Home insurance in France
Regarding home insurance, France is a bit specific. It works differently than in other countries like Germany where owner takes an insurance for him but also for tenant.
In France, 3 different people must get an insurance because responsabilities are not the same. As legal obligation, when we talk of safety or maintenance :
- Tenant : he must get an insurance for his liability incurred in case of fire, explosion or water damage. He is even presumed responsible if a claim happens. He will have to prove he did not do anything. It is a responsability without fault. For example, it is very common that a water damage comes from a bathtub drainage even though it is not visible. Hence, having an insurance is necessary.
- Lessor : it has came recently that lessor must take an insurance covering his owner responsability (ALUR law).It is highly recommended to take an insurance covering his home and furniture in it, in order to compensate tenant insurance potential lacks, in case of damage. It is a « non-occupant owner » insurance.
- Co-owners collectivity : collectivity must insure the building, communal areas, co-owners civil liability.
Coexistence of those 3 insurances involves a certain complexity in damage management. This is why insurers have gradually created agreements in order to divide, simplify and accelerate claim solving.
Damage compensation (depending on its origin, nature and cost) will be covered by one insurance or another or even divided into them.
Possible cases are various and despite effort made to simplify them, it is not unusual that orientation mistakes happen to insurers, their middlemen or experts, even though they are working in a familiar environment.
It is crucial to let an insurer taking care of your assets. He will be able to understand and react in this specific environment.
It is easy to understand that it can be tricky for a foreign insurer, ignoring french rules and procedures.
Damage compensation (depending on its origin, nature and cost) will be covered by one insurance or another or even divided into them.
Possible cases are various and despite effort made to simplify them, it is not unusual that orientation mistakes happen to insurers, their middlemen or experts, even though they are working in a familiar environment.
It is crucial to let an insurer taking care of your assets. He will be able to understand and react in this specific environment.
It is easy to understand that it can be tricky for a foreign insurer, ignoring french rules and procedures.