The recent increase in vacant properties has drawn attention nationwide, and that trend shows no sign of abating. In 2019, there were 66,000 empty homes in Toronto, 64,000 vacant houses in Montreal, and 20,000 vacant properties in Calgary, Ottawa, and Edmonton. (1) While investor speculation and short-term rentals certainly contribute to high vacancy rates in urban areas, they are not the only reasons for your clients’ vacant properties.
From July 2019 to July 2020, Statistics Canada reports, Montreal and Toronto lost a record number of residents as urbanites moved to suburbs, smaller towns, and rural areas. (2) Additionally, the pandemic has slowed international travel, but it has led to an increase in interprovincial travel. Last winter, CBC reports that 3,533 people from other provinces moved to New Brunswick to find cheaper housing. (3)
This means that brokers can expect a greater demand for vacant property coverage. As a result of this growing need, South Western Group (SWG) has expanded its in-house vacant property program.
In addition to our current in-house vacant property program, we now offer an alternative outside market through Opal.
In conjunction with AEGIS London’s Opal, SWG now has an external market option. (4) In addition to our current in-house vacant property program, we now offer an alternative outside market through Opal.
This program is designed to:
- Cover vacant property while under renovations or getting ready to flip it
- Provide property coverage while unoccupied
Providing convenient coverage options for all types of vacancies
With a broad scope of insurance coverage, brokers will be able to provide comprehensive insurance policies, whether their client is renovating, selling, or simply owns a vacant property. SWG’s new Commercial and Residential Vacant Property Program also means brokers can provide All Risks or Named Perils under Opal for their clients’ coverage policies. In addition, All Risks coverage can be extended up to 75 years old. But the program offers much more.
About SWG’s Commercial and Residential Vacant Property Program
Coverage and Eligibility
By commercial property, we mean single-occupancy buildings (no multi-occupancy).
Residential property means detached and semi-detached homes, duplexes and townhouses (no condos).
Quotes can now be generated for:
● Risks with up to two mortgages
● Risks aged under 30 years old with no updates to electrics, HVAC & plumbing
● Risks aged 30 to 75 years old with updates to roof within the past 20 years & updates to electrics, HVAC & plumbing within the past 30 years
● Can offer 3 or 6-month policy terms, remaining on risk up to a maximum of 18 months
● Can offer options for Named Perils & All Risk Coverage, subject to market guidelines
● Optional deductibles up to $5000
● Can write both residential and commercial risks.
● Brick Veneer risks up to 1.5 million TIV limit and commercial (non-combustible) risks up to 2 million TIV limit
About SWG PROPERTY
SWG PROPERTY – Commercial Property Liability is designed to cover hard-to-place property accounts. We can accommodate most realty-type risks, from stand-alone rentals and vacant dwellings, to large commercial risks, with an in-house capacity of up to $6,000,000.
Coverage Highlights:
● Broad Form or Named Perils
● Replacement Cost
● ACV
● Dependent on individual risk, age, construction, occupancy and town grade
Other Coverages Include:
● Business Interruption, Rental Income
● Flood, Quake, Sewer Backup
● Crime – including Employee Dishonesty & Broad Form Money & Securities
● Mechanical Breakdown
Extension Packages:
● Personal Property of Officers and Employees
● Growing Plants, Trees, Shrubs or Flowers in the Open; Limited to $1,000 per plant
● Accounts Receivable
● Stock Spoilage
● Building By-Laws
● Inflation Protection
● Exhibition Coverage
● Automatic Fire Suppression System Recharge Expense
● Brands and Labels
● Fire Fighting Expenses
● New Acquired Locations (30 Days)
● Building
● Equipment and Stock (Contents)
● Debris Removal
● Peak Season Increase
● Contents Off Premises in the custody of Sales Representatives
● Land and Water Pollution Clean Up Expense (Annual Aggregate)
● Building Damage by Theft
● Extra Expense
● Valuable Papers
● Off Premises Services Interruption
● Electronic Data Processing Equipment and Media
● Systems Breakdown Coverage
● Fine Arts
● Maximum value any one item; Any One Occurrence
● Installation Floater
● Professional Fees
● Exterior Building Glass
● Signs
● Master Key
Liability:
Most realty type risks are written on a “Premises” type form but full CGLs including Tenant’s Legal Liability are available.
We Cover:
Includes but is not limited to the list below. Contact us if you don’t see what you’re looking for.
● Apartment Houses (with/out commercial occupancies)
● Campgrounds
● Food Trucks/Hotdog Carts/Chip Trucks
● Hotels/Motels
● Rented Dwellings
● Retail Stores
● Rooming Houses
● Strip Plazas
● Student Housing
● Vacant Property
For more information, visit the SWG PROPERTY product page: https://swgins.com/product/swg-property.html
Content is current as of the date of broadcast and is subject to change without notice.
Sources:
- https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/tens-of-thousands-of-homes-are-sitting-vacant-across-canada-report-1.4621000
- https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/210114/dq210114a-eng.htm?HPA=1
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-population-increase-canadians-move-east-1.6070381
- AEGIS London is the brand name of AEGIS Managing Agency Ltd (AMAL) and the Opal system is a service provided by AMAL. AMAL acts as the Lloyd’s managing agent for AEGIS Syndicate 1225. AMAL is authorized by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the PRA and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The PRA and the FCA are the regulatory bodies for United Kingdom financial services
