What is home insurance?
Home insurance protects BC homeowners from financial strain caused by unexpected events like earthquakes, fires, theft, or weather damage. It’s there to help you repair or rebuild after a loss, and to give you peace of mind knowing your biggest investment is protected.
At Westland, we’ve been helping BC homeowners find the right coverage for more than 40 years. From condos in Vancouver to lake homes in the Okanagan and family houses in Prince George, our local advisors understand what makes living here unique, and how to keep your home protected through it all.
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What does home insurance cover in BC?
Living in BC means facing everything from coastal storms to wildfires. Home insurance gives you the protection you need to weather life’s surprises, covering your home, your belongings, and your liability, all in one dependable plan.
Helps pay to repair or rebuild your home, including walls, roof, and built-in features, if it’s damaged by fire, wind, vandalism, or water escaping from plumbing or appliances.
Covers the contents inside your home, like furniture, clothing, appliances, electronics, and more, if they’re damaged or stolen.
If a guest is hurt at your home or you accidentally cause damage to another person’s property, liability coverage helps cover legal expenses and potential settlements.
Covers damage from water entering your home due to heavy rain, rising fresh water, waste water or sewage backup, or sudden snow or ice melt.
This provides coverage for additional structures on your property like garages, sheds, or fences that aren’t attached to your main home.
If an insured event forces you to move out temporarily, this coverage helps pay for hotel stays, meals, or temporary housing. It also includes storing your belongings in a secure facility while your home is being repaired.
Helps pay to repair or rebuild your home and replace belongings damaged by an earthquake. Especially valuable for properties in BC’s coastal and southern regions.
Pays to repair or replace underground utility lines, like water, power, or gas, that connect your home to the street if they’re accidentally damaged or fail.
Offers increased protection for your home and other assets if you’re held legally responsible for injuries to others, or damage to their property. This coverage extends to other assets such as boats, vehicles and other properties.
Helps cover the extra cost of meeting updated building codes or improvements required as a result of updated by-laws.
Offers a reduced deductible if your home has a broken window or other glass feature. Also eliminates the need to put a glass claim through your main home policy.
Provides higher limits for valuable items like jewelry, art, or collectibles by insuring them individually for their full value.
Covers loss of rental income if your tenant moves out due to a covered loss.
Cyber insurance offers support and reimbursement if you experience cyber fraud, identity theft, or other digital threats.
Why Westland is one of BC’s top-rated insurance brokers
Owning a home in BC means facing a variety of risks, from rising property values and urban theft to wildfires and flooding. Here’s why BC homeowners trust Westland for protection they can count on.
Local expertise, national strength
Our BC advisors understand local risks, whether you’re in the city, on the coast, or in the mountains, backed by a national network.
Tailored coverage and competitive value
We partner with leading insurers to match you with coverage that fits your home and your budget.
Easy and accessible service
Get a quote online, at your local branch, or by phone. We make it simple to get the coverage you need, in the way that works best for you.
Guidance for every kind of home
From condos and townhomes to heritage houses and vacation properties, we’ll help you get the right protection for your space.
Helping you stay ahead of risk
We don’t just insure your home, we help you understand and prevent risks before they happen, with advice rooted in decades of BC experience.
Here when life doesn’t go as planned
When the unexpected happens, our in-house claims team is ready to guide you through every step so you can focus on getting back home.
Committed to community
Founded in BC, we continue to give back through our Amplifying Communities initiative, supporting local projects across the province.
More than just home insurance
Bundle your home, auto, and other policies for convenience and savings, all with one trusted advisor.
Protecting BC homes since 1980
Since our first branch in Ladner, we’ve been helping BC homeowners safeguard what matters most for over four decades.
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Frequently asked home insurance questions
Home insurance isn’t legally required in British Columbia, but it’s often a condition of your mortgage. Lenders typically require proof of home insurance to protect their investment, and yours, against major risks like fire, theft, or water damage. Even if you’ve paid off your mortgage, keeping coverage in place is essential. Without it, you’d have to pay out of pocket for repairs, rebuilding, or liability claims. Considering BC’s exposure to wildfires, floods, and rising rebuild costs, maintaining a comprehensive home insurance policy is one of the most important financial decisions you can make.
Standard home insurance policies in BC don’t include flood or earthquake coverage by default.
- Earthquake coverage: Since BC lies on the Cascadia Subduction Zone, adding earthquake insurance is highly recommended. It helps pay for repairs or rebuilding if your home is damaged by seismic activity.
- Flood and water coverage: Overland water and sewer backup coverage protects against damage caused by river overflow, heavy rain, or backed-up drains, which are increasingly common in areas like Abbotsford, Kelowna, and the Fraser Valley.
Your Westland advisor can help assess your home’s location risk and tailor your policy accordingly.
The cost of home insurance in BC varies based on factors like:
- Your home’s location and proximity to wildfire or flood zones
- The age, size, and rebuild value of your home
- Your claims history and deductible choice
- The coverage options and limits you select
Westland works with top Canadian insurers to compare policies and find the right combination of value and protection for your needs.
When working with your advisor, always ask about discounts you may be eligible for:
- Mature customer: Customers 55+ can save more on home insurance.
- Claims-free: Get rewarded for having a good home insurance claims history.
- Monitored alarm system: Protect your home with an alarm system to deter break-ins and theft.
- Renewal: Enjoy a loyalty discount when you stay with Westland for multiple consecutive years.
- Water leak detection device: Get ahead of water damage with a leak detection and shut off device.
Replacement cost coverage pays the amount needed to rebuild your home or replace your belongings with new items of similar kind and quality, without depreciation. Actual cash value coverage, on the other hand, subtracts depreciation from the payout, meaning you’ll receive less for older items. In BC’s high-cost housing market, most homeowners choose replacement cost coverage to make sure they can fully recover after a major loss.
Yes, and understanding those differences is key to avoiding gaps in coverage.
- Condo owners, for example, are responsible for insuring the interior of their units, including walls, fixtures, and personal belongings, while the strata corporation covers the building’s structure and shared spaces through a master policy.
- Townhome insurance can work similarly, depending on the ownership model.
- Vacation or secondary homes require specialized coverage, since they may sit vacant for long periods and face different risks such as break-ins or wildfire exposure.
A Westland advisor can review your property type and location to make sure your policy matches your situation and complements any existing strata or lender requirements.
If you experience damage or loss, start by making sure everyone is safe and, if necessary, contacting emergency services. Once the immediate risk has passed, document the damage thoroughly with photos or videos. Then reach out to your Westland advisor as soon as possible. Our team will help you start the claims process, connect you with your insurer, and guide you through every stage, from assessment to settlement. Keep receipts and records of any temporary expenses, such as hotel stays or meals, if you need to move out during repairs.
It’s a good idea to review your policy once a year or whenever you experience a major life or home change, such as renovating, finishing a basement, buying new high-value items, or welcoming new family members. These changes can affect your coverage needs and replacement costs.
By reconnecting with your Westland advisor annually, you can confirm that your policy still aligns with your home’s true value, current risks, and your personal budget. Regular check-ins not only keep your coverage up to date but can also reveal new discounts or policy improvements available through our partner insurers.
Buy home insurance in British Columbia with confidence
Whether you’re shopping around for a new policy or just want to review your current coverage, our advisors are here to help. Contact us to get the protection you need at a price you’ll love.
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