- June 1, 2026
- Category: Auto, Home, Commercial, Life & Group, Tips & Advice
For many Atlantic Canadians, June means one thing: cottage season is back.
The first drive down the shore road. Opening the camp after a long winter. Pulling the kayaks out. Getting the BBQ running again. Whether it’s a cabin near the Bras d’Or Lakes or a family getaway along Nova Scotia’s South Shore, seasonal properties are part of life here.
But while most people spend that first weekend checking the water lines and sweeping out the leaves, very few stop to ask an important question:
Does my insurance still match how this property is actually being used?
Not All “Second Homes” Are Treated the Same
One of the biggest misconceptions around cottage insurance is assuming it works just like your primary home policy. It doesn’t.
Insurers typically separate seasonal properties based on how often they’re occupied, whether they’re rented, and how long they sit unmonitored. Those details directly affect:
- Water damage and freeze coverage
- Theft protection
- Liability exposure
- Sewer backup eligibility
The Unoccupied Property Rule Catches People Every Year
Most policies have requirements around how frequently a seasonal property must be checked. If damage occurs, a burst pipe, storm damage, vandalism, while the property has been sitting unmonitored beyond the allowed window, coverage can get complicated fast.
This matters especially in Atlantic Canada where coastal storms arrive suddenly, long stretches of rain are common, and seasonal homes can sit isolated for weeks at a time.
Before summer gets underway, it’s worth confirming how often your property needs to be checked and whether your usage matches your policy wording.
The Family Cottage Comes With Liability Too
Cottages are rarely used by just one family. Friends visit. Kids bring classmates. Extended family borrows the property for weekends. Guests bring boats, ATVs, and fire pits into the mix. All of that increases liability exposure.
If someone is injured on your property, a fall from a deck, a dock accident, something involving a recreational vehicle, your liability coverage is what protects you. Many people are still carrying limits that were set years ago, before claim costs increased significantly.
Renting Out This Summer? Your Policy Needs to Know.
Short-term rentals continue to grow across Nova Scotia and PEI during peak tourism season. But from an insurance standpoint, renting out a seasonal property, even for a few weekends, changes the risk profile entirely.
A standard seasonal policy often does not automatically cover:
- Airbnb-style or VRBO rentals
- Paying guests
- Damage caused by renters
- Liability tied to commercial use
That doesn’t mean you can’t rent. It just means your insurance should reflect it properly.
Don’t Forget the Summer Equipment
June is when seasonal purchases resurface, boats, jet skis, trailers, e-bikes, paddleboards, outdoor entertainment gear. A common assumption is that these are automatically covered under a home policy.
Sometimes they’re partially covered. Sometimes not at all. If replacing the item would be expensive, it’s worth confirming how it’s insured before peak season begins.
Talk to a Local Broker Before the it’s Late!
Seasonal living in Atlantic Canada comes with very local realities, salt air, coastal storms, shared family use, tourism rentals, and rural response times. These aren’t generic insurance situations.
At Cluett Insurance, we help homeowners and seasonal property owners across Nova Scotia and PEI make sure their coverage reflects how these properties are actually used, not how they looked on paper years ago.
Because the goal is simple: enjoy the season knowing your home away from home is properly protected. Get a home insurance quote or contact us directly before the summer gets away on you.