Quick Facts About Home Insurance in St. Catharines
- St. Catharines home insurance is MORE expensive than the Ontario average.
- The average annual cost of home insurance in St. Catharines is around $1,175.
Though home insurance isn’t legally required, St. Catherines homeowners should still consider getting a policy. Home insurance covers your home and personal possessions in case they’re destroyed or damaged by an insured risk such as a flood or a fire. A policy also covers your liability if an accident results in injuries or damage to your home.
Learn more about how St. Catherines home insurance works, what its standard inclusions are, and what add-ons you can get for more protection. Discover how your home’s location affects your quotes and what risks you should be mindful of as a St. Catherines homeowner.
Quote data from MyChoice.ca, October 2024
What Risks Affect Homeowners in St. Catharines?
If you’re a homeowner in St. Catharines, there are specific risks that you need to be vigilant against as they’re more likely to damage or destroy your home and belongings. Here are some common perils that may affect St. Catharines residents and the type of coverage they may need:
Flooding
Flooding can be caused by various reasons such as excessive rain and thawing snow. St. Catharines experienced overland flooding in 2014, costing residents thousands of dollars for repairs or restoration. More recently, residents suffered property damage due to overflowing sewers in 2019, when unprecedented rainfall caused basements to flood and led to over 300 calls to the city for help. Note that overland flooding is not part of a standard policy, so consider getting this add-on for extra protection.
Freezing winters
Winter temperatures in St. Catharines stay well below freezing temperatures all day from November to April. The temperature in St. Catherines doesn’t rise above 32°F for nearly a third of the year, so homeowners need to take precautions against frozen pipes or water damage from thawing snow.
Crime rates
Both non-violent and violent crime rates have gone up in St. Catharines, according to data from the 2021 Canada Crime Severity Index. This may increase the risk of damage or destruction due to crimes like vandalism, break-ins, and theft. St. Catharines homeowners should consider adding safeguards like additional locks, durable fences, and home security systems.
How Much Does Home Insurance in St. Catharines Usually Cost?
The average cost of home insurance in St. Catharines is $1,175 annually. Note that your quotes will go up or down depending on different factors like your neighbourhood’s claims history, your home’s proximity to fire hydrants, and the area’s crime rate.
If your neighbourhood has a lower crime rate, easier access to emergency services, and well-maintained infrastructure, this can result in more affordable home insurance premiums. However, if your area is more densely populated or has increased exposure to certain perils, this can increase the average rate in your postal code.
Quote data from MyChoice.ca, October 2024
Does Where You Live in St. Catharines Affect Your Home Insurance?
Yes, where you live in St. Catharines can affect your home insurance. Home insurance companies will look at different considerations to calculate your premiums, and one of these is your neighbourhood. Here are some ways that your location can make your quotes cheaper or more expensive:
Claims history
Home insurance companies will look at how many claims have been filed in your neighbourhood in the past few years. If more claims have been filed in your area, your quotes are likely to be higher as your insurer may consider your likelihood of filing to be higher too.
Protection from fires
Fire is a common insured risk and can start due to a variety of causes, such as damaged wiring, defective appliances, or an unattended stove. If you live close to the fire department and fire hydrants, this reassures your home insurance company that you’ll have a fast response to protect your home and possessions.
Flooding
Unfortunately, several parts of St. Catharines are prone to flooding. Over the past few years, there have been several incidents of serious flooding due to heavy rainfall that the city’s sewer system simply can’t handle. Generally, the more often that flooding has historically happened in your area, the higher your home insurance premiums will be.
Postal Codes With the Most Expensive Home Insurance in St. Catharines
The L2R postal code region tends to have above-average home insurance rates in St. Catharines.
Postal Code | Average Annual Home Insurance Premium |
---|---|
L2R | $1,222 |
Quote data from MyChoice.ca, October 2024
Postal Codes With the Least Expensive Home Insurance in St. Catharines
Whereas the L2S postal codes have some of the cheapest home insurance rates in St. Catharines.
Postal Code | Average Annual Home Insurance Premium |
---|---|
L2S | $1,132 |
Quote data from MyChoice.ca, October 2024
Housing Data in St. Catharines
Wondering how many St. Catharines residents own their homes instead of renting them, or the average condition of a St. Catharines home? Here’s a breakdown of housing data in St. Catharines according to the 2021 Census of Population:
Type of Occupied Dwelling
Over half (55.6%) of St. Catharines’s occupied dwellings are single-detached houses, while 14.4% are apartments in buildings that have fewer than five storeys. The third-most common type of occupied dwelling in the city is an apartment in a building that has five or more storeys, at 11%.
