Furnished apartments or houses are particularly interesting for tenants, because they no longer need to purchase furniture. This type of accommodation is ideal for students, people looking for a temporary place to live while waiting for the end of work or construction or those who are passing through a city. But before you can move in, you will need to take out home insurance.
Before talking about home insurance, a little reminder about what is meant by “furnished rental” is in order. This is a rented and furnished apartment which must have the minimum equipment and furniture to guarantee the comfort of the occupants. Since September 1, 2015, very specific rules must be respected before a furnished apartment can be named as such. Thus, the accommodation must, among other things, be equipped with tables and chairs, bedding, curtains or shutters, hotplates, oven, crockery, a refrigerator and a freezer, utensils kitchen cabinets, light fixtures and shelving.
If in the past, tenants had no obligation to take out home insurance when renting a furnished apartment, things have changed since the entry into force of the Alur law of 2014. Since that date, it has become imperative to have coverage if the dwelling is used as a principal residence for more than eight months. Without home insurance, tenants are held responsible for damage caused to others. In the absence of subscription, the owner can take out insurance in their place and the price of the contributions will be passed on to the rents.
Tenants are free to choose the home insurance of their choice, but it must contain at least a guarantee of civil liability whose role is to compensate third parties for claims affecting the home and which have occurred. spread to the neighborhood. It is also necessary to have a rental risk guarantee which provides compensation in the event of fire, explosion or water damage. The contract can be supplemented by an attack, act of terrorism and riot guarantee, a natural disaster guarantee as well as a technological catastrophe guarantee. It is possible to benefit from better protection by adding certain essential options against glass breakage, theft and acts of vandalism. Having a legal protection service, an assistance service such as babysitting or emergency repairs as well as a guarantee for valuables is also very useful.
When choosing home insurance for furnished rentals, there are several criteria to consider, starting with the price, which must be adapted to the tenant's budget and the level of protection sought. It is always advisable not to be tempted by insurances with too low prices which offer too light coverage.
The insured must also focus on the reimbursement ceilings as well as the deductibles. When reimbursement ceilings are low, this reduces the cost of premiums. However, in the event of significant damage, the level of compensation is likely to be low. Hence the importance of weighing the pros and cons before signing. Ditto on the deductibles which correspond to the amount remaining payable by the insured after a claim. It is not always worth opting for low deductibles even if they reduce the price of premiums, because the participation of the insurance company may be very light.
In addition, the subscriber must also pay attention to the exclusions of guarantees which usually apply when the loss is caused by a lack of maintenance or foresight of the tenant. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, always refer to the general and specific conditions of the contract.
