Does Home Insurance Cover Living Room Furniture?

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Your living room furniture isn’t just décor. It’s one of the most expensive and most-used investments in your home. Whether you’ve purchased a statement sofa, a La-Z-Boy sectional, or a full living room set, protecting these items from unexpected damage is a smart financial move. Many homeowners ask: Does home insurance cover my furniture?

The short answer: yes, but with conditions. In this article, we’ll break down what home insurance actually covers, when it applies to furniture, and when you might need additional protection like warranties or specialty add-ons.

Key Takeaways:

• Most home insurance policies include furniture coverage under contents insurance.
• Coverage usually applies to events such as fire, theft, storm damage, and some water-related incidents.
• Furniture is not covered for everyday wear and tear, pet damage, mold, or negligence.
• Renters and condo owners can protect furniture through tenant insurance and condo insurance policies.
• Documentation, such as receipts and photos, is critical for successful insurance claims.
• La-Z-Boy warranties and protection plans provide an additional layer of protection that insurance does not cover.
  
  

In This Article...

1. What is Home Insurance?
2. Types of Home Insurance Policies
3. When Furniture is Covered and When It Is Not
4. Does Renters or Condo Insurance Cover Furniture?
5. Furniture Coverage: Insurance vs Warranty
6. Protecting Your La-Z-Boy Furniture

What is Home Insurance?

Home insurance is a type of financial protection designed to help homeowners recover from unexpected damage to their property or belongings. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, most policies are divided into three major areas: coverage for the dwelling itself, liability protection, and personal contents coverage. The contents coverage portion is what applies to your furniture, electronics, clothing, and other household items.

Although home insurance is not legally required in Canada, most mortgage lenders require proof of an active policy before approving a loan. Even for homeowners who have fully paid off their property, maintaining home insurance is highly recommended. 

Without it, an unexpected fire, flood, or burglary could result in thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.

Types of Home Insurance Policies

The level of protection your furniture receives depends heavily on the type of insurance policy you choose. In Canada, the most common options are:

• No-Frills Policy: This policy provides only the bare minimum coverage and is often used for homes that do not meet normal insurance standards. It rarely includes content coverage and is not recommended for homeowners who want to protect furniture.
• Standard Policy: Also known as a basic or named-perils policy, this option covers both your home and belongings, but only for specific events outlined in the contract. For example, it may cover fire or theft but not flooding or earthquake damage.
• Broad Policy: A mid-range policy that combines aspects of standard and comprehensive coverage. It typically protects the home structure from all risks, except for exclusions, while contents, such as furniture, are covered only for named perils.
• Comprehensive Policy: The most extensive and widely recommended option. It covers the home and belongings against all risks unless explicitly excluded. Furniture losses are almost always included unless they are caused by exclusions such as neglect, wear and tear, or earthquake damage.

It is also important to note that the type of property you live in influences the policy you need. Homeowners typically carry a house policy, condo owners require condo insurance, and tenants rely on renters insurance. 

Each of these policy types has different rules, but all provide some form of contents coverage for furniture.

When Furniture is Covered and When It Is Not

One of the most important details to understand about home insurance is that it only covers sudden, accidental, and unexpected events. Everyday issues such as wear and tear or preventable damage are not included. The table below outlines the common situations where your living room furniture would be protected, and the situations where coverage does not apply.

This comparison shows that home insurance is designed to protect against unpredictable events, not issues that could have been avoided with proper upkeep. If you want protection for everyday risks such as accidental spills, stains, or mechanical issues with your recliner or sofa, a warranty or extended protection plan is often the better option.

Does Renters or Condo Insurance Cover Furniture?

Yes, both renters' insurance and condo insurance provide coverage for living room furniture under contents insurance. For tenants, this means that even if your landlord’s insurance covers the building, your personal belongings, including your furniture, will not be protected unless you have your own tenant policy.

Condo insurance operates similarly. While the condominium corporation insures the building structure, it does not extend protection to your personal items inside your unit. A condo policy fills this gap by protecting furniture, appliances, and personal belongings.

For both renters and condo owners, it is essential to review your policy limits. If you have high-value living room furniture, you may need to increase your contents coverage or schedule certain items for additional protection.

Furniture Coverage: Insurance vs Warranty

Although home insurance covers your furniture in cases of unexpected events, it is not the same as a furniture warranty. Insurance pays for replacement after a loss, while a warranty protects against defects and specific kinds of accidental damage.

At La-Z-Boy, furniture is backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty that covers key structural components such as frames, mechanisms, and springs. Customers also have the option to purchase an Extended 5-Year Protection Plan, which adds coverage for stains, accidental damage, and repairs not included in basic warranties.

This distinction is important. If your sofa is damaged in a house fire, your home insurance would apply. If the reclining mechanism stops working due to a defect, the warranty would provide coverage. For the best protection, it is wise to rely on both.

Protecting Your La-Z-Boy Furniture

There are several steps you can take to make sure your living room furniture is fully protected under home insurance.

1. Keep Documentation: Save all purchase receipts and take photos of your furniture. This will make it easier to prove ownership and condition if you need to file a claim.
2. Bundle Policies: Many insurers offer discounts when you combine home and auto insurance, which can help offset rising premiums.
3. Review Policy Limits: Standard policies usually include contents coverage, but there may be dollar limits for certain categories. If you have high-value furniture, consider increasing your coverage or asking about scheduled items.
4. Use Warranties Wisely: For everyday risks such as stains or mechanical issues, rely on La-Z-Boy’s warranty options, which provide peace of mind beyond what insurance can offer.

With extreme weather events becoming more common, Canadian insurance premiums have been increasing. A combination of proper insurance coverage and La-Z-Boy warranty protection is the best way to safeguard your investment.

What's Next?

When looking at home insurance policies, it is always best practice to look at many different companies and compare each of them to see what best suits you.

If you still have questions about home insurance and want to learn more, the Government of Canada has a webpage that discusses everything you need to know.

You can also start shopping by visiting one of our local showrooms located in Ottawa, Gatineau or Kingston. You can also schedule a visit online before coming in.

Our design consultants are always eager to lend a helping hand. Take advantage of our interior design services to see how our furniture could fit in your home design.  To learn more about La-Z-Boy Furniture, take a look at our comprehensive Furniture Buyer’s Guide.

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