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  3. How Travelling Affects Your Home Insurance: What to Know Before You Leave
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How Travelling Affects Your Home Insurance: What to Know Before You Leave

Apr 4, 2025
6 min. read
Author:
John Shmuel
John Shmuel
Editor:
Jen Hart
Jennifer Hart
  • Travel & More
  • travel insurance
  • Home Insurance
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family travel

Picture this: you’re packing for an exciting getaway, double-checking your passport, and setting your out-of-office email. But did you stop to think about how your trip could impact your home insurance coverage? Probably not. Amid the excitement of travelling, the topic of how travel affects home insurance often gets overlooked. From unexpected incidents to policy requirements, protecting your home while on vacation goes beyond locking the doors and leaving a light on. Here’s what you need to know before you take off.

How travelling affects home insurance

Travelling, whether for a long-awaited vacation or an important business trip, can bring unexpected challenges to your home insurance coverage. That’s why it’s important to know exactly how travel affects your home insurance policy to avoid coverage gaps and costly surprises.  

Insurance companies often differentiate between “vacancy” and “unoccupied”: 

  • Vacant homes: Completely empty of belongings and not intended to be lived in.
  • Unoccupied homes: Contain personal items and are intended to be inhabited. 

In Canada, the 30-day home insurance rule is common. It says that if a home is left unattended for more than 30 days without notifying your insurance provider, it may be classified as vacant, which can void your policy. This is especially important for people who travel out of the country during the winter months and may be looking for home insurance for snowbirds. Insurers consider vacant homes high-risk because: 

  • They are more vulnerable to theft and vandalism.
  • Problems go undetected, such as a fire or a burst pipe that could flood a basement. 
  • Liability issues, like someone slipping on an icy sidewalk, can arise.  

Failing to address these risks can result in serious consequences for your coverage. Without vacant home insurance, claims for damage such as theft, water leaks, or fire might be denied due to misunderstanding your policy’s requirements. For example, if you return from a trip to discover a flooded basement and your insurer considers your home vacant, you could be responsible for all repair costs. Although it’s an extra expense, adding vacant home insurance provides essential protection for your home and ensures your policy remains valid, often costing less than potential repair expenses.  

Taking steps to protect your home while on vacation is crucial. Notifying your insurance provider, securing the right coverage, and minimizing risks can save you from financial headaches and provide reassurance while you’re away.  

Home insurance policy requirements for vacant homes

Understanding vacancy clauses in home insurance are essential for protecting your home while on vacation or during extended absences. Insurers often have strict guidelines around when a home is considered vacant and what steps homeowners must take to maintain coverage.  

Most insurance providers classify a home as vacant after a specific period of unoccupancy, typically 30 or 60 days. If you plan to leave your home unattended for longer than this, it’s critical to notify your insurer ​so ​​to ensure ​your policy remains valid. Without proper notification, claims for damage like theft, fire, or water leaks may be denied.  

When a home is deemed vacant, standard home insurance policies may not fully cover it. To address this, homeowners can add vacant home insurance, often through a vacancy permit or endorsement.  

  • Vacancy permits: These provide temporary coverage for homes that will be vacant for an extended period. 
  • Endorsements: These are add-ons that modify your insurance coverage, such as extending protection for specific risks during a vacancy. 
  • Costs and benefits: While there is an added cost, vacancy permits and endorsements protect you from the financial risks of leaving your home unoccupied, ensuring your claims remain valid.  

Vacant home insurance myths

There are several common myths about how to handle vacancy situations. Let’s break them down below: 

  • “Smart security systems always ensure full coverage”: While these systems can reduce risks and lower premiums, they do not replace the requirement to notify your insurer about a vacancy.  

  • “I don’t need to notify my insurer if I have a house-sitter”: Even if someone is checking in periodically, your insurer may still consider the home vacant if it isn’t occupied consistently. Always verify your policy’s terms.  

  • “As long as I leave utilities running, my home isn’t considered vacant”: Home insurance policies don’t base vacancy status on whether utilities like electricity or water are active. Even if the lights are on and the thermostat is set, your insurer may still classify your home as vacant if no one is living there regularly.  
     
  • “Locking my doors and windows is enough to maintain coverage”: While securing your home is important, it doesn’t fulfill the requirements of notifying your insurer or obtaining a vacancy permit. Insurance providers require proactive steps to address the risks associated with unoccupied homes.  

