In France, home insurance is mandatory for tenants and co-owners. Comprehensive home insurance (MRH) remains the most common type of policy, but its coverage varies considerably from one insurer to another.
The recent increase in the natural disaster surcharge, from 12% to 20% of the relevant premium, changes the overall cost of policies even though optional coverage has not changed. Understanding what a policy actually covers before taking it out can help you avoid gaps that only become apparent when you make a claim.
Natural disaster surcharges and deductibles: what affects your policy in 2026
Natural disaster coverage is included in all MRH policies. It does not automatically apply after a flood or ground movement. An interministerial order must recognize the municipality, the period and the nature of the damage for compensation to apply.
This mechanism creates a gap between the disaster itself and the actual coverage provided. For example, a home affected by clay shrink-swell can develop gradual cracks without an order being issued for the period in question. In that case, natural disaster coverage does not apply, and a standard MRH policy does not cover this type of structural damage either.
The regulatory surcharge, which funds the Cat Nat scheme, has increased significantly. This additional cost is added to the base premium and cannot be negotiated with the insurer. If your home is in a high-risk area, it is worth consulting EuropImmo’s insurance advice to assess the actual impact on your annual budget before committing.
Homes in flood-prone or clay-rich areas: check the limits before taking out a policy
Before choosing a policy, anyone whose home is in a high-risk area should ask the insurer three specific questions.
- What deductible applies in the event of a natural disaster, and does it vary depending on whether the municipality has a natural risk prevention plan (PPRN)?
- What preventive measures does the policy require to maintain coverage (installing flood barriers, raising electrical outlets, perimeter drainage)?
- Does the insurer charge a location-specific surcharge, and can that surcharge change during the policy term?
If a municipality does not have a PPRN, deductibles may be increased when the same type of claim occurs repeatedly. If a home has already been the subject of several claims for the same type of event, its deductible will increase if the municipality has not adopted a prevention plan.
Clay shrink-swell presents a different challenge. Damage develops slowly, sometimes over several years. The causal link between drought and cracking must be established by an expert assessment, which extends the time it takes to receive compensation. The law sets time limits for compensation following a natural disaster, but the preliminary assessment process does not always fall within this regulatory framework.
Core MRH coverage: liability, water damage and fire
A comprehensive home insurance policy is built around three core types of coverage that protect against most common claims.
Liability and damage to third parties
Tenant liability insurance is the only type of coverage legally required for tenants. It covers damage to the landlord’s property (fire, explosion, water damage). Personal liability coverage, often included in MRH policies, extends this protection to damage caused to third parties outside the home.
Owner-occupiers are not legally required to take out home insurance (except in co-owned properties). Going without it means bearing the full cost of rebuilding or repairs in the event of a major claim.
Water damage and fire
Water damage is the most common type of home insurance claim. Coverage includes leaks, burst pipes, roof leaks and appliance overflows. The compensation limit and depreciation rate applied vary from one policy to another.
Fire coverage protects against damage caused by fire, smoke or an explosion. It generally extends to personal belongings in the home. One point to check: some policies exclude electrical damage (power surges, short circuits) from fire coverage and offer it as a separate add-on.
Optional coverage: theft, glass breakage and new-for-old replacement
Beyond the core coverage, several optional protections are worth considering on a case-by-case basis.
Theft and vandalism coverage protects the contents of your home following a break-in. The conditions for making a claim are strict: visible signs of forced entry, notification within a short time frame, and an itemized list of stolen belongings with supporting evidence. Without proof of purchase or photographs, compensation is often limited to a minimal fixed amount.
Glass breakage coverage protects windows, glass doors, fixed mirrors and, in some cases, ceramic glass cooktops. For an older home with large glazed areas, this coverage can lead to real savings in the event of a claim.
New-for-old replacement removes or reduces the depreciation applied to damaged belongings. Without this option, a television bought three years earlier will be reimbursed at a fraction of its purchase price. New-for-old replacement limits the impact of depreciation on compensation.
Rising claim costs and post-claim prevention
The average cost of home insurance claims has risen in recent years, even when the number of claims remained stable. Construction materials, labor and technical equipment have all become more expensive, driving up the compensation insurers pay and, in turn, premiums.
Legislative proposals aim to fund repairs that would make homes less vulnerable to future events. The idea is to link compensation to preventive work (raising the electrical panel, installing water-resistant flooring on the ground floor). This change has not yet been incorporated into all policies and is currently the subject of parliamentary discussions.
Home insurance is about more than a list of coverage options ticked on a comparison site. The home’s location, its exposure to natural hazards and the deductibles that actually apply determine the quality of coverage far more than the quoted premium.
