Home Insurance When You're Away: Vacation & Vacancy Rules for Vancouver Homeowners

December 11, 2025

Heading out of town from Vancouver for a getaway, work trip, or a longer winter escape? Before you lock the door and hop on a flight, it’s worth checking one important detail in your home insurance policy: how long your home can be left unattended.

Many home insurance policies include a vacancy or unoccupancy time limit (often a few weeks to a month, depending on your insurer and coverage). If your home sits empty beyond your policy’s limit, certain coverages — especially water damage — can be reduced or denied. The safest move is to notify your broker or insurer before you go, particularly for extended trips.

If you leave your house empty for an extended period, it may be treated as vacant or even an underused property in other contexts. From a home insurance perspective, vacancy increases risk and can impact coverage if not disclosed.

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When should you inform your insurer before a trip?

There isn’t one universal rule, but a good guideline is to notify your broker at least two weeks before you leave if you’ll be away longer than a typical vacation. Some home insurance policies require notification once you exceed a specific number of consecutive days away, so it’s important to confirm your exact policy wording.

In Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, this matters even more because water losses — such as leaks, burst pipes, and failed supply lines — are among the most common and expensive home insurance claims, especially when a home is unattended.

Why insurers care about vacancy

Vacancy clauses: Many home insurance policies include clauses that limit how long a home can be left unattended or unoccupied. Exceeding that limit without approval may restrict coverage for certain losses.

Increased risk: Empty homes are more vulnerable to theft, vandalism, and undetected damage such as slow water leaks. The longer a property goes unchecked, the greater the potential severity of a claim.

Planning a longer trip? Ask about a vacancy permit or endorsement

If you’ll be away longer than your policy allows, your broker can often arrange a solution — such as a vacancy permit or policy endorsement — to ensure your home insurance coverage remains in place while you’re away.

Tips to keep your Vancouver-area home safe while you travel

• Lock and reinforce entry points: Secure doors, windows, patio sliders, and garage access.
• Use smart home controls: Smart lighting, thermostats, and security cameras help your home appear occupied.
• Set light timers: Randomized schedules are more effective than predictable routines.
• Tell a trusted neighbour or friend: Ask someone to collect mail and watch for unusual activity.
• Arrange regular check-ins: Some home insurance policies require documented check-ins during extended absences.
• Reduce water risk: Shut off the main water supply and consider leak detection devices.
• Maintain heat in winter: Keep heat at a safe level to prevent frozen pipes.
• Pause deliveries: Hold mail and newspaper deliveries.
• Keep valuables out of sight: Secure high-value items.
• Review your policy before you go: Confirm vacancy and water-damage conditions.
• Consider a house sitter: Confirm how your insurer defines “occupied.”

Vacant vs. unoccupied: what’s the difference?

Unoccupied generally means no one is living in the home temporarily, but it remains furnished and you intend to return.

Vacant means the home is largely empty and not being lived in. From a home insurance standpoint, vacant homes are considered higher risk.

Protect your home while you’re away

Whether you’re leaving from Kitsilano for a weekend trip, travelling from Burnaby for work, or spending a month away from your North Vancouver home, a quick review of your home insurance policy can help prevent coverage issues. If you’re unsure how long your policy allows your home to be unattended, our team can help you confirm the details and keep your coverage intact while you’re away.