house insurance

[woody234]

is house insurance compusary in france, and if it is what happens if you cannod afford the house insurance

[giantpanda]

Hi!

If you rent it is compulsory. If you can not show the contract, then the rental contract can be cancelled. Usually there is such a clause in standard contracts.

If you own a house, it is not compulsory, but rather irresponsable not to have such an insurance;

Yours,

giantpanda

[Maricopa]

[quote user="giantpanda"]If you own a house, it is not compulsory, but rather irresponsable not to have such an insurance;
[/quote]

Not sure thats true.  When you purchase, the notaire has a responsibilty to ensure that the purchaser has insurance in place at completion?[8-)]

[gosub]

[quote user="Maricopa"]

[quote user="giantpanda"]If you own a house, it is not compulsory, but rather irresponsable not to have such an insurance;

[/quote]

Not sure thats true.  When you purchase, the notaire has a responsibilty to ensure that the purchaser has insurance in place at completion?[8-)]

[/quote]

On completion day the Notaire would check to see if the purchaser had taken out insurance for the property, otherwise the previous owners insurance is automaticaly transfered to protect the buyer. After the sale, provided the insurance contract is cancelled in the legal time scales, then AFAIK you are not required to take out another insurance.

[Maricopa]

I don't disagree with your conclusion at all gosub.  My question would be for whom or for what law is the notaire checking that it is insured, is it purely to enable the vendor to legally cancel their insurance?

[andyh4]

If you have a mortgage it will be a requirement - at least  it is for us

[Will]

There are public liability, and similar, aspects to house insurance in France that make it slightly different from how it usually works in Britain. If something happens, such as your animals causing damage for example, then whether or not you were personally negligent you could still be expected to pay up. The French Napoleonic law does not have the same clear distinction between civil and criminal matters as UK common law, so you could end up in serious difficulty if not insured. Not having the right insurance is very much a false economy.

[gosub]

More info Here

[freddy]

The notaire checking the house insurance only applies if you have a mortage and is presumably an ongoing condition of any mortgage to protect the mortgagors interests. If you by for cash the notaire may tell you it is sensible to have insurance but there is no compulsion.

[Jotty]

[quote user="freddy"]The notaire checking the house insurance only applies if you have a mortage and is presumably an ongoing condition of any mortgage to protect the mortgagors interests. If you by for cash the notaire may tell you it is sensible to have insurance but there is no compulsion.[/quote]

My first house was bought cash, and there was a panic on the day of signing to get the insurance sorted out because he refused to act without it.

Perhaps things are no longer like that, but that was the case in the early 90s.

[giantpanda]

Hi!

Better check!

The Notaire has no obligation here whatsoever.

He can certainly counsel it.

Yours,

giantpanda

NB. We are talking of the case where you own, and do not rent.

http://www.guide-assurance.com/assurance_habitation.htm

La loi n'impose pas aux propriétaires d'appartements ou de maisons de souscrire une assurance

habitation.

Pas d'obligation donc, mais il n'en demeure pas moins que souscrire un contrat multirisques habitation

est essentiel pour les propriétaires.