Key facts
- Tell the insurer the home is rented. A home policy on a rental can lead to a denied claim.
- Loss of rental income pays your rent while a covered loss makes the home unlivable.
- Your tenants' belongings are not covered by your policy. They need their own tenant insurance.
- A basement apartment, a second unit or extra bedrooms change the rating and must be declared.
- Oshawa licenses some rental housing near Ontario Tech University and Durham College. Check the City's rules for your address.
What a landlord policy usually includes
- Dwelling coverage. Repairs or rebuilds the property after a covered loss such as fire, wind or water damage.
- Landlord liability. Pays if a tenant or visitor is injured and you are found responsible, and pays legal defence costs.
- Loss of rental income. Replaces rent during repairs after a covered loss.
- Contents you supply. Appliances, furniture and other items you provide.
- Water and sewer backup. Optional. Ask for it by name and check the limit.
- Bylaw and code upgrade coverage. Helps pay when the City requires upgrades during a repair.
- Umbrella liability. Adds limits above the landlord policy for owners with several properties.
Rental types we insure in Oshawa
- Single-family homes rented to one household
- Duplexes and triplexes
- Homes with a legal basement apartment
- Homes with an unregistered or older basement unit (tell us, we look at the options)
- Student rentals near Ontario Tech University and Durham College
- Rented condos and townhouses
- Rooms rented in an owner-occupied home
- Vacant rental properties between tenants
Student rentals near Ontario Tech and Durham College
Student rentals turn over often, house more unrelated adults and can sit empty over the summer, so many standard insurers price them carefully or decline them. Tell us how many bedrooms there are, whether you use one lease or separate leases, and how long the home is empty between tenants. See our page on student rental insurance. Oshawa licenses rental housing around the two campuses and its zoning there does not permit lodging houses, so check the City's requirements before you rent by the room.
What insurers ask landlords
- Number of units, bedrooms and tenants
- Year built and updates to the roof, wiring, plumbing and heating
- Whether the basement suite is legal and inspected
- Lease type and how long tenants stay
- Your experience as a landlord and your claims history
- How often the property is inspected
- Whether you live in the home or elsewhere
Landlord tips that keep you insurable
- Keep working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level.
- Service the furnace and water heater and keep the records.
- Ask every tenant to buy tenant insurance and keep a copy.
- Inspect between tenants and take dated photos.
- Put smoking, candle and cooking rules in the lease.
- Tell us before you add a unit or bedrooms.
- Ask us to review the policy before a unit sits empty.
Example scenarios
Questions Ontario clients ask
- How much does landlord insurance cost in Oshawa?
- It depends on the property, units, tenants, claims history and coverage. We compare 20+ insurers for real numbers.
- Do I need landlord insurance if I rent out my basement?
- Yes. Tell your insurer about the unit and how it is rented. A home policy may not cover it as written.
- Does landlord insurance cover my tenant's belongings?
- No. Tenants need their own policy.
- Can I insure a student rental in Oshawa?
- Yes. Some insurers decline student rentals, so we approach standard and specialty markets.
- Do I need a licence to rent in Oshawa?
- The City licenses some residential rental housing, mainly around Durham College and Ontario Tech University. Check the City's current rules and maps for your address.
- Can you help if I was declined or cancelled?
- Often yes. We look at why, fix what can be fixed and place the home in a market that fits.
Abhishek Bedwal · RIBO Certified Insurance Broker
Abhishek is a Registered Insurance Broker of Ontario (RIBO) licensed across the province, with local expertise across Durham Region, Ottawa, Niagara Falls, Brantford and Windsor. Coverage is placed through The Insurance Lab, a division of BrokerUnion, giving clients access to 20+ Canadian insurers so the policy fits the risk — not the other way around.
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Coverage placed through The Insurance Lab · division of BrokerUnion