In this article
Home liability insurance compensates third parties when damage is caused by you, your home or people for whom you are responsible. When reviewing your policy, distinguish damage arising from private life from damage related to the home, then examine the exclusions and particular situations that apply to you.
Which people and types of damage should you check?
Private life liability cover applies to damage caused to third parties by you, your spouse, your children, your animals and objects in your care. For example, your child might break a classmate’s glasses or your dog might bite someone in the street.
Identify the insured persons in your policy and check how your family circumstances are taken into account. Also examine the provisions relating to animals and objects in your care.
What damage is related to the home?
If you are a tenant, occupier’s liability insurance covers damage caused to the rented home, for example by fire, explosion or water damage. It also covers damage caused to neighbours or the jointly owned property when a fire or water damage originates in your home.
If you are an owner, building owner’s liability insurance covers damage caused to third parties by your home, even without direct fault. For example, a tile may come loose from the roof and injure a passer-by.
Review the cover corresponding to your status and to the damage the home could cause to others.
Which exclusions should you examine?
The policy specifies the exclusions. Those mentioned by Service Public include damage you cause to yourself or your family and friends, intentional damage, damage caused by a dog that may be considered dangerous, and damage covered by another policy, such as motor or professional insurance.
Liability insurance compensates only third parties. For your personal belongings, property damage or comprehensive cover is necessary.
An electrical appliance can cause a fire or water damage covered by liability insurance. However, repairs to the appliance itself are not reimbursed; specific cover may provide for this reimbursement.
Which situations require particular attention?
Home maintenance
As a tenant, you must carry out routine maintenance of the home. If a loss results from a lack of maintenance, you may be held responsible. In the example of a badly worn shower seal causing a leak that damages a neighbour’s floor or ceiling, the insurer may cover the damage, but may also refuse compensation if it considers that there has been significant negligence.
Working from home and holiday rentals
Home liability insurance does not cover damage caused in the course of a professional activity or involving professional equipment. Suitable insurance is necessary for these situations.
For a holiday rental, cover is not automatic. If the policy excludes such rentals, the insurer may refuse to compensate for certain damage caused by a guest; an extension may be accepted for the occasional rental of a room by an owner-occupier, while dedicated insurance may be required for frequent rentals.
Is the cover mandatory?
For a tenant, home liability insurance is mandatory. The owner may request a certificate covering rental risks before handing over the keys; the tenant must then provide it each year during the tenancy.
For an owner, home liability insurance is mandatory for a jointly owned property, whether the owner occupies it or rents it out. It is not mandatory for a home that is not jointly owned, but it is recommended.
This overview provides general guidance, not advice on your policy: check its cover and exclusions with your insurer before concluding that a situation is covered.