A new survey offers a useful warning for Ontario homeowners heading into travel season. According to a TD Insurance survey conducted by Leger from September 23 to 28, 2026, and reported on October 6, close to half of Canadians plan to leave their main home unattended for more than a day this fall or winter. Yet only 15 per cent said they would check what their policy requires while the property is empty, and just 7 per cent said they would notify their insurer. Home coverage does not always work the same way when no one is home.
An empty house carries risks that grow with time. A small leak can run for days, a heating failure can lead to burst pipes, and a break-in can go undiscovered. The survey found that about one quarter of Canadians who had left a home unattended for more than a day had experienced a weather, electrical, plumbing, or security problem during the absence. Among owners of seasonal or secondary properties, that figure was 62 per cent.
Unoccupied Is Not the Same as Vacant
Home policies generally draw a line between two situations that sound similar but are treated very differently. An unoccupied home is one where the owner is temporarily away and plans to return, such as a family on a two week trip. A vacant home is one where the occupants have moved out, often with furniture removed and no regular return planned.
That distinction matters at claim time. The General Insurance OmbudService notes that most insurers consider a home vacant after 30 consecutive days, depending on the policy. In those cases, a vacancy permit, an endorsement, or a separate vacant home policy may be needed to keep coverage in place. A snowbird away for two or three months can pass that threshold easily, as can a cottage closed from October to May. If you are unsure which category applies, ask your broker before you leave, not after a loss.
What Your Policy Typically Asks For While You Are Away
Most Ontario home policies include some version of the same three expectations, though your own policy wording controls. First, heat and plumbing. The Insurance Bureau of Canada has warned that damage from frozen indoor plumbing may not be covered if a home is left during the heating season unless the plumbing is drained or someone checks the property regularly to make sure the heat stays on. Turning the thermostat down to save money can work against you if it drops below the level your policy requires.
Second, regular check-ins. Many policies require a competent person to visit at set intervals, and insurers set their own intervals. A neighbour popping in once during a three week trip may not meet a policy that requires a visit every few days. Ask your broker to confirm the interval in your policy, and put the arrangement in writing with the person doing the checks. Third, notice for longer absences. If your trip or winter away will stretch past the vacancy limit in your policy, your broker or insurer generally needs to know in advance. A short endorsement or vacancy permit is far simpler to arrange before departure than to sort out after a claim.
A Checklist Before You Leave
Start with the paperwork. Read the vacancy and unoccupied wording in your policy, note the required check-in interval and any heating requirement, and confirm whether your absence needs a vacancy permit or endorsement. If anything is unclear, a short call to your broker can settle it.
Next, set up the check-ins. Choose someone reliable, give them a key, and leave written instructions: how often to visit, what to look for, where the water shut-off is, and who to call if something looks wrong. Ask them to confirm each visit, even with a short message, so there is a record that the visits happened.
Then prepare the house. Keep the heat at the level your policy requires, and consider shutting off water to appliances such as the washing machine if you will be gone for a while. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, lock windows and doors, put a few lights on timers, hold mail or have someone collect it, and avoid posting travel plans on social media. Take dated photos of each room and keep your policy number and broker contact reachable while travelling.
Cottages and Snowbirds Need Extra Attention
The survey gap is widest for the people most exposed. Among owners of cottages, cabins, and other secondary properties, 81 per cent planned to leave the property unattended for more than a day in the coming months, and 62 per cent of seasonal owners who had left a property unattended said they had experienced a problem while away. A cottage closing for the season needs the same checklist, plus winterizing: draining plumbing where required, removing valuables, securing outbuildings, and arranging periodic checks.
Snowbirds face a different version of the same issue. A winter away is often long enough to cross the vacancy threshold, so the conversation with your broker should happen before you book, not after you arrive. Ask whether you need a vacancy permit or endorsement, what check-in interval applies, and what heating conditions must be met.
If Something Goes Wrong While You Are Away
Contact your broker or insurer promptly, even if you are still travelling. Your checker can take photos and let a contractor in if emergency repairs are needed. Keep receipts for emergency work, and do not authorize major repairs before speaking with your insurer unless immediate action is needed to prevent further damage. A quick call from the road beats waiting until you are home.
The Bottom Line
Leaving home empty is normal. What the survey shows is that many people arrange a check-in without checking the policy conditions that decide whether a claim is covered. A short review before you leave, a written check-in plan, and a heads-up to your broker for longer absences can close that gap.
Related coverage: home insurance.