Holiday home insurance in France: your essential guide

France has long been a cherished destination for British holiday homeowners, offering an unparalleled blend of diverse landscapes, rich culture, and exquisite cuisine. Buying property in this beautiful country, be that among the sun-drenched vineyards of Provence, or a cosy chalet in the French alps, can be a fantastic investment.

Whether you're considering buying a holiday home in France or are already a proud owner, having the right holiday home insurance is essential. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about holiday home insurance in France - keep reading to find out more!

Are you looking for holiday home insurance for your French property? At Howden, our team of trusted experts can help you find a policy that’s the perfect fit for you.

Get a Quote

What is French holiday home insurance?

French holiday home insurance covers second properties in France that are used as holiday homes. These specialist policies are specifically designed to protect your property against the unique risks and challenges associated with owning property abroad.

French holiday home insurance: what's covered & what you need

What does French holiday home insurance cover?

French holiday home insurance typically offers three main types of cover: buildings, contents, or a combined policy. As standard, comprehensive holiday home policies usually include:

• Buildings cover: Safeguards your property against structural damage.

• Contents cover: Protects your home's contents from theft, damage, or loss.

Beyond these basics, policies often extend to include:

• Accidental damage to your property.

• Escape of water and oil: Covering damage caused by leaks from water pipes, heating systems, domestic appliances, or fixed tanks.

Your French holiday home insurance policy may also include a range of additional covers, which we will detail further below.

What cover do I need for my holiday home in France?

The type of cover you need depends on how you plan to use your property. However, there are also legal requirements in France that you need to be aware of:

• Civil liability insurance (assurance responsabilité civile): this is a legal requirement for all property owners in France. It covers damages or injuries you or your property might cause to third parties. This is the minimum level of insurance required for property owners in France, and is usually included in a comprehensive French holiday home insurance policy, along with buildings and contents insurance.

• Buildings and contents insurance: while not legally required, these are strongly advised to protect your holiday home.

What kind of insurance do I need for a holiday let in France?

If you plan to rent out your holiday home in France, a comprehensive French holiday home insurance policy will usually include cover for holiday letting. You'll still need the mandatory civil liability insurance (which is typically part of your main policy).

It is also highly recommended to have employers' liability (if you employ staff) and loss of rental cover (which we will detail below), so you should check with your insurer to see if these are already included in your policy.

Additional cover options that may be included in your policy

There are also a range of additional cover options that your policy may include, or that can be added on to your policy:

Unoccupancy cover

Standard home insurance providers may not cover homes left unoccupied for more than 30 days due to increased risks like theft or vandalism.

Holiday home insurance offers a tailored solution, by accommodating longer vacant periods. These policies generally extend coverage for off-season vacancies, often up to 60 days. They are often subject to specific conditions, such as removing valuables, and exclude loss of metered oil and water.

Loss of rental income

Loss of rent insurance helps protect you from lost rent earnings (e.g. due to booking cancellations from paying guests) should your property in France become damaged due to an insured event (such as fire, flood, or storm damage).

Alternative accommodation cover

Covers alternative accommodation costs if your holiday home in France becomes uninhabitable due to damage, ensuring you and your family have a place to stay while repairs are carried out.

Alternative accommodation cover is often included in a French holiday home insurance policy, but you should always check your policy documents first.

Public liability cover

While public liability insurance is not a legal requirement for holiday homeowners in France, if you plan to rent out your property to paying guests it is highly recommended.

This type of insurance provides cover in case a guest or other third parties suffer an injury or their property is damaged while staying at your holiday home.

It's worth considering the level of public liability cover you need, factoring in the number of guests you plan to accommodate and the type of activities they will be engaging in.

Employers' liability cover

Employers' liability insurance provides cover for anyone you employ (such as domestic staff or contractors) to maintain your holiday property in France.

If an employee becomes ill or injured while working at your French property, employers' liability cover gives you financial protection, covering associated expenses such as medical or legal fees.

Emergency travel costs cover

Emergency travel insurance covers the travel costs in case French property owners need to travel to their holiday home in the event of an unexpected emergency. This could be anything from water damage from a burst pipe, a fire on your property, or damage to your holiday home from a storm.

Legal cover

Holiday home legal insurance provides cover in the event of a legal dispute related to your holiday home in France. This could include:

• Contractual disputes (e.g., related to buying, renting, or leasing your holiday home).

• Property disputes (e.g., damage, nuisance, or trespass caused by another party).

• Tax - to have help from an accountant if HMRC investigate your personal tax affairs.

• Legal defence costs - for incidents arising from letting out your holiday home.

Swimming pool cover

Most policies will only cover damage to your swimming pool, and even then, usually only under specific circumstances. You should check your policy wording carefully to understand what is included in your holiday home insurance.

How much does holiday home insurance in France cost?

While the cost of holiday home insurance varies from insurer to insurer, there are several key factors that generally affect the premium you pay, such as:

• Property location

• Property size - larger holiday homes usually attract higher premiums.

• The value of your contents - Keeping high-value items in your property can lead to increased insurance costs.

• The level of cover you choose for your holiday home in France will also affect premium costs.

What type of insurance do you need for Airbnb rentals in France?

Airbnb provides hosts with Host Protection Insurance, offering up to $1 million per rental for liability coverage, including potential protection for landlords, subject to specific terms and conditions.

Additionally, Airbnb offers a free Host Guarantee, covering guests' damage to the host’s property for up to $1 million. However, this is not an insurance policy, and Airbnb clarifies that it does not replace homeowners or renters’ insurance. Find out more here.

Since coverage is not comprehensive, it's wise to get holiday home insurance that specifically includes Airbnb rentals to ensure proper protection for your holiday home. You'll also still need civil liability insurance (assurance responsabilité civile), which is a legal requirement for property owners in France.

Five ways to save on holiday home insurance in France

If you're looking to save money on your holiday home insurance, rest assured there are still ways to make it cheaper! Here are a few ideas:

Regular upkeep

Keeping your property in good condition will help prevent deterioration and shield it from weather-related damage. This way, you'll be less likely to make a claim on your insurance, keeping your premiums down.

Improve security

Simple measures like installing a burglar alarm, secure locks and security cameras will discourage thieves and could reduce your premiums.

Increase your excess

Opting for a higher excess can lower your premium, but ensure it's an amount you can comfortably cover if needed.

Choose a single insurance provider

Using one insurer for both your buildings and contents cover can often be cheaper than taking out multiple policies with different insurers.

Use annual payments

Paying your premium in one yearly instalment is usually more economical than monthly payments.