Residential Realty Review & Best Practices 2021

We regularly communicate and consult with the markets that provide insurance coverage to condominium corporations. Our advisors work diligently to keep up with what the insurance markets are doing regarding capacity and rating. We stay on top of and review our client’s policies and make sure to remarket when rates increase. We often collaborate with the insurance markets to find ways for condo corporations to combat risks and potentially avoid rate increases.

Current 2021 Residential Realty Market Condition

The insurance markets continue to take aggressive steps toward addressing the residential realty market’s adverse loss experience. Residential reality risks continue to suffer ever-increasing losses, with the primary type being water-related. The insurance marketplace is implementing two strategies to bring more stability to the market hopefully. These strategies are to increase premiums and limit the value insured’s capacity. If insurance companies did not implement these strategies, they would have little option other than to stop insuring residential realty altogether.

The insurance markets are also taking more decisive action on high-value condos with numerous units. Typically these properties have a higher likelihood of loss, and when one does occur, the value of the loss can be more substantial as more units may be affected. Condos continue to have the highest probability of failure, with losses affecting over 30%of properties.

What Can Condo Corporations Do?

We recommend that condo corporations invest in effective loss prevention measures, respond to previous risk improvement recommendations, and establish a water damage mitigation plan. We’ve observed that improved general maintenance could have eliminated or reduced many losses. Typically, bylaws transfer ongoing maintenance responsibility to the unit owner, which leaves the condo corporation at risk. Proactive action by condo corporations has proven to reduce the likelihood and severity of losses. Many plumbing and heating companies now provide loss prevention inspections and reports to condo corporations.

Reviewing coverage values, ensuring that deductibles align with bylaw requirements, and working with your broker to analyze your claims history to understand how claims affect policy premiums are essential when building a loss prevention strategy. With the help of our partners at Wawanesa Insurance, we have compiled the following best practices and loss control suggestions for condo corporations.

Risk Prevention & Best Practices

Liability Risk Prevention

Handrails

All handrails should be routinely checked to ensure they are secure and undamaged to reduce slip and fall incidents.

Snow Removal

We recommend removing all snow promptly after a snowfall to reduce slip hazards. If ice develops, immediate response with melting products or physical removal is essential. If you contract out your snow removal, we always recommend obtaining proof of insurance from the contractor.

Slip and Trip

Routine walkarounds should occur within the building(s) and around the exterior grounds to identify any trip and slip hazards. Hazards could include but are not limited to heaved concrete, floor mats, extension cords, and downspouts.

Work Out Facilities

Rules and regulations should be posted within all fitness facilities that clearly state the equipment’s safe and proper use and outline cleaning expectations. These signs must be clear and sized to be easily noticeable when entering and using the facility.

General Risk Prevention

Ice Damming

During the winter months, attention should be paid to the condo roofs. If there is a snow buildup on the roofs’ eaves, ice dams could form behind them. When ice dams form, water may pool, increasing the likelihood of a roof leak. If this happens, we recommend having a contractor remove the snow and ice dams. A specialist should also be consulted for recommendations on reducing the risk of this occurring again.

Vegetation

Any vegetation in contact with the building’s siding, eaves, eaves troughs, or roofing must be trimmed annually. Proper vegetation maintenance is essential for avoiding physical damage to the building and ensuring that these systems can effectively drain water away from the property.

Barbeque Use

We urge management to engage with unit owners and occupants to encourage the safe use of BBQs by implementing some best practices or guidelines, such as the following:

• Prohibit the storage of combustible items on balconies near a BBQ.
• Restrict the storage of propane cylinders to a maximum of only one 20lb cylinder, and make it a requirement to secure the cylinder to the BBQ.
• Prohibit any solid fuel cooking appliance (those which produce sparks and hot ashes).
• Mandate that BBQs be used as far away as possible from combustible walls and patio furniture.
• Mandate that BBQs be attended at all times while in use.

Additionally, independent of BBQ use, we encourage management to prohibit storing highly combustible items and flammable liquids on balconies, such as automobile tires or gasoline.

Extension Cord Use

Extension cords are a common cause of electrical fires. They are not designed or intended as a substitute for permanent wiring applications and should only be used temporarily. If extension cords are being used permanently, these should be discontinued immediately and replaced with permanently installed hardwiring designed to meet the most recent edition of the Canadian Electrical Code. Attention should be paid to extension cords as they can also present a tripping hazard.

