Although the house or apartment is probably insured by the landlord, the landlord wouldn’t be responsible for your belongings or actions. Tenant insurance helps tenants to protect themselves.
In Oshawa there are various kinds of places for people to rent including apartments, houses, basements and secondary suites. Be sure your policy adequately covers your specific situation. Your policy should cover your belongings and liability and identify everyone who needs to be insured. It should also protect possessions in storage lockers or garages, or other common areas. Ask about water-damage endorsements, how contents loss is determined and who is named on the policy.
Our sample quotes provide you with an idea of the cost of tenant insurance in Oshawa, ON. The cost of tenant insurance depends on a number of factors. The size of your rental and the age of the building will affect the cost of your policy. Use our quotes to compare coverage, what is and isn’t included, and endorsements or additions that can be made to a basic policy.
Tenant Insurance in Oshawa at a Glance
The median annual tenant insurance premium in Oshawa is $285, significantly lower than the Ontario benchmark of $326. Although it is helpful to compare premiums at a glance, always make sure that any cheaper quotes have adequate contents and liability limits, and water endorsements.
| Median annual tenant insurance premium | $285 |
| Median monthly tenant insurance premium | $24 |
| Oshawa premium vs. Ontario benchmark | 12.6% below the Ontario benchmark |
| Lowest-premium postal code area | L1J ($276) |
| Highest-premium postal code area | L1G ($289) |
Oshawa Tenant Insurance Premiums by Postal Code Area
Insurance rates range from $276 in the L1J postal code to $289 in the L1G postal code, which is a difference of $13.
Renters may find it more fruitful to shop around for tenant insurance from different companies and consider different deductibles and terms.
| Postal Code Area | Median Annual Tenant Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| L1J | $276 |
| L1L | $286 |
| L1H | $287 |
| L1G | $289 |
What Goes Into a Tenant Insurance Premium in Oshawa?
Contents protection is 80.4% of the benchmark insurance premium in Oshawa. When comparing coverage and premiums, it’s the largest part of the premium, so this is the first coverage you should be looking at, including coverage limits and settlement options. Watch out for premiums which have been made cheaper by removing important protection, like coverage for sewer-backup, or coverage for overland water.
| Coverage Component | What It Generally Covers | Median Annual Tenant Insurance Premium Allocation |
|---|---|---|
| Contents / Personal Property | Property that is damaged or destroyed as a result of a covered event will be paid for based on your settlement option, coverage limit and deductible. | $229 |
| Personal Liability and Voluntary Medical | Some companies offer medical payment coverage that provides voluntary payment of medical expenses up to policy limits. | $15 |
| Additional Living Expenses | When a covered loss temporarily leaves the rental unfit to occupy, eligible added living costs can receive protection. | $11 |
| Optional Water and Other Endorsements | Some companies offer endorsements that may provide added protection for losses such as sewer backup, overland or groundwater, identity theft and more. | $30 |
| Coverage Total | $285 |
Oshawa Tenant Insurance Premiums by Unit Size
Our records show the cost of tenant insurance for people with an average risk profile ranges from $258 for apartments less than 500 sq. ft. to $319 for apartments of 1,600 sq. ft. and up. As such, given the rather minor $61 difference, tenants would be wise to pay closer attention to how much their belongings are worth and who is going to be included in their policies than worry too much about coverage amounts based on apartment size.
| Rental Unit Size | Median Annual Tenant Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Under 500 sq. ft. | $258 |
| 500–799 sq. ft. | $273 |
| 800–1,199 sq. ft. | $285 |
| 1,200–1,599 sq. ft. | $301 |
| 1,600+ sq. ft. | $319 |
Oshawa Tenant Insurance Premiums by Building Age
If you’re getting insurance on an older rental, be sure to report to the insurer any information you have regarding renovations. In Oshawa, annual rates are $315 for homes built before 1940 and $279 for buildings constructed since 2020. Age is just one factor used to rate rental insurance, and it won’t make a home uninsurable.
| Building Construction Period | Median Annual Tenant Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | $315 |
| 1940–1959 | $306 |
| 1960–1979 | $296 |
| 1980–1999 | $290 |
| 2000–2009 | $285 |
| 2010–2019 | $282 |
| 2020 or newer | $279 |
Popular Tenant Insurance Add-ons in Oshawa
Among Oshawa tenant quotes, 44.1% include sewer backup, 42.3% include overland water and 32.9% include identity theft. Selection should reflect the unit’s floor, possible water-entry routes and any identity protection the renter already receives through another service or account.
| Selected Coverage | Share of Oshawa Quotes |
|---|---|
| Sewer backup | 44.1% |
| Overland water | 42.3% |
| Identity theft | 32.9% |
What Is Not Included in a Typical Oshawa Tenant Insurance Policy?
For an Oshawa renter, the exclusions deserve particular attention when a home is shared, belongings are stored outside the unit or the rental is a basement or secondary suite exposed to water. Whether a particular loss is insured depends on the policy wording, not on a broad coverage label.
Points worth reviewing include:
Shared houses and secondary suites need a clear list of insured people and property. Confirm roommates individually and ask how belongings in a garage, locker or common area fit within the contents limit.
How Can You Find Cheaper Tenant Insurance in Oshawa?
Oshawa’s lower benchmark makes it easier to keep useful coverage while shopping. Compare equal contents and liability limits, water options and deductibles, then ask about bundling or payment discounts. The Ontario tenant insurance guide explains the broader Ontario framework.