Some people adopt dogs or cats, while others prefer to adopt exotic animals such as snakes or other reptiles. If you own a cold-blooded animal, you may not have thought about your home insurance. However, bringing a reptile into your home can have an impact on your home insurance!
En effet, certains assureurs pourraient choisir de résilier votre contrat en apprenant que vous possédez un reptile. Ils pourraient même refuser de vous indemniser s’ils le découvrent alors que vous faites une réclamation. Nous avons justement un article qui traite de la résiliation pour aggravation de risque.
In this article, Assurances Multi-Risques explains what motivates this decision on the part of insurance companies. It also discusses the importance of informing your insurer if there is a reptile in your home.
Why do some insurers refuse to insure reptile owners?
According to the Civil Code of Québec, owners of animals, including reptiles, are required to compensate for any damage caused by their pets.
If a victim suffers damage caused by an animal, they do not have to prove the owner’s fault, only that of the animal. Therefore, if your animal causes harm to another person, you will be held liable for its actions. You are responsible for the animal, whether it is being looked after by someone else or even if it is lost.
La victime pourrait donc décider de vous poursuivre et vous pourriez être tenu de lui verser une indemnisation. Et c’est là que votre assurance responsabilité civile entre en jeu!
Civil liability in home insurance
You benefit from civil liability insurance when you purchase home insurance. It protects you if you, someone living under your roof, or your pet are held liable for unintentional damage caused to someone else. It covers legal fees as well as costs associated with settling the other person’s claim.
As a result, some insurers consider that owning reptiles presents too high a risk of incidents. They therefore simply refuse to insure the homes of people who own them.
Do you remember the incident in New Brunswick in 2013 in which two children lost their lives after being suffocated by a python? Incidents like this can be extremely costly for insurers. It is because of the risks involved that many insurance companies refuse to insure reptile owners.
Do you need to tell your home insurer that you own a reptile?
Tout comme les propriétaires de Pitbull, de Rottweiler ou de Dobberman – des chiens considérés dangereux, les personnes qui adoptent un reptile sont tenues de le déclarer à leur assureur. C’est la loi, et c’est aussi le meilleur moyen d’éviter tout problème en cas de réclamation.
If you make a claim and your insurer finds out, they may refuse to pay you, citing an increase in risk.
Votre assureur pourrait décider de résilier votre contrat en apprenant que vous possédez un reptile. Si cela se produit, nous vous conseillons fortement de contacter un courtier d’assurance indépendant spécialisé dans les risques hors normes. Il sera en mesure de trouver pour vous un assureur habitation qui accepte de vous couvrir.
In conclusion, when we adopt an animal, we do so out of love and to have a companion for life. We see only the positive aspects, and we are far from thinking that this animal could cause harm to others.
Insurance for your reptile
We are even further from thinking that this could have an impact on our home insurance! However, these are factors to consider, especially when adopting a reptile.
To ensure you have adequate coverage if you own a cold-blooded animal, contact one of our independent insurance brokers. They will help you find an insurer that suits your situation.