Beautiful stone heritage house in Quebec.

Ancestral, century-old, historic, or heritage homes are charming, possessing a style and decor that is truly unique and inviting. No wonder many homebuyers find them appealing.

However, insuring such a home can have its challenges, and one should understand the rules before buying such a property.

Each year, hundreds of new houses reach the status of century-old houses in Quebec.

How much does it cost to insure a century-old house in Quebec? What products are offered for this type of property?

In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about home insurance for ancestral homes to help you see more clearly!

A checklist for insurance for heritage homes

Checklist for home insurance for heritage homes.

First of all, it must be understood that not all insurers are agreeable to covering century-old buildings. We recommend that you work with an insurance broker who can explore your options for you among the many insurance companies in the province.

When the insurer agrees to provide home insurance to your property, it can offer all-risk coverage or designated risks only. In case of the latter, it is important to inquire with the agent/broker to know the inclusions of the policy, the exclusions, the limitations, and the conditions of acceptance. 

A century-old property means old materials present in the building. The insurer will verify that the standards for insulation, electricity, plumbing, heating, and more are met before confirming the insurance. 

Thus, for a future buyer who wishes to acquire a century-old house or one over 75 years old, it is important to also check these standards to ensure the building is compliant with the Building Code.

If it is not, it is necessary to validate the possibility of making the corrective action(s) requested by the insurer at a reasonable price and time.

Centennial house VS Historic house VS Heritage-protected house

Many insurers do not insure heritage or historic homes due to:
  • Higher rebuilding costs due to high architectural standards
  • Additional delays during reconstruction due to archaeological research
  • Claims may be difficult to settle 
How do you distinguish a century-old house vs. a historic or heritage house? Here is the definition of each.

Centennial House

Centennial House

It is a house over 100 years old which is not part of the group of buildings/residences registered as heritage of the municipality. Thus, the buyer can make renovations and improvements without having any limitations placed by the city or another agency.

Historic House

Historic House

It is a house whose preservation and conservation are of public interest due to its cultural value. It is often a property located in a historic district, with a unique architecture and a character that must be preserved.

Heritage-Protected House

Heritage-Protected House

It is a house declared as a heritage site, protected under the Cultural Property Act. This law allows a municipality to protect an immovable property where the architectural landscape is of aesthetic and historical interest.

What Home Insurance Products are offered for Ancestral Homes?

The home insurance products offered by insurers in Quebec vary. Some insurers may only offer named-risk policies while others may offer standard all-risk policies. 

Some insurers may refuse to cover the water inlet if it has not been renovated in the last 40-50 years.

If the doors and windows are more than 40-50 years old, water damage may not be covered.

Depending on the insurers, certain risks may not be covered depending on how a property has been maintained or renovated over time.

What you need to remember is that if you plan to buy an ancestral home, it is essential to validate all the construction standards and improvements made (insulation, electricity, plumbing, water inlet). All this can have an impact on the products/protections available.

To summarize, here are the 2 products that may be offered by an insurance company.

Named Perils

Covers only the risks stipulated in the policy: Fire, theft, vandalism, water damage, etc.

All risks

Covers all risks, with the exception of the exclusions specifically mentioned in the policy.

Do all insurers cover ancestral Homes?

Compare insurance companies that offer home insurance for ancestral houses.

The answer is no. As mentioned earlier, some insurers are willing to cover homes over 100 years old without problems, while others will have much stricter criteria.

Every home insurance company has its own standards in this regard. This is because ancestral houses carry higher risks due to age and the condition of certain components. Some of them may no longer meet current construction standards.

Some insurers may specialize in home insurance for ancestral or historic homes.

To compare the prices of several insurers specializing in ancestral houses, please fill out the free form on this page with no obligation.

What risks are covered for ancestral homes?

Understanding the risks covered by a home insurance policy.

The complete list of risks covered by your home insurance varies depending on whether it is an all-risk or a named-risks contract.

Some endorsements may be added by some insurers to improve the coverage of a policy. 