Fire Safety Practices

Sprinkler System

To ensure the fire sprinkler system is fully operational and within proper specs, have a qualified contractor test and inspect the entire system annually.

Fire Extinguishers

Annually servicing fire extinguishers through a certified contractor or company are essential to any ongoing preventative maintenance program.

Fire Monitoring System

Ensure that all fire alarms are functioning correctly and can detect fires in emergencies. We recommend having the system serviced and inspected annually by a qualified contractor or company.

Emergency Lighting

Perform monthly testing of all emergency lighting to ensure they are operating correctly. We recommend having a qualified electrician inspect and service the emergency lighting system annually.

Smoking Best Practices

Cigarettes are one of the leading causes of fire losses. Suppose the condo corporation does allow smoking on condo grounds. In that case, we recommend putting as much distance between the building(s)and the designated smoking area as possible and installing proper metal cigarette butt disposal containers.

Flammable Liquids

All flammable liquids should be stored in a designated area away from exits and ignition sources. The storage area should be fire-rated, such as a metal flammable storage cabinet.

Gas Line Protection

If the gas meter or lines are located near an area with vehicular traffic, adequate protection is essential as this exposure could lead to an explosion or fire. We recommend that a concrete or steel bollard vehicle barrier be installed around the gas meter and lines to help reduce the risk of vehicle impact.

Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC and Ventilation Risk Prevention

Washing Machine Hoses

Flexible washing machine hoses pose a “weak link” within a building’s plumbing system. Being out of sight, they are one of the most neglected building maintenance items and give a little warning before failure. If a hose bursts, up to 600 gals of water per hour, at 70 lbs of pressure, may be discharged. Losses from hose failures are frequent and severe, resulting in large claims with policyholders absorbing their deductible.

These hoses should be inspected frequently and replaced as outlined below.

• Inspect all washing machine hoses and their connections for signs of deterioration, including but not limited to bulges, blisters, splits, corrosion, and leaks. Replace all hoses that show any signs of wear immediately.
• Physically check all hose connections for tightness and inspect the surrounding area for any signs of water and water damage.
• Replace all standard rubber and braided hoses that have been in service for five years if the manufacturer’s specifications are unknown, regardless of physical appearance and apparent condition. If the manufacturer’s specifications are known, please follow their replacement interval.
• Consider upgrading to higher-end hose types such as stainless steel or reinforced twin braided Floodchek Hoses when replacing hoses.

Dryer Vents

To avoid having dryer vents clogging up with lint and increasing the risk of fire, a qualified person or company should clean all dryer vents annually. Clogged dryer vents significantly reduce airflow, which can cause a dryer to overheat and ignite lint collected in the dryer cabinet and ducts. Clogged vents pose a severe fire hazard if left uncorrected. Plastic dryer vents have low melting points and are combustible. If present on any dryer, these should be replaced with metal vents.

Heating Equipment

As a best practice, we recommend having all heating equipment inspected and serviced annually. This will ensure the equipment performs as intended and reduce equipment breakdown risk.

Hot Water Tanks

As hot water tanks near the end of their life expectancy, the likelihood of a catastrophic rupture increases substantially. Establish a formal water heater inspection, monitoring and replacement program to prevent possible water damage to the building and contents.

A water heater inspection, monitoring and replacement program should include, at minimum, the following aspects:

• Establish, implement and enforce a water heater replacement frequency based on age (consider a maximum of 10 years).
• Replacing the anode rod annually will also help prolong the tank’s life. Some pitting and surface corrosion is typical and to be expected, but if you see large chunks of metal coating missing from the surface, it’s a good indication that the anode rod should be replaced.
• When water heaters need replacing, install the new ones on a catch pan directly plumbed to a floor drain.
• Inspect water heaters for signs of leaks regularly (at least monthly for heaters less than five years old and weekly for five years old or older).
• Ensure all people with access to the water heaters know where the water shut-off is located.

Floor Drains

If floor drains are not installed in laundry rooms and mechanical rooms, special consideration should be given to installing them in these areas. If a washing machine or water heater fails, a floor drain can significantly reduce the severity of the water loss.

Furnace, Boiler, and Mechanical Rooms

Do not store loose combustibles within 36 inches of gas-burning heating units, hot water tanks, and electrical panels.

When you work with us, we ensure that you have the right insurance for your individual needs and risks. Our team of risk experts will assist you in adequately protecting what matters most to you. Want to connect with an advisor?

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