Owner insurance in France

A comprehensive owner insurance policy in France, known locally as assurance multirisque habitation, protects your property and your financial liability across a wide range of risks. Here is what a standard owner insurance policy in France includes:

• Fire, explosion and lightning. Full owner insurance coverage for structural damage and contents loss caused by fire, gas explosions, or lightning strikes. This is the most fundamental protection any property owner needs.
• Water damage and burst pipes. One of the most common owner insurance claims in France. Your owner insurance covers damage caused by leaking pipes, plumbing failures, accidental water overflow, and infiltration from neighbouring properties.
• Storm, hail and natural disasters. Your owner insurance covers damage caused by violent storms, hail, snow pressure, and officially declared natural catastrophes including floods in designated risk zones.
• Theft and vandalism. Owner insurance reimburses the replacement value of stolen belongings and covers repair costs following a break-in, including locks, doors, and windows.
• Civil liability. If your property accidentally causes damage or injury to a neighbour or third party, such as a water leak into the flat below or a tile falling from your roof, your owner insurance policy covers the compensation and legal costs.
• Temporary rehousing. If an incident makes your home temporarily uninhabitable, your owner insurance covers hotel accommodation, meals, and essential living expenses while repairs are carried out.

Depending on your property, you can extend your owner insurance with additional options such as:

• Pool and outbuilding cover
• Loss of rental income following an insured incident
• Legal protection for property disputes
• Valuables and high-value contents cover
• Extended owner insurance cover for properties left unoccupied for long periods

Owner insurance for every type of French property owner

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.

What French law requires from property owners

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:

• 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.

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.