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For an empty home, insurance deserves a review before you leave or during a vacancy between tenancies. Review your policy and explain the planned period to your insurer to find out which cover and conditions apply to your situation. Your discussion can address both the declared characteristics of the home and the clauses governing the cover.
Which documents should you consult?
Review the general terms and the specific terms of your policy. The general terms cover, among other things, insured risks, exclusions, deductibles and the steps for reporting a claim. The specific terms describe, among other things, the insured risk and the situation of the home.
Start by comparing the description of the home in the specific terms with your situation. Then identify the insured risks and exclusions in the general terms. A deductible is the amount the policyholder must pay following a claim and which will therefore not be reimbursed by the insurer.
In these documents, look for passages relating to occupancy of the home and limits on cover. Ask your insurer to explain how they apply to the duration and circumstances of your absence. Keep the references to the relevant clauses so you can find them during your discussion.
What should you tell your insurer?
Prepare a precise description of your situation: the address of the home, whether you are an owner or tenant, its declared use, the planned period of absence and contact details where you can be reached. You can also check the estimated value of the belongings to be covered and the declared level of security.
When you take out a policy, the insurer may ask you to complete a questionnaire to assess the risks and set the premium. The information requested includes the type of home, its floor area, its number of rooms, its outbuildings and its use as a main or secondary residence. An estimate of the value of the belongings to be covered and the occupancy status are also requested.
Before contacting your insurer, compare these details with those in your specific terms. Tell them about the situation you are planning and ask what information they need to assess it. A false declaration or omission can have serious consequences, including a reduction in compensation.
Ask your insurer about any steps you may need to take and keep their response with your policy. They can tell you what information is needed to assess your situation.
Which cover should you examine during the absence?
For each type of cover relevant to you, ask the insurer about its conditions and limits during the period when the home will be empty. Also check the exclusions, deductibles and procedure to follow in the event of a claim.
You can organise your review around specific questions: what risk is covered by the cover being examined? What exclusion appears in the policy? What deductible applies? What steps for reporting a claim are specified? Then put your questions to the insurer, specifying the planned period and circumstances.
If a change in circumstances could affect your policy, you must inform your insurer. Explain the circumstances of your absence to determine the appropriate steps, without assuming that every absence automatically results in a change in cover.
Landlord or tenant: what points should you distinguish?
For a landlord, Service Public recommends non-occupying owner insurance: it provides protection, among other situations, when the home is empty. In some jointly owned buildings, this insurance may be mandatory. If you are preparing for a vacancy between tenancies, review your policy’s cover in light of the home’s situation and ask your insurer for the relevant details.
If you are a tenant of a home rented under a residential lease, including a mobility lease, you must take out home insurance with the minimum required cover. Before considering cancellation, check the consequences for your cover: for a tenant changing insurers, the new policy must take over before the old one is cancelled.
If you own the home in which you live, home insurance is strongly recommended. If the home is in a jointly owned building, you must have at least civil liability insurance for damage you may cause to others. Your status and the situation of the home are therefore details to present when asking for clarification.
These points are general information. Reviewing your policy and your situation with your insurer helps clarify the conditions applicable to your absence.