To prepare for the key handover and for your home insurance to take effect, take out a policy before moving in so that the property is covered from the first day. Tell the insurer the planned date and check with them the effective date stated in the contract. Prepare for this step alongside the information about the property: this will allow you to review the proposal and ask questions before committing.
Aligning coverage with your move-in date
Service Public advises taking out insurance before moving in so that the property is covered from the first day. If the key handover and move-in are planned for different dates, give both dates to the insurer and ask them to specify when coverage begins.
When speaking with the insurer, clearly explain your planned timeline: the key handover date, the move-in date and the date on which you want protection to begin. Then ask for confirmation of the effective date and check it in the contract documents. If your timeline changes before signing, tell the insurer and ask them to clarify the consequences for the date chosen.
An insurance proposal is a preparatory step: review it before signing, then check the contract and insurance certificate with the insurer. Keep these documents handy so you can find useful information and request a correction if anything appears inaccurate.
Checking your obligations according to your situation
For a property rented under a residential lease, including a mobility lease, the tenant must take out home insurance with the minimum required coverage. If you are a tenant, tell the insurer your status and indicate the additional coverage you would like to consider.
An owner-occupier is not required to take out home insurance, but, in a condominium, they must at least have liability insurance for damage they could cause to others. Service Public nevertheless recommends home insurance for owner-occupiers, as a loss may result in expenses they have to pay.
These situations are therefore not assessed in the same way: start with your status and that of the property, then explain both to the insurer. The choice of coverage should then be considered alongside the limits and exclusions of the proposed contract.
What information should you prepare for the insurer?
You must provide accurate information about your personal circumstances and the property. The insurer may ask you to complete a questionnaire to assess the risks and set the premium. Take time to gather the requested information before completing it, then reread your answers before submitting them.
In particular, prepare the address, type of property, floor area, number of rooms, year of construction, whether there are outbuildings, its security level and its use, for example as a primary or secondary residence. Check this information against the documents you have and ask for clarification if anything remains uncertain.
For your personal circumstances, prepare your surname, first name, family status and contact details, among other things. Also indicate whether you occupy the property as an owner or a tenant. This information allows you to present your circumstances to the insurer alongside the details about the property.
Also prepare an estimate of the value of the belongings to be covered, your insurance and claims history, and the optional coverage you want. To prepare this estimate, use the categories cited by Service Public: furniture, valuables and specific equipment. Ask the insurer how to present items that you find difficult to value.
Reread your answers before submitting them: a false declaration or an omission can affect compensation. If you notice an error or missing information, tell the insurer and ask how to correct it.
Comparing coverage before signing
You can contact several professionals to compare their proposals. Service Public mentions, among others, general insurance agents, brokers, insurance companies and banks. To make comparison easier, give each of them the same timeline and the same information about the property and belongings.
Indicate the coverage you want and check the coverage limits, including risks that are not covered. You can also ask for details about the optional coverage mentioned by Service Public, such as legal protection or glass breakage. Choose the options that suit your circumstances after reading their terms.
Before signing, the insurer must give you a proposal including an information sheet on prices and coverage, as well as a copy of the draft contract or a detailed information notice. These documents must specify, among other things, the coverage limits and, for liability contracts, the conditions under which coverage is triggered. If anything remains unclear, ask for details before committing.
Do not limit your reading to the premium amount: compare it with the coverage offered, its limits and the information declared about the property. If a proposal only partly suits you, you can discuss the terms and clauses with the insurer, including the price.
Reading the contract and checking the insurance certificate
Once an agreement has been reached, the contract includes general terms and specific terms. The former cover, among other things, insured risks, exclusions and deductibles; the latter specify, among other things, your identity, the insured property and the premium.
When reading, compare the specific terms with the information you provided: identity, description and status of the property, and the premium amount. In the general terms, identify the insured risks, exclusions and deductibles, as well as the procedures for reporting a claim. Ask the insurer to explain any passages you do not understand.
An insurance certificate is provided after the contract has been signed and returned to the insurer. Check that it corresponds to the property and the planned coverage date; if in doubt, ask the insurer for confirmation before the key handover. Also keep the proposal and the contract so you can consult them when checking your coverage.
A final check before receiving the keys
Review your timeline and the documents you received: does the date you communicated still match your plans? Are the property and your status described correctly? Does the coverage selected match your request? If an answer calls for a correction or an explanation, contact the insurer before moving in.
These guidelines are for information: coverage and its effective date must be checked in your contract documents. For more details, consult the Service Public guide to taking out home insurance.
