Home Insurance in France

Home insurance in France is a legal requirement – whether you own your home or rent – you must have insurance.

Home Insurance in France: A Guide for Expats

Home insurance, or “assurance Multi-Risques Habitation” (MRH in French), is essential in France, covering both owners and renters. Fabien Pelissier of Fab Insurance says expats should be aware of key differences compared to home insurance back home.

French law requires tenants to have home insurance that covers damages such as fire, water damage, and vandalism. Homeowners and tenants share the obligation to ensure “responsabilité civile”, which covers liability in case someone is injured on your property.

What You Should Know

When purchasing a property in France, you’ll need an insurance policy before finalising the sale. It’s important to check specific insurer requirements. For example, many policies have stipulations about security measures, like shutters or window locks. Insurers may also ask for property assessments, including photos of the interior and outbuildings, especially if you own a large property.
But what do they mean by a large property? In France, “main rooms” refer to any room over 7m² that is heated and furnished, except kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, garages, and utility rooms. A property will generally be considered large if there are more than 8 main rooms.

What if I Have Kids?

School insurance is often overlooked. Many expat families are surprised to learn that French schools require students to be insured for extracurricular activities. This is often bundled with home insurance, so make sure to check it’s included in your policy.

Natural Disasters

French home insurance typically includes coverage for natural risks including flooding, storms and forest fires. French authorities declare your area a “natural disaster zone”, your insurance company is required to compensate you, with the excess/deductible determined by the authorities.

Changing insurer

If you plan to switch insurers, France’s “Loi Hamon” (also called “résiliation infra-annuelle”) allows you to cancel your policy at any point after the first year, but you must provide your insurer with a minimum 30 days notice to cancel – your new insurer can also do this for you. This includes all types of insurance including health insurance.

Final Tips for Expats

• French insurance policies consider “main rooms” rather than the size or number of bedrooms, so don’t be confused. A property is considered “big” if it has more than 8 main rooms (see above).
• Accidental damages are not usually covered in France, so don’t expect this by default.
• The value of your property is often based on repair or reconstruction costs, not the actual market value, unless it’s a very large or historical property.
• Policies don’t expire in France, they are automatically renewed. If you want to cancel or change, make sure you set the process in motion a minimum of 30 days before the policy expires and note it must be more than 12 months old.

For personalised assistance, FAB French Insurance is available to help expats with their insurance needs (English spoken).