How BCAA Renters Insurance saved the day

There’s a lot to like about renting. No repair bills. You can move easily. You get to skip the stress and hassles of a mortgage. This freedom, however, also leads some renters to overlook basic protection.

Almost half of BC renters (43%) don’t have renters insurance, according to BCAA research. This leaves them vulnerable to unexpected events like water damage, fire or theft. Many renters assume they’ll be covered by their landlord’s insurance policy. Alas, that’s not the case. A landlord’s insurance only covers the building, not your belongings or your personal expenses that may result from temporary accommodations if you need to move out due to a claim, or liability you could face if something goes wrong.

That’s where BCAA Renters Insurance comes to your rescue. With Basic protection from as little as $20 per month, it protects your stuff and covers your additional living expenses in the event of water damage, fire or if you are displaced from your home. Renters insurance also helps pay for damage and theft of your personal belongings, like your clothing, furniture, flat screen TV, bike and anything else you in your home. Plus, if you accidentally damage your place or your neighbour’s, like a overflown sink that leaks into the apartment below, personal liability coverage protects you from nasty legal bills.

Here’s 3 times renters were thankful they got insured

These are some real-life examples when British Columbians felt relieved to have BCAA Renters Insurance after life threw them a sudden curveball.

1. Alnasir’s five-week flood detour
   Yaletown renter Alnasir never expected water to come streaming down from the apartment above. But when the flood destroyed his floor and forced him out of his home for over a month, he was relieved that BCAA Renters Insurance covered his extra living expenses.
   
   "Our apartment got flooded due to external issues. The flooring of the entire apartment needed to be changed resulting in us having to move out for around five weeks. We have never experienced such sudden disruptions in our lifestyle,” said Alnasir.
   
   "The BCAA Claims Adjuster, Raman, was very helpful in finding us an alternate living space. He made our experience far less traumatic, handling all our queries and claim process promptly and with precision.”
   
   If this ever happens to you and you have to temporarily leave your rented home, BCAA Renters Insurance pays your additional living expenses, like gas if you need to travel further to work, emergency accommodation costs, food, pet-sitters, kennels and even a better data package if you’re working remotely.


2. Jackie’s grab-and-go theft
   Out in Richmond one day, Jackie was left shocked and stressed after a thief grabbed and stole her handbag. Thankfully her BCAA Renters Insurance policy protects her personal belongings wherever she goes. She was able to replace her stolen items with a minimum of fuss.
   
   “I was the victim of a grab-and-run theft where my bag was stolen which had a few vital personal items. I contacted BCAA, which was my insurer for [renters] insurance and they told me that the theft was covered under the policy,” Jackie said.
   
   “They told me the terms of coverage and sent me some documents to fill in. The documentation was not too difficult to fill in and they made several follow up emails to check on the progress. Once the details were all completed, they offered me a few options on how the payout would work. The payout was done very promptly and the service throughout the process was very courteous and professional."


3. Roman’s bike be gone!
   Roman from Coquitlam fell victim to bike theft when thieves broke into his storage locker while he was out. Thanks to his BCAA Renters Insurance policy and his One Claim Forgiveness reward, he didn’t miss out on too many afternoon rides and his premiums didn’t increase.
   
   "It was a great experience, hassle free and the claims process was super easy,” Roman said. “I really appreciated the fact that my first claim did not have an impact on my insurance rate."

Home or away, you and your stuff are protected

When you’ve got BCAA Renters Insurance, you’re prepared for whatever life throws your way. Save your wallet from taking a big hit, with Basic BCAA Renters Insurance plans beginning at $20/month. You’ll save 5% in your first year when you buy online and save an additional 10% as a BCAA Member. Get an online quote in as little as five minutes.