Home insurance, often referred to as multirisk home insurance (MRH), combines coverage for property damage, liability, and various additional guarantees within a single contract. Before signing, the challenge lies not so much in the displayed price but in what the contract actually covers, and especially in what it excludes.
Unoccupancy clause and intermittent residence: a common trap in home insurance
When a property remains unoccupied for an extended period, certain guarantees may be suspended or reduced. This mechanism, known as the unoccupancy clause, sets a maximum duration of continuous absence beyond which the contract no longer fully applies.
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This point directly concerns second homes, but also the primary residences of individuals who are often traveling. A tenant away for several weeks in the summer may find themselves poorly covered in the event of a burglary if the clause specifies an absence limit that has been exceeded.
Before any subscription, identify this clause in the general conditions. Check the tolerated duration (which varies from one insurer to another) and the guarantees concerned: theft is almost always targeted, but water damage or glass breakage may also be affected. A detailed article on home insurance with maisonfjord.fr on Mon Blog Déco discusses these checks prior to signing.
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Replacement value or actual cash value: the method of compensation changes everything
Two contracts at comparable prices can lead to very different reimbursements after a claim. The reason lies in the method of compensation chosen: replacement value or actual cash value (also known as residual value).
The actual cash value applies a depreciation coefficient to each damaged item. A sofa purchased five years ago will only be reimbursed at a fraction of its purchase price. Replacement value, on the other hand, covers the replacement with an equivalent new item, sometimes for an additional premium.
How to read the depreciation schedule in your contract
Each insurer publishes a schedule that assigns an annual depreciation percentage by category of item (appliances, furniture, textiles). The more aggressive the schedule, the greater the gap between the actual replacement cost and the amount paid out.
Comparing depreciation schedules is as crucial as comparing premiums. A cheaper contract with high depreciation may cost significantly more at the time of a claim.
Exclusions and limits: reading what the contract does not cover
Exclusions are listed in the general conditions, sometimes in a dense paragraph that few subscribers read in full. They define the situations in which the insurer refuses any coverage.
Common exclusions include:
- Damage intentionally caused by the insured or resulting from a clear lack of maintenance of the property (unrepaired roof, aging plumbing reported but never addressed).
- Items stored in a basement, outbuilding, or garden shed, often subject to specific limits much lower than those for the primary residence.
- Professional equipment used for remote work, which is not automatically included in the coverage of a standard home insurance contract.
- Pools, verandas, or outdoor installations, sometimes covered only through a paid extension of coverage.
A contract may list a long list of guarantees while setting limits so low that they only cover a fraction of the actual damage. The limit per event and the overall annual limit deserve careful reading, line by line.
Remote work and professional equipment at home
A computer, a monitor, a printer: professional equipment used at home can represent several thousand euros. If the MRH contract does not explicitly mention coverage for items used for professional purposes, a claim (theft, water damage) will not result in any compensation for this equipment.
Some recent offers include this coverage, while others offer it as an option. Ask the question before subscribing, not after the claim.
Home insurance deductible: the amount that remains your responsibility
The d deductible refers to the amount that the insured retains as their responsibility in the event of each claim. It can be fixed (a specific amount in euros), proportional (a percentage of the compensation), or a combination of both.
A low deductible increases the annual premium. A high deductible reduces the contribution but increases the bill with each incident. The right balance depends on the frequency and nature of the most likely claims for the property in question.
- For an apartment on an upper floor, water damage is statistically the most common claim: check the deductible applied to this guarantee as a priority.
- For a house with a garden or outbuildings, focus on deductibles related to theft and natural disasters.
- For a condominium, liability insurance is legally mandatory: ensure that the deductible on this aspect remains manageable.
Home insurance certificate and tenant obligations
A tenant must provide a home insurance certificate to their landlord each year. This document proves that the contract is valid and that the minimum guarantees are indeed subscribed.
The landlord has the right to terminate the lease if the tenant does not provide this certificate after a formal notice. For an owner-occupier, the legal obligation is less stringent, but the condominium may impose at least liability coverage.
A final reflex to adopt: reread the contract termination conditions. Since the law on infra-annual termination, changing insurers after the first year is possible at any time, without fees or justification. This negotiation lever remains underutilized, even though it allows for regular competition among offers and adjustments to the guarantees according to the actual evolution of the property.