Can my landlord evict me for not having tenant insurance?

If your lease requires insurance and you don't maintain it, the landlord could treat it as a breach and, in theory, pursue eviction through the LTB — though the Board weighs the seriousness of the breach. The simpler outcome is to just keep a policy, which is inexpensive.

What does tenant insurance cover?

Three main things: your personal belongings (against fire, theft, water damage, etc.), personal liability if someone is injured in your unit or you accidentally damage the building, and additional living expenses if a covered event makes your unit uninhabitable. It does not cover the building itself — that's the landlord's insurance.

Does the landlord's insurance cover my belongings?

No. The landlord's policy covers the building and their liability, not your possessions. If a fire or flood destroys your furniture, electronics, and clothing, only your own tenant insurance will reimburse you.

Home BlogIs Tenant Insurance Mandatory?

OntarioSeptember 7, 20266 min read

Is Tenant Insurance Mandatory in Ontario?

Your lease says you must carry tenant insurance — is that even allowed? The short answer: the province doesn't require it, but your landlord can, and the clause is usually enforceable. Here's what it covers and why you probably want it regardless.

By the LeasePlain Editorial Team · Checked against Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act per our editorial standards·Last reviewed September 2026

The Law vs Your Lease

There is no Ontario law requiring tenants to carry insurance. But that doesn't mean you can always skip it. A landlord is entitled to make tenant insurance a condition of the lease, and it's an extremely common clause. If you signed a lease that requires it, that's a term you agreed to — and unlike lease-break penalties or "no pets" clauses, a reasonable insurance requirement is generally enforceable.

So the honest answer to "is it mandatory?" is: not by law, but very likely by your contract.

What Tenant Insurance Actually Covers

Your belongings — furniture, electronics, clothing — against fire, theft, and many kinds of water damage.
Personal liability — if a guest is injured in your unit, or you accidentally cause damage (say a kitchen fire that spreads), this can cover the claim.
Additional living expenses — hotel and extra costs if a covered event makes your unit temporarily unlivable.

The Landlord's Insurance Won't Save You

A frequent and costly misunderstanding: your landlord's policy covers the building and their liability — not your stuff. If a pipe bursts or a fire starts, the landlord repairs the structure, but your ruined possessions are your problem unless you have your own policy. Worse, if youaccidentally cause damage to the building, the landlord's insurer could come after you. Liability coverage is the part tenants most underestimate.

What If You Don't Keep It?

If your lease requires insurance and you let it lapse, that's a breach of the lease. A landlord could raise it at the LTB, though the Board weighs how serious a breach is. Given that renters' policies often cost only a few dollars a week, the practical move is simply to keep a policy rather than risk it — and to keep proof you can show the landlord on request.

Before You Sign

Read the insurance clause carefully. A reasonable requirement to carry a standard tenant policy is fine; a clause demanding the landlord be added as an "additional insured" for unusually high limits is worth questioning. Run your lease through our clause checker to see every obligation spelled out in plain English.