Why the Co-operators won this appeal over homeowner claim
October 29, 2021 by Greg MeckbachIf a client learns something new about insurance law four years after their claim is denied, it’s probably too late to sue the insurer for breach of contract. In a decision released this past Tuesday, the Court of Appeal of…
Why your clients could expect price reductions in home insurance
May 25, 2021 by Greg MeckbachIf insurers can achieve combined ratios of less than 80% in personal property, homeowners should expect to see lower prices and possibly even rebates, the CEO of LowestRates.ca suggests. “For consumers, if insurance companies are making money, then it means…
What to tell clients when home insurer asks if property was previously a grow-op
March 18, 2021 by Greg MeckbachHome insurance clients who move to a new property should have the premises inspected and let the insurer know if there are signs it has been used to grow cannabis. “If a home was a former cannabis grow-op, likely pipes…
Why home insurance was so profitable for Intact in 2020
March 11, 2021 by Greg MeckbachThe hard market in home insurance is helping Canada’s largest P&C insurer make a healthy profit. But insurers need to maintain pricing discipline in personal property because weather catastrophe costs are increasing over time, suggests the chief financial officer at…
The perils of highlighting key points in a policy
February 22, 2021 by Greg MeckbachHome insurance policies may be so long that consumers won’t read the entire thing, but it doesn’t mean that brokers should selectively highlight certain policy terms to clients, a brokerage leader warns. “For us, there are things we need to…
This kind of homeowner’s liability claim has real teeth
January 21, 2021 by Greg MeckbachWhen a dog bites man, the wounds could be deep and wide for homeowners. “Pet bites top the list for home insurance liability claims,” reports Dorchester Insurance Brokers Ltd., based near London in the community of Dorchester, Ont. “Dog bites…
Why these home buyers won a $100,000 lawsuit
September 8, 2020 by Greg MeckbachA recent Ontario court ruling arising from a major structural defect in a cottage country home shows why a homeowner should get the vendor to complete a seller property information sheet (SPIS) before agreeing to a purchase. “The law can…