Water damage in the kitchen, a crack after a drought episode, a burglary during the holidays: in each of these cases, it is the insurance contract that determines whether you will be compensated and to what extent. Even before comparing rates, understanding what a property insurance policy actually covers helps avoid unpleasant surprises at the time of the claim.
Natural disaster surcharges and rising premiums: what is changing concretely
Have you noticed an increase on your premium notice? It’s not a coincidence. The regulatory surcharge related to natural disasters has increased from 12% to 20% as of January 1, 2025. This increase applies to all multi-risk home insurance contracts, regardless of the insurer.
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Concretely, this means that the portion of your premium allocated to cover climatic events (floods, droughts, storms) has nearly doubled. According to France Assureurs, home insurance premiums will reach 15 billion euros in 2025, representing an increase of 8.4% year-on-year.
This progression is not uniform. Regional disparities are widening significantly. Areas exposed to climate risks (Atlantic coast, southeast, Île-de-France) are experiencing more marked increases than less disaster-prone territories. If you move or buy a property, the postal code now weighs as much as the surface area in calculating the premium. To better understand the issues related to property insurance on Diag Immo, it is useful to cross-reference these regional data with the guarantees actually subscribed.
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Multi-risk home insurance guarantees: distinguishing the core from the options
The term “property insurance” encompasses two main categories: home insurance (which protects the dwelling and its contents) and borrower insurance (which covers the repayment of the loan). Let’s start with the former, which is often poorly calibrated.
What the multi-risk core covers
A standard multi-risk home insurance (MRH) contract includes three pillars:
- Property damage: fire, water damage, theft, glass breakage, natural disaster. This is the core of the contract, the one that triggers compensation after a material loss.
- The insured’s civil liability: if damage at your place causes harm to a neighbor (water leak crossing the floor, for example), it is this guarantee that covers the compensation of the third party.
- Private life civil liability: it covers damages that you or your relatives cause to others outside the home, in the context of daily life.
On the other hand, vehicles, cash, professional goods, and valuable items beyond a certain limit are generally not covered by the basic contract.
Options that change the level of protection
Some optional guarantees deserve careful consideration depending on your situation. The “new value” guarantee reimburses the damaged item at the replacement cost, without applying depreciation. Without this option, a sofa purchased five years ago will be compensated at a fraction of its original price.
Also check the limits by category of goods. A contract may cover theft but limit the compensation for jewelry to a few hundred euros. Rereading the information notice before subscribing remains the most cost-effective gesture.
Borrower insurance: legal obligations and savings levers
When you take out a mortgage, the bank almost always requires borrower insurance. This insurance guarantees the repayment of the remaining capital in case of death, permanent disability, or temporary incapacity to work.
Required guarantees depending on the type of project
For the purchase of a primary residence, banks generally require the complete core: death, total and irreversible loss of autonomy (PTIA), total permanent disability (IPT), and temporary incapacity to work (ITT). For a rental investment, the requirements often limit to death and PTIA, as the rents partially cover the monthly payments.
The unemployment guarantee remains optional and its high cost rarely makes it advantageous. Before subscribing, compare the total amount of premiums with the number of monthly payments actually covered: the waiting period and the duration of compensation often limit its interest.
Change borrower insurance at any time
Since the Lemoine law came into effect in 2022, any borrower can terminate their loan insurance at any time, without waiting for the contract anniversary date. The only condition: the new contract must present a level of guarantees at least equivalent to that required by the bank.
This permanent termination right has opened the market. Contracts offered by alternative insurers (outside banks) often display lower rates than the bank group contract, sometimes significantly over the total duration of the loan.
Tenant or owner: insurance obligations according to your status
The law does not treat tenants and owners the same way regarding home insurance.
A tenant is legally required to take out insurance covering at least rental risks (fire, water damage, explosion). The landlord can require an insurance certificate each year, and the absence of coverage constitutes a reason for terminating the lease.
An owner-occupier has no legal obligation to insure, except in co-ownership where the law requires at least civil liability coverage. Despite this lack of obligation, remaining uninsured exposes one to bear the full cost of a loss, which represents a considerable financial risk.
For a landlord, there is also no legal obligation for home insurance, but taking out a “non-occupying owner” (PNO) guarantee protects against losses occurring during rental vacancy periods or situations where the tenant’s insurance proves insufficient.
Three reflexes before signing a property insurance contract
Comparing prices is not enough. First compare the deductibles, limits, and exclusions before looking at the monthly premium. A cheap contract with a deductible of 500 euros per claim can sometimes cost more than a slightly higher contract with a lower deductible.
Reread the information notice, not just the guarantee table. The definitions of disability or incapacity vary from one insurer to another, and these nuances determine whether or not compensation is triggered.
Reassess your contract every year. A renovated property, a move, the arrival of a child: these changes modify your risk profile and may justify an adjustment of the guarantees or a change of insurer.