Homeowners & Renters Insurance in St. Maarten

Dwelling Coverage

Dwelling coverage relates to the physical structure of a home and the damage it may suffer from covered events such as fire, storms or lightning. In St. Maarten, where the Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, many owners look closely at how a policy treats wind and storm damage. The limit is often set with reference to the estimated cost of rebuilding the home. An advisor can explain how a rebuilding cost may be estimated and how the limit relates to what a policy may pay. Which events are covered, and which are excluded, depends on the insurer and policy wording.

Personal Property Coverage

Personal property coverage relates to possessions inside a home, such as furniture, clothing, electronics and appliances, and the loss or damage they may suffer from covered events. It can be useful to make a list of your belongings and their approximate value when considering a limit. An advisor can discuss how a home inventory may help, and how items of higher value are sometimes treated.

Liability Coverage

Liability coverage is designed to help if someone is accidentally injured on your property and makes a claim against you. Depending on the policy, it may help with the other party’s expenses and legal costs up to the coverage limit. An advisor can discuss the limits you might consider in light of your circumstances.

Additional Living Expenses

If you have to move out temporarily because of covered damage, some policies may help with extra costs such as lodging or meals. Whether this applies, and for how long or up to what amount, depends on the insurer and policy wording. An advisor can explain how this cover works.

Things to Consider in St. Maarten

Why Review Homeowners and Renters Insurance in St. Maarten

St. Maarten’s weather, including hurricane season (1 June to 30 November), is one of the factors people often consider when reviewing property insurance. Policies differ in how they treat hurricane, wind, flood and water damage, and in the deductibles that apply. It may be worth reading the wording carefully, and an advisor can explain what a policy says about these events and what it excludes.

Homeowners and Renters

Homeowners Renters Insurance

Homeowners and renters insurance can relate to a property and its contents, and to liability claims. Dwelling coverage may help pay to repair or rebuild a home damaged by storms or other covered events. Personal property coverage may apply to possessions that are stolen or damaged by an insured event, such as wind or fire.

Liability coverage is designed to help if someone is injured on your property and makes a claim. Additional living expenses may help with temporary housing costs if a home cannot be occupied after covered damage. Since Hurricane Irma in September 2017, many people on the island review their storm cover and deductibles, and some ask about flood and hurricane cover, which may be offered as part of a policy or as an add-on, depending on the insurer.

For renters, personal property and liability coverage are often the main areas to consider, since the building itself may be insured by the owner. Policy limits depend on your circumstances, and an advisor can discuss them with you. You are welcome to bring questions about coverage to an advisor.

Home and Contents Insurance in Sint Maarten and Saint Martin

Homes in Sint Maarten (the Dutch side) range from apartments and condominiums in Simpson Bay, Cupecoy and Maho to houses in Cole Bay, Philipsburg, Oyster Pond and Dawn Beach. Hurricane Irma in September 2017 caused widespread damage on the island, and it is one reason many owners and tenants have reviewed their dwelling limits, deductibles and the way a policy treats wind, flood and water damage. Owners may want to ask how the rebuilding cost has been estimated, and tenants may want to ask about belongings and liability. It is also worth checking the currency of the sum insured and the premium, as US dollars are widely used locally and a policy may be written in another currency. An advisor can explain what applies locally.

For more on how storm damage, flood and hurricane deductibles are described, see hurricane insurance in St. Maarten.

Contact Us

If you own or rent a home in St. Maarten, you can speak with an advisor about your property insurance options and ask for quotes from insurers. Use the form to share your details, and an advisor can get in touch to discuss your situation and explain policy wording.

To discuss this, you can request a call back or call +1 721 542 5078. The offices are in Philipsburg and Cole Bay.