Owner insurance in France

You own property in France. It is one of the most valuable assets you will ever have, and one of the most exposed. Fire, flooding, a burst pipe, a neighbour's claim: any of these can turn into a serious financial loss overnight. That is exactly why owner insurance in France is not just a formality, but a financial safety net every property owner needs.

For English-speaking property owners, there is an added challenge: French owner insurance contracts are written in dense legal language, full of exclusions and conditions that are easy to miss. Choosing the wrong owner insurance policy, or being left underinsured on your owner insurance cover, is a risk that too many owners discover only when it is too late.

At Generali Cognac, we eliminate that risk entirely. We help English-speaking homeowners, expats, and investors across France get the right owner insurance policy in France: clear, competitive, and fully compliant with French law. Whether you need owner insurance for a primary residence, owner insurance for a holiday home, or owner insurance for a rental property, we make the process simple. No French jargon. No hidden gaps in coverage. No stress.

Our owner insurance policies are designed to cover the full range of situations that English-speaking owners face in France. Whatever your circumstances, we have an owner insurance solution built for you:

• Primary residence owners. You live in your French property full-time. A multi-risk owner insurance policy covers your building, contents, and civil liability, and is typically required by your mortgage lender.
• Holiday home and second home owners. Your property sits empty for months at a time. Standard owner insurance policies often exclude unoccupied properties. We find owner insurance that provides continuous, uninterrupted protection regardless of occupancy.
• Landlords and rental property owners. You rent out your property, furnished or unfurnished. A PNO owner insurance policy (propriétaire non-occupant) protects you against damage not covered by your tenant's insurance, as well as loss of rental income and civil liability for incidents that occur between tenancies.
• New buyers completing a French mortgage. French mortgage lenders require proof of owner insurance before releasing funds. We provide swift owner insurance cover with official documentation to meet your completion deadline.
• Expats and non-residents. You own a French property but live in the UK, the US, or elsewhere. We manage your entire owner insurance policy remotely, including quotes, documents, claims, and renewals, without you ever needing to navigate a French-language process alone.

French owner insurance law can be confusing, particularly for buyers who are unfamiliar with the French legal system. Here is a clear summary of your owner insurance obligations:

It is also worth knowing that French owner insurance contracts are governed by strict renewal and cancellation rules. Most owner insurance policies auto-renew annually. Our team manages all renewal correspondence and deadlines on your behalf.

• Apartment owners in shared buildings (copropriété). Civil liability owner insurance is legally mandatory. You must hold an owner insurance policy that covers damage your property causes to common areas, shared infrastructure, or neighbouring units. Without it, you are personally liable for any costs resulting from water leaks, electrical faults, or structural damage that originates in your property and affects others.
• House owners. Owner insurance is not legally compulsory for standalone houses, but virtually all French mortgage lenders require it as a contractual condition of the loan. Choosing to go uninsured means taking full personal liability for any damage, repair costs, or compensation claims. A single serious incident, such as a fire, a flood, or a subsidence claim, can cost tens of thousands of euros.
• Landlords. While tenants in unfurnished accommodation are legally required to hold their own insurance (assurance risques locatifs), landlords are strongly advised to hold a PNO owner insurance policy alongside it. Tenant insurance does not cover all scenarios, as it does not protect you during void periods, renovation phases, or situations where the tenant's owner insurance policy falls short.