Every owner must protect his home with home insurance.

-

IStock / City Presse

Becoming an owner is the goal of the vast majority of French people.

Once his home has been purchased, it is out of the question to leave it at the mercy of all the dangers that could strike it.

But how do you best protect it?

An essential contract

In terms of housing, comprehensive home insurance is essential.

This contract aims not only to cover your accommodation and its contents (furniture and objects within the limit of a global value fixed with the insured) against most of the damage that could be caused to them, but also to take over your liability by report to this good.

Between the risks of water damage, burglary, damage due to storms or a negligent tenant, not to mention the danger of fire and vandalism, your home can be affected in several ways.

In view of the serious financial consequences at stake, the legislator has made the subscription of a multi-risk housing contract compulsory for all tenants as well as for owners, occupants or not, whose property is located in co-ownership.

On the other hand, insofar as the damage undergone by a house not located in co-ownership affects only its owner, the legislator leaves it to the latter to protect himself if he wishes.

A panel of guarantees

As its name suggests, comprehensive home insurance covers a number of dangers.

In detail, there is a common base of protections from one company to another.

All contracts include at least a fire-explosion guarantee, as well as the essential water damage guarantee, which aims to compensate for damage caused by a leak, a rupture or a pipe overflow.

Your windows, skylights and other bay windows are protected against "glass breakage", while theft and vandalism are each covered by a dedicated guarantee.

In the weather register, there are two mandatory clauses, the first dedicated to the consequences of a natural disaster, and the second targeting storms and other climatic events.

Although the risks are lower, a guarantee against technological catastrophes and insurance against acts of terrorism or attacks are also included.

Multiple optional guarantees, for example concerning electrical damage, can supplement your coverage, at an additional cost.

Beware of small lines

With such an armada, the protection of your home seems total.

But the devil is still in the details.

Each guarantee in fact includes a whole series of exclusions, that is to say circumstances in which you will not be covered, but also compensation limits above which you will be out of your pocket, without forget about deductibles that you will also have to pay.

Well known for its onerous restrictions, theft and vandalism coverage only applies if you have previously properly protected your home in accordance with the terms of your contract.

Also, beware of your addictions.

Because insurers generally take the term “home” in the strict sense and consequently exclude garages, cellars or even garden furniture left outside or stored in a storage room from coverage.

Economy

House: What are the rules regarding the maintenance of its heating?

Economy

Housing: What are the possibilities when buying off plan?


How to choose ?

Are you afraid of the amount of items to check?

Do not panic, beyond online comparators, which should be taken with a grain of salt, the legislator simplifies your task.


Since October 1, 2018, insurers must indeed provide their future customers with an “information document on the insurance product” (DIPA) before any subscription to non-life insurance (home, automobile, supplementary health, etc. ).

This standardized form must include in two or three pages the main guarantees and exclusions of the contract, all in a language understandable by all.

And even if you discover after the fact that your coverage is not ideal, the Hamon law of 2014 allows you to terminate your contract at any time after one year of engagement, without penalty.

  • Insurance

  • Apartment

  • Immovable

  • Housing

  • House

  • Rental

  • Damage