Oil tanks, knob-and-tube and aluminium wiring: the insurance red flags
Doorvia Guides · June 3, 2026
Certain older systems can make a home difficult or costly to insure, which can also block your financing.
Some features in older Ontario homes routinely complicate insurance: buried or aging oil tanks, knob-and-tube wiring, aluminium branch wiring, 60-amp electrical service, galvanised or lead water supply lines, and roofs near end of life.
Insurers may decline, exclude coverage, or require replacement within a set period after closing. Because lenders require insurance in place to advance funds, an insurance problem quickly becomes a financing problem.
Handle it during your conditional period. Get a written insurance quote based on the actual inspection findings, obtain quotes for remediation, and if the work is significant, use it in your negotiation rather than discovering it after you are firm.
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