As a general rule, when you have an all-risk policy, the following risks are covered: 

  • Fire
  • Theft
  • Vandalism
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Lightning
  • Explosion/smoke
  • Water damage
  • Object/vehicle impact

Before signing a home insurance contract, it is VERY important to validate all the risks included in your policy. These vary from insurer to insurer. Make sure to understand your coverage.

What risks are not covered for an ancestral house?

With ancestral homes, certain risks may not be covered by insurers.

If an owner does not do certain work, (renovations, improvements on certain components of his property such as doors, windows, insulation, roof, etc.), there may be limitations or exclusions for certain risks and claims.

It’s on a case-by-case basis depending on a host of factors.

You must speak with an insurance broker and provide the details of the building, preferably an inspection report, to get a better idea of ​​the exclusions that may apply.

What Factors affect the cost of insurance for ancestral homes?

The price of home insurance for an ancestral home varies based on various factors related to the property’s condition and the immediate environment.

Below are the main factors that affect the cost of home insurance premiums: 

  • Building age
  • Renovations made
  • When they were made
  • Historical Home vs Centennial home 
  • Client’s insurance history 
  • Type of contract chosen
  • Possible discounts
  • Proximity to a fire hydrant/barracks (protected sector)
  • Construction materials
  • Sector/district

Do you want to compare home insurance prices? Get 3 quotes from top insurance companies for ancestral home insurance by filling out the form on this page.

Checking the status of your ancestral house

Are you interested in buying an ancestral house? Do you need pertinent information about your ancestral house for home insurance purposes?

You may visit the Directory of Cultural Heritage of Quebec to check the status of your ancestral house.

If an ancestral house has “legal” status, the file must contain a copy of the recognition by-law or the notice of classification from the MCCQ, if any.  These documents can help an insurance company assess a claim more efficiently in the future.

An insurance broker from our network can also help and give you advice about questions you may have regarding home insurance for an ancestral house.

The cost of home insurance for ancestral Houses in Quebec

The price of ancestral house insurance premiums.

Let’s move on to the question that interests you the most, specifically, how much does home insurance cost for an ancestral home in Quebec?

The answer is not simple because insurers deal with this type of property on a case-by-case basis, depending on their condition, the renovations made, their location, etc.

Nevertheless, we asked our partner brokers to give us 2 examples of prices for practically identical buildings, one being located in Quebec and the other in Lévis.

You will see that the prices are similar, but vary slightly due to the neighborhood/city where they are located, as well as a few factors related to the condition of the property.

 

2-storey ancestral house in Quebec
All-risk coverage
Under the assumption that it meets the requirements of the insurer
Rebuilding cost: $380,000
Total amount: $760,000 (including building, personal property, etc.)
Covered for water above the ground as well as below the ground (backflow, overflow of watercourses, etc.)
Civil liability: $2 Million
Inclusive of home & auto insurance rebate
Annual premium: $2,541

 

Let’s take a look and compare the above with a similar property located in Levis.

 

2-storey ancestral house in Levis
All-risks coverage
Under the assumption that it meets the requirements of the insurer
Rebuilding cost: $380,000
Total amount: $760,000 (including building, personal property, etc.)
Covered for water above the ground as well as below the ground (backflow, overflow of watercourses, etc.)
Civil liability: $2 Million
Includes home & auto insurance rebate
Annual premium: $2,799

 

Premiums are calculated on a case-by-case basis and can vary greatly. 

It’s highly recommended that you compare multiple insurers, as prices can change by 30%+.

For two similar buildings with different locations, the prices may vary, as demonstrated by the example above. 

Thus, it is very difficult to give examples of prices for this type of dwelling since there are too many factors that influence the final premium.

If you want to insure an ancestral home, speak with one of our partner insurance brokers to compare prices from several insurers.

Get 3 home insurance quotes for an ancestral House

Do you own an ancestral home or thinking about buying one? If you want to compare home insurance premiums, use our free form to save time and money. 

Fill out the form on this page to get 3 free home insurance quotes for your ancestral home in just 2 minutes!

Our partner brokers will be happy to help you, no matter where your home is located in Quebec.

Make it simple and convenient to look for the best home insurance for an ancestral home. Our partners work with the best home insurance providers in Quebec.

Save time and money!

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