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Excess Loss Deductible Coverage for Water, Sewer & Fire.

When a water, sewer-backup, or fire loss emanates from a unit — not the common property — the unit owner can be held responsible for the strata corporation’s high deductible. This program increases the owner’s deductible coverage above their primary policy to close that gap.

Available in BC · AB · SK · MB · ON
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High strata deductibles land on the unit owner.

Insurers have substantially increased water damage and sewer-backup deductibles on the building policies arranged for residential and commercial strata corporations — and in some cases the “All Loss” deductible as well.

If the water damage or fire emanates from within an individual unit, and not from the common property, unit owners can be held responsible to pay these high deductibles.

Residential unit owners can buy deductible assessment insurance under their personal condo policy to cover this exposure — but it’s often capped at $25,000 to $100,000, which may not keep up with the strata corporation’s rising deductibles.

The Solution

Top up the unit owner’s coverage up to $750,000.

Chutter has arranged coverage that brokers can offer their customers to increase a unit owner’s water damage deductible coverage up to $750,000 in total. There’s an option to add the peril of fire to cover off fire losses that fall under the “All Loss” deductible. The excess increases the limits available should the unit owner be found liable for the strata corporation’s deductible.

Fire peril is available on residential strata units only — not commercial.

Who qualifies.

Coverage sits in excess of the unit owner’s primary deductible coverage and is triggered only once the underlying policy has paid and its limits are exhausted. Prior water or fire losses can be submitted to deductiblebuydown@chutteruw.com for a separate quote.

Residential Units

  • Available for unit owners living in their unit
  • Available for units rented to a single family with a signed annual lease
  • Short-term rentals under one year (additional premium)
  • Excess of the primary unit owner’s coverage — minimum $25,000 deductible loss assessment required

Commercial Units

  • Available for all unit owners
  • Available for units rented to others
  • Short-term rentals welcome — quote your Airbnb & VRBO clients here
  • Excess of a self-insured retention starting at $25,000

How the gap is covered.

The excess fills the gap between the unit owner’s primary deductible coverage and the strata corporation’s deductible. See the full self-quote & bind limit tables for every primary-to-excess combination.

Example 1

$250,000 strata deductible

Strata corporation’s water damage deductible $250,000
Deductible coverage under the unit owner’s condo policy $100,000
Gap covered by the excess $150,000

$100,000 is the minimum primary limit required for $150,000 of excess.

Example 2

$150,000 strata deductible

Strata corporation’s water damage deductible $150,000
Deductible coverage under the unit owner’s condo policy $75,000
Gap covered by the excess $75,000

Figures are illustrative. Actual coverage, limits, and eligibility are subject to underwriting and the issued policy.

Register for excess water damage coverage.

Brokers log on to the online portal to complete the application, obtain a quote, bind coverage, and issue policy documents.

Support deductiblebuydown@chutteruw.com Portal waterdeductiblebuydown.chutteruw.com