Renting your space for a shoot raises a question that comes up often: what happens if something is damaged, or if the crew does not honour what was agreed? The answer is not a single protection but a framework: a signed contract, conditions you set, and the ability to require proof of the production’s insurance. Here is how it works, and where your own insurance fits in.
A signed contract before every shoot
No shoot should begin without a written contract, signed by both parties. The document sets out everything that matters in advance, so each side knows its commitments before the crew even arrives. It spells out, among other things:
- the dates and hours, including setup and strike;
- the size of the crew and the equipment allowed;
- the areas that are accessible and those that stay private;
- each party’s responsibilities if something is damaged;
- any specific conditions you want to impose.
Put in writing, these terms prevent misunderstandings. A written agreement also makes any discrepancy easier to resolve than a verbal understanding.
Require proof of the production’s insurance
Professional productions generally carry their own liability insurance, which covers damage they may cause at a location. Before accepting a booking, you are entitled to ask for proof of it, and doing so is standard practice in the industry.
You can also require a security deposit, refundable if the space is returned in the state it was found. Both the proof of insurance and the deposit are settled before the shoot and written into the contract.
Your home insurance remains your primary coverage
One important point to know: most residential home policies exclude or limit commercial activity, and a shoot is one. Before hosting a production, tell your insurer and check what your policy covers. A temporary rider may be worth adding.
Locloc frames the booking and the contract, but it does not replace your personal insurance. Your policy remains your primary coverage, which is all the more reason to require the production’s proof of insurance and a security deposit.
You approve every project
You stay in control of what happens in your space. Before a booking is confirmed, you receive a request that states the type of shoot, the dates, the size of the crew, and the proposed fee. You review the project, then accept or decline, with no obligation to explain yourself.
No production can set up in your space without your explicit consent. Your address is only shared once the booking is confirmed, which protects your privacy.
How to start
Place your space and see what productions look for by browsing the directory of filming locations across Canada, or visit the Montreal page for local demand. When you are ready, list your property on the waitlist for free.