Owner vs Renter Stats/Condo vs Non-Condo Owners
From a 25% sample, the census found that a majority of St. Catharines residents own their private dwellings (64.4%). 35.6% of all private dwellings are rented. A vast majority of those surveyed in St. Catharines live in occupied dwellings that are not condominiums (89.3%), while only 10.7% live in condominiums.
Private Dwellings by Period of Construction: New or Older Homes?
The majority of St. Catharines’ residents were constructed before 1990, with 32.5% of homes built in 1960 or earlier, and 38.5% constructed between 1961 to 1980. Only 2.8% of St. Catharines homes were constructed between 2016 to 2021.
Major Repairs or Just Maintenance Needed?
Though many St. Catharines homes are older, most of them (94.2%) need only regular maintenance and minor repairs. Just 5.8% of houses in the city need major repairs.
Homeownership Rate by Age in St. Catharines
The homeownership rates in St. Catharines vary by age group, with younger individuals aged 15 to 24 exhibiting the lowest rate at 16.8%, gradually increasing to 72.7% for those aged 75 and over. Notably, homeownership rates rise steadily with age, peaking among older demographics, reflecting a trend of increased homeownership as individuals progress through different life stages.
Age Group | Homeownership Rate |
---|---|
15 to 24 | 16.8% |
25 to 39 | 48.9% |
40 to 54 | 65.1% |
55 to 74 | 72.2% |
75 and over | 72.7% |
Average Home Price in St. Catharines by Dwelling Type
Below are the average values of homes in St. Catharines, categorized by dwelling type:
Type of Dwelling | Average Value |
---|---|
Detached | $650,000 |
Semi-Detached | $532,500 |
Freehold Townhouse | $510,000 |
St. Catharines Population Growth
St. Catharines’ population increased slightly from 133,113 to 136,803 people between 2016 and 2021, correlating to a growth rate of 2.8% across the five-year period.
What Is Not Included in a Typical Home Insurance Policy?
Even if you’ve opted for a highly comprehensive home insurance policy, there are some risks that insurers explicitly don’t include as a covered peril. These are called “exclusions” by home insurers.
Here are the most common home insurance exclusions:
Criminal activities:
If your home was damaged due to criminal activity, it won’t be covered by your insurance policy.
Damage from tenants
Generally, home insurance companies require specific coverage for homeowners/landlords who plan to rent out their properties. A standard home insurance policy won’t include coverage if you rent your home out and the tenant causes damage.
Earthquakes
Most policies exclude this risk, but you can cover earthquake losses and damage as an add-on to a standard policy.
Failure to maintain your home
Damage or losses caused by poor home upkeep (e.g., clogged storm drains, broken bannisters) won’t be covered, as your insurer deems it your responsibility to manage wear and tear.
Flood damage
Flooding is typically not covered by a standard policy, but it may be included as an add-on.
Home business activities
Home businesses will need separate home-based business insurance to cover home or equipment damage.
Insect damage
Because this is considered a preventable risk, most insurers don’t cover insect damage.
Mortgage or property taxes
These are separate expenses handled by policy owners as they’re unrelated to your home insurance policy.
Mould
Mould caused by poor home maintenance is typically excluded by home insurance policies. Note that this is separate from mould caused by an insured peril, which will be covered by your policy.
Vacant dwelling risks
Many insurers may void your insurance if you leave your home vacant for a prolonged period.
This is by no means an exclusive list of risks typically excluded from a home insurance policy in St. Catharines. Talk to your home insurance provider to see what’s covered by your policy in case of loss or damage.
Why Do I Need Home Insurance in St. Catharines?
Home insurance isn’t mandatory for St. Catharines homeowners, but it’s still a good idea to get a policy for your peace of mind. Natural disasters can cause unexpected damage and destruction, as can accidents in your home. These can result in big bills you may have trouble paying without a policy to cover you.
Here are some compelling reasons why you should get home insurance in St. Catharines:
Fulfillment of mortgage requirements
St. Catharines banks and lending institutions typically require you to get home insurance as a loan condition. Because your bank or private lender is financially invested in your property’s safety, a policy reassures them that your home will be protected from destruction or damage caused by various perils.
Coverage for your house and personal possessions
Your home and your belongings are vulnerable to damage or destruction from causes like flooding, fires, and hailstorms. A home insurance policy can help you manage the steep costs of repairs and restoration, protecting you from a wide range of risks.
Liability coverage
No matter how many precautions you take, there will be times when accidents just can’t be helped. These unforeseen incidents can result in someone getting injured in your house or in your property being damaged. A home insurance policy covers your liability in these situations, giving you much-needed funds for related expenses like legal fees and repair bills.
How You Can Get Cheap Home Insurance in St. Catharines
If you’re trying to save money on your preferred home insurance coverage in St. Catharines, visit our Ontario page for practical tips.