You are under an obligation to take out home insurance for a furnished rental. However, this hasn't always been the case. Tenant insurance for furnished lets became compulsory after the Loi ALUR (ALUR Act) of 2014.
A furnished rental is a home equipped with the essentials you need to live normally from the day you arrive. The owner of your flat or house must therefore provide:
Insurance for rented flats is compulsory for homes let unfurnished. So, before you can move into your house or flat, you will need to find rental insurance. Without this document, the owner may refuse to rent you their property!
As the name suggests, an unfurnished let is a home rented without furniture. It therefore cannot be lived in as it is. Before you can live comfortably in your house or flat, the tenant will need to furnish it. An unfurnished let is therefore the opposite of a furnished let.
In theory, insurance for a holiday let is not compulsory, for either the tenant or the owner. In practice, the rental agreement may require you to have insurance for the duration of your stay.
If rental insurance is required for your holiday, don't rush straight out for a new policy! If you have comprehensive home insurance, your contract very probably includes “holiday cover” (garantie villégiature). This clause is generally enough to cover your holiday home during your stay. Be careful! Depending on your destination, remember to check which territories are included in your extended cover.
Your home insurance contract doesn't include “holiday cover”? Don't panic! You have two options:
The price of rental insurance varies depending on your type of home. The price of home insurance for tenants is estimated at around €216 a year for a flat. For a house, the price is generally higher: around €372 a year. You may also notice that tenant home insurance prices are slightly lower than those of contracts designed for homeowners. Don't worry: that's perfectly normal.
Of course, these figures are national averages and are given as a guide only. So don't be surprised if your quote differs from the prices given here. Many criteria affect the final price of your tenant insurance, such as:
In addition, one last, and by no means least, factor will also make the price of your tenant insurance vary. Which one? The level of cover! Basic insurance against rental risks will cost you less than full comprehensive cover. Nevertheless, bear one thing in mind… If you want maximum protection against claims, the price of your tenant insurance will inevitably be higher.
By now, one question may be nagging you: “When should I take out tenant insurance?” Should you sort it out when you sign the tenancy agreement? Should it be done when you receive the keys? Or can it be when you move in? Let's look together at the right time to arrange your home insurance.
For a rental, there is just one rule to remember (we told you it was simple!).
You have until the day before signing your tenancy agreement to take out tenant insurance. You must therefore be able to provide a certificate when you receive the keys. Of course, we strongly recommend getting organised in advance. This will let you compare offers calmly and choose tenant insurance perfectly suited to your situation. Moving home is also often a big, stressful step. Planning ahead will save you from panicking unnecessarily or acting in a rush.
A small but useful point: your insurance cover starts from the date specified in your contract, known as the “effective date”. This date determines when your home is actually insured. When signing, check the date shown in your contract carefully so that it matches the date you move in.
Yes, a landlord can require a home insurance certificate from their tenant, whether you are renting a furnished property or an unfurnished one. Wondering why? Quite simply because home insurance is compulsory for all tenants. This is set out in Article 7 of the French law of 6 July 1989! So whether you are a student, working or retired, you must take out home insurance for the main residence you rent.
The first essential step in your search: clearly define your profile. You may think this seems obvious. However, many tenants in a hurry don't take the time to assess their situation. Yet clarifying your profile will help you better define your present and future needs.
First of all, take stock of the main features of your home. With these facts to hand, you will be able to compare insurance policies objectively. So make a note of your:
Once this first review is done, you can take stock of your personal situation. Are you:
This information will be invaluable when preparing your quote!
Finally, also think about the criteria that matter most to you, such as:
Have you reviewed your whole situation? Great! Now you hold all the cards to find the best tenant home insurance!
Rent, service charges, electricity, water: a household budget can quickly get tight! Even more so when you have dependent children. So it's important for you to take out affordable tenant insurance that is still good quality. Your peace of mind and your safety depend on it! Here are our tips to help you find the best rental insurance at the best price.
First of all, take the time to define your profile as described in the previous step. This exercise will give you a clear and objective view of your tenant profile. Then, using all the information you have gathered, start comparing the offers from different companies. That way you can be sure that every contract you look at will protect you in the same way and that its price will be fair.
You discover on the day of signing that your contract is missing an essential cover. What could be more frustrating than that kind of last-minute disappointment? To avoid it, plan ahead as much as possible. By doing your research early, you can calmly reread each contract from the comfort of your home. You'll also be able to dig deeper and find the best prices on the market. Finally, remember to look at online insurers… These 100% digital companies, such as the online insurer Lovys, offer attractive prices.
Tenant insurance has the advantage of being a flexible offer. You can therefore choose the level of cover you want according to your needs. For example, you can opt for a minimum base of cover, then customise it by adding options. You'll end up with a contract tailored to your situation. Think that doesn't matter much? The financial consequences of a claim are often enormous. That's why it's essential to protect your home with the right tenant home insurance!
Home insurance has a base of compulsory cover. This is known as insurance against “rental risks”. It protects you in particular in the event of:
Rental risks cover will not compensate you if the incident affects your neighbours or your belongings. We therefore strongly advise you to supplement this cover with broader insurance that includes at least your civil liability. Insurance companies generally offer additional cover to protect your house or flat. Here are the best known:
Each insurer is free to offer the cover it wishes. So be sure to compare offers carefully to make certain you'll be compensated the way you want in the event of a claim.
Do you feel that the basic cover of this insurance isn't enough to protect your home? Fortunately, insurers generally offer so-called “optional” cover, which lets you extend your protection. It's a bit like reinforcing your suit of armour with an extra shield! The cover extensions most often offered are:
Do you have a swimming pool, a garden, a conservatory or even a wine cellar? These particular features of your home can also influence your choice of insurance. They are generally subject to additional cover. So take care to provide as much information as possible when creating your quote.
Of course, these cover extensions come at a price. They can therefore increase the price of your tenant insurance! That's why it's so important to define your profile clearly beforehand. That way, you'll only take out the cover that is most essential for your home and belongings.
Has your landlord mentioned cover for tenants' unpaid rent? Don't worry, that doesn't concern you as a tenant. Rent guarantee insurance is intended for landlords only. It allows them to be compensated if the occupants fail to pay. In the same way, your landlord cannot ask you for a certificate of rental vacancy insurance. Once again, that only concerns owners and landlords.
As you know, it is compulsory to take out home insurance when you are renting your main residence. First of all, you will need it to get into your new home. After that, your landlord can require you to provide a new certificate every year. But what actually happens if you refuse to show proof of this rental insurance?
The main consequence is no small matter for a tenant. Your landlord can simply decide to terminate your tenancy agreement. However, your lease must contain a special clause allowing this. For this decision to take effect, your contract must provide for “automatic termination of the lease” if no home insurance certificate is provided.
Still don't want to take out flat insurance for your rental? Be aware that your landlord is legally entitled to take out insurance on the tenant's behalf. What does this mean? If you don't respond positively to your landlord, they can take out home insurance in your place. Of course, the cost will then be added to your rent receipt every month. So it will be up to you to pay for the rental insurance.
You can see why it's better to choose your tenant home insurance yourself. At Lovys, we offer affordable insurance subscriptions! Everything you need to protect your home while avoiding complicated situations with your landlord!
