Do I have to tell my home insurer before I renovate?

Answers (1)

1. LE

   LokalMatch EditorialLokalMatch editorial

   Answered September 22, 2026

   Yes, and it is a duty rather than a courtesy. The Insurance Bureau of Canada’s Code of Consumer Rights and Responsibilities says you must promptly inform your insurance company, broker or agent of any change in your circumstances — and it names renovations to your home as the example.

   Two reasons that matters more than it sounds. A renovation changes what the house would cost to rebuild, so a policy written for the old house can leave you underinsured on the new one — and replacement cost is the number that decides what you get after a fire. An insurer that was never told about a material change to the risk also has something to argue about at claim time, which is the worst possible moment for that conversation.

   The same duty catches things people forget to mention: a big-ticket purchase that needs its own coverage, or starting to run a business from home.

   One call before the work starts, and one when you know the final cost, is the whole job.

Answers come from pros and are reviewed by LokalMatch before they’re published. They’re general information — for regulated or safety-critical work, have a licensed professional assess your situation.

Sources

Where the facts on this page come from.

1. 1

   Code of Consumer Rights and Responsibilities — Insurance Bureau of Canada (accessed September 21, 2026)

2. 2

   Types of home insurance coverage — Insurance Bureau of Canada (accessed September 21, 2026)