damage caused by weight of ice or snow, as well as fire-related losses,” said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior [...]
A new study released by the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) and supported by Swiss Re outlines steps and solutions to resolve the problem of Canadian homeowners being unable to purchase insurance for overland flood damages. Currently Canadian homeowners cannot purchase overland flood insurance and instead are left to rely on government-provided financial assistance [...]
With more leaves on the ground than on trees these days, it is time for most Canadian cottage owners to close up for the season. Protecting your summer getaway is key and Allstate Canada says steps can be taken now to ensure that next spring and summer’s cottage activities remain pleasant. Allstate Canada data shows [...]
BC Hydro says that electricity theft, mainly from indoor marijuana grow operations, is costing the utility $100 million each year. Four years ago BC Hydro commissioned three studies that found 500 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity were being stolen from the grid by grow ops. New estimates show that this year, roughly 850 GWh are [...]
Fire kills an average of eight people a week in Canada, with residential fires accounting for 73 per cent of fatalities, according to Fire Prevention Canada. The Co-operators, insurer of 847,000 Canadian homes, is reminding Canadians to make proper use of smoke alarms in their homes, and to prepare and practice a family escape plan. [...]
American renters are 50 percent more likely to experience theft than those who own homes, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Despite these risks, most apartment dwellers in the U.S. are still living without renters insurance. According to a recent Apartments.com survey of nearly 1,400 apartment hunters around the country, 67 percent said they [...]
View the video here on your mobile device. A hazy, ethereal sunrise reminds BC residents of the wildfires currently burning around the province. As a homeowner, what should you do if you are put on evacuation notice? Brooke Moss, Home Insurance Product Manager at BCAA shares some important steps homeowners can follow when threatened by [...]
In March, a massive fire destroyed a Calgary condominium complex, leaving at least 250 occupants homeless. The combustive culprit was a cigarette in a planter outside the complex. Recently there has been a spike in fires sparked by smoking materials in potting soil. The Co-operators is urging Canadians to be aware of the danger associated [...]
Aviva Canada warns break-ins most prevalent on Fridays Summer in Canada: often not long enough, but for would-be thieves, it’s the best season of all. Aviva Canada says that Canadian homeowners should be on alert this summer and take steps to safeguard their homes from summer burglaries. Aviva insurance claims data shows that burglary frequencies [...]
