In shared housing, the joint certificate serves as proof of home insurance for the landlord. To check that the occupants are protected, you also need to look at the policy: when insurance is taken out in everyone’s name, each housemate must be listed in it to benefit from the cover. Reviewing the cover and its limits completes this check.
Checking the shared housing joint certificate when signing
Each housemate must have home insurance covering at least rental risks: fire, explosion and water damage. This obligation can be met through individual insurance or joint insurance taken out in the names of all housemates.
When all housemates have signed a single lease, they can take out a single joint insurance policy. One housemate can take out the insurance on behalf of everyone, but all must be listed in the policy to benefit from the cover.
Before moving in, compare the list of housemates with the list in the policy. If a name is missing or the scope of cover is unclear, ask the insurer for clarification. A housemate who is not listed in the policy will not be compensated in the event of a claim.
Insurance must be taken out before moving in so that the home is covered from the first day. The housemates must provide a certificate to the landlord at the start of the tenancy, then every year. At signing, plan both to check the policy and to provide the certificate.
How should you read the certificate and the policy?
The certificate proves that the home is insured; the policy lets you examine the cover in more detail. For joint insurance, check the names in the policy rather than stopping at the name of the person who took it out. If a housemate’s status remains unclear, ask the insurer to clarify it.
Before signing, the insurer must provide a proposal including an information sheet on prices and cover, as well as a draft policy or a detailed information notice. These documents must specify, among other things, the limits of the applicable cover, including a list of risks not covered.
The general terms concern, among other things, the risks covered, exclusions, deductibles and procedures for reporting a claim. The specific terms concern, among other things, the insured person’s identity, the description of the home and the premium amount. Read both parts in light of the housemates’ needs and ask for clarification on any points that remain unclear.
When taking out the policy, tell the insurer what cover you want and provide accurate information about your circumstances and the home. An estimate of the value of the belongings to be covered is also required. To prepare for the discussion, review the personal belongings you want to protect and the limits stated in the proposal.
What if each housemate has their own insurance?
Each housemate can take out an individual policy with the insurer of their choice. In this arrangement, check each person’s cover and the protections provided by their own policy. If all policies are taken out with the same insurer, this can make claims handling easier.
When everyone has an individual policy, each person must report their claim to their insurer. Each person is compensated by their own insurer according to the cover provided in their policy. It is therefore important to be able to prove ownership of personal belongings.
To prepare the documents to give the landlord, identify the insurance arrangement chosen by each housemate and request the corresponding certificates from the insurers concerned. Also keep the relevant policy information so you know whom to contact if a claim arises.
What does insurance taken out by the landlord cover?
In some cases, the landlord can take out insurance on behalf of the housemates; this clause must then appear in the lease. The cost is shared among the housemates and included in the rent.
This insurance covers only rental risks, meaning damage caused to the building: it does not protect personal belongings or cover damage caused to third parties. Comprehensive home insurance can be taken out as additional cover. Before choosing additional cover, review the protections and their limits with the insurer.
If no certificate is provided, the landlord can send the housemates a formal notice by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. If the certificate is not provided to the landlord within 1 month, the landlord can take out insurance on their behalf. This insurance covers only rental risks.
What should you do when an occupant arrives or leaves?
When someone leaves or arrives, notify the landlord so that they can update the lease or draw up an amendment. If the insurance is collective, also inform the insurer so that the new occupant is included in the policy; an amendment may be necessary.
Without an update, the new occupant might not be covered in the event of a claim. After the change, check the names and cover with the insurer, then request an updated certificate to give the landlord. Take this opportunity to review the applicable cover and its limits.
Why check before a claim arises?
If a joint policy names all housemates individually, each can be compensated according to the losses suffered; supporting documents, such as receipts, photos or a list of damaged belongings, are required. If the policy is only in one housemate’s name, only their belongings can be covered.
If one housemate has taken out a policy on behalf of everyone, they are generally responsible for reporting the claim, identifying the other housemates concerned and any of their belongings that may have been damaged. If the policy is taken out in the names of several housemates, one of them can report the claim, identifying all insured persons. Consult the policy for the applicable reporting procedures.
This guide provides general information: check the cover and its limits in the policy documents and with the insurer before making a decision.
