Insurance

Updated 22 January 2026 As Orchard House leasehold is, in effect, a rental building, the landlord is to insure for virtually all building risks at the expense of the lessees. For that reason some lessees don’t carry their own insurance, which is unwise. Like any homeowner or month-to-month tenant, lessees should have protection for their possible liability for damage to their own property and that of others, and for any injury or death in which the lessees or guests might play a role.

Beyond liability, a policy should cover the value of your suite upgrades, such as to flooring or appliances, your possessions, and for live-out expenses in event an incident makes your suite or the entire building uninhabitable.

Through BCAA my 2026 policy cost $206… ‘no suite improvements to cover, no claims history, and as a BCAA member. It’s a rental policy, not a condominium policy, which has aspects that don’t apply in a leasehold building. The insurance industry doesn’t seem to understand leasehold, so ‘best to avoid that discussion; we’re renters–albeit longterm–so inexpensive tenant insurance is what we should have.

The landlord’s note to lessees regarding insurance is attached below (opens new tab).