  • “A vacant home automatically loses all coverage”: While many policies restrict coverage for vacant homes, adding a vacancy permit or endorsement can provide tailored protection. This ensures your home is still covered for risks like fire, vandalism, or water damage during your absence.  

Comparing home insurance providers for frequent travellers

When travelling for extended periods, knowing how different insurance providers handle vacancy clauses is essential for maintaining coverage and avoiding unexpected costs. This comparison table highlights key details from top Canadian insurers, including notification requirements and additional coverage options, to help you find the best fit for your needs.

Practical steps to protect your home while travelling

When preparing for a trip, it’s important to take proactive measures to ensure your home stays safe and secure in your absence. From using smart security systems to getting the help of trusted friends and neighbours, these simple steps can help protect your property while you’re away. 

  • Secure your property: Install smart security systems such as cameras, alarms, and motion sensors, and lock all doors and windows. Consider adding extra security like deadbolts to prevent home burglary while travelling.
     
  • Maintain a lived-in appearance: Arrange for someone to collect your mail, mow the lawn, or shovel snow to maintain a lived-in appearance. Use smart lighting systems to create the illusion of activity inside the home.  
     
  • Notify someone you trust: Ask your trusted neighbours or friends to check on your property periodically to make sure everything is okay.  

Communicating with your insurance provider

When planning your trip, it’s important to inform your insurance provider about your extended absence and discuss how it may impact your coverage. Share details like your travel dates and the length of time your home will be unoccupied. This conversation is an opportunity to discuss any necessary coverage changes, such as adding vacant home insurance through a vacancy permit or exploring optional riders for enhanced protection. If you’re a senior or frequently travel for extended periods, consider exploring the best travel insurance for seniors to complement your home insurance and provide additional protection on your getaway.  

When speaking with your insurer, be sure to ask key questions, including: 

  • What is the maximum duration my home can be unoccupied before it is considered vacant?
  • Are there specific preventative measures I need to take, such as arranging regular inspections from a friend or neighbour?
  • What are the exclusions or limitations in my policy during extended absences?
  • Are there additional coverage options, like riders, that would protect my home while I’m away? 

Having a clear view of your policy details, including vacancy clauses and exclusions, ensures you take the right steps to maintain coverage and avoid unexpected issues. Taking the time to communicate with your insurer can provide reassurance and guarantee your home is protected while you’re away.  

Extra tips for peace of mind

As you prepare for your trip, be sure to inspect your home for potential hazards. Check for signs of water leaks, address any electrical issues, and ensure all appliances are turned off to minimize risks and protect your home while on vacation or work trips. Setting up a reliable emergency contact system is also crucial. Make sure you can be reached if something unexpected happens at home. For longer trips, consider hiring a property management service to oversee your home and handle any issues that arise. 

Regularly reviewing your home insurance policy is equally important, especially if you travel frequently. Make sure your coverage includes protections for extended absences and aligns with your current needs, and look into multiple trip travel insurance for protection while you’re away. Working with your insurer to address these details can keep your home protected.  

Taking these steps helps protect your home and prevent risks while travelling. Before your next trip, review your policy, speak with a Surex advisor, and ensure your coverage is ready for anything. It’s the smart way to travel so you can focus on enjoying your time away.  

Let’s get you covered. 

Learn more about home insurance or find the best insurance rates by starting a quote today. 

Find the best travel insurance rates today.

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John Shmuel

John Shmuel

John is the Director of Content and SEO at Surex. He has a passion for taking complex financial topics and making them easy to understand for everyone. John is an experienced marketing leader, having led content teams at several insurance and finance-focused companies. John also regularly appears in the media as a financial expert, including making appearances in the Globe and Mail, CTV and CBC. He was formerly a business reporter at the National Post and is a graduate of the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Jen Hart

Jennifer Hart

Jennifer has been the marketing specialist and content writer at Surex for four years. Before transitioning to insurance and marketing she built a journalism career in print and broadcast, freelancing for publications like Maclean’s Magazine and working in live production at Global News Toronto and CBC Toronto. As the industry evolved, she earned a Digital Media Marketing certification from George Brown College, allowing her to continue crafting compelling stories across digital platforms.
 

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