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Summary: Protecting your home starts with home insurance, which covers repair or replacement and liability and is required by most mortgage lenders. Beyond that, take proactive safety steps: install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, build and practise a fire escape plan, store flammable materials safely, and keep your electrical, heating, and roof in good repair. When you are buying, your lawyer and your insurance both protect your investment at closing.
Your home is one of your most valuable assets, so protecting it from fire and other accidents deserves real attention. Good protection comes in two parts: the financial backstop of insurance, and the proactive steps that stop disasters before they start. Here is what to put in place on both fronts.
What's the first step to protecting your home?
The first step is home insurance (also called property or fire insurance). It covers the cost of repairing or replacing your home and its contents after events like fire, theft, or other accidents, and it provides liability coverage if someone is injured on your property. Without it, an unexpected loss can become a serious financial burden.
It is also rarely optional in practice: most mortgage lenders require proof of home insurance as a condition of the loan. For a fuller breakdown of coverage, cost, and how to shop for a policy, see our guide on property insurance.
What proactive steps protect your home from fire and disasters?
Insurance is the backstop, but preventing a disaster in the first place protects both your property and your peace of mind. A few key steps:
Install smoke alarms. Put smoke alarms on every level of your home and near each bedroom, test them regularly, and replace the batteries as needed so they are ready when it counts.
Create and practise a fire escape plan. Map multiple escape routes, set a meeting place outside, and include a plan for calling the fire department. Practise it so everyone knows what to do.
Store flammable materials safely. Keep gasoline, cleaning products, and matches in a cool, dry place away from heat and out of reach of children and pets, label containers clearly, and dispose of them properly.
Install carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide is odourless and colourless, so detectors are the only way to catch a leak. They can be life-saving.
Maintain heaters, electrical, and your roof. Keep portable heaters away from flammables and never leave them unattended, inspect electrical systems and appliances regularly, and use fire-resistant roofing while keeping gutters clear of debris.
How do you protect your home when you're buying it?
Protection starts before you even own the home. At closing, your lender will require proof of insurance before releasing mortgage funds, and your real estate lawyer delivers that proof so the deal can complete. Lining up your policy early keeps closing on track.
Your lawyer also protects the legal side of your investment by reviewing title and arranging title insurance, which guards against ownership and title risks that physical safety measures cannot. For more on the value a lawyer adds at this stage, see 7 reasons why you need a real estate lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
How can you protect your home from fire?
Install smoke alarms on every level and near bedrooms, add carbon monoxide detectors, build and practise a fire escape plan, store flammable materials safely, and keep heaters, electrical systems, and your roof well maintained. Home insurance covers the financial loss if a fire still happens.
Is home insurance required for homeowners?
It is not mandated by law, but most mortgage lenders require proof of home insurance as a condition of the loan, so any financed home effectively needs it. Even without a mortgage, it protects you from large, unexpected repair or replacement costs.
Where should you install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms?
Place smoke alarms on every level of the home and near each bedroom, and test them regularly. Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed so they can catch a leak, since the gas is odourless and colourless.
What is a fire escape plan?
A detailed plan for how your household will leave the home in a fire. It includes multiple escape routes, a meeting place outside, and a plan for calling the fire department, and it works best when everyone practises it.
How does a lawyer help protect your home when buying?
Your lawyer reviews title, arranges title insurance against ownership risks, and delivers your proof of property insurance to your lender so mortgage funds can release at closing, protecting both the legal and financial sides of your purchase.
About the author
Benjamin Berry is a co-founder and principal lawyer at Ownright. He works on Ontario residential purchases, sales, and refinances, and writes to make the legal side of a real estate transaction clearer for the people going through it.
At Ownright, we focus on Ontario real estate law and protect your investment at closing, from reviewing title to arranging title insurance and confirming your lender's requirements are met. You can start your closing online or get in touch with any questions.
Important note: This article is not legal advice. No one should act, or refrain from acting, based solely on the information in this post or any linked materials without first seeking appropriate legal or professional advice.
