Discover the truly essential home insurance coverages and avoid unnecessary options. Effectively protect your home while keeping your premiums under control.
Taking out home insurance is now an essential step to protect your home, your belongings, and your liability. But with the multitude of coverages offered by insurers, one question often arises: which protections are truly essential and which are superfluous? Between legal obligations, basic coverage, and sometimes redundant options, it's not always easy to navigate. In this article, we take stock to help you distinguish the essential from the non-essential and choose home insurance that's perfectly suited to your needs.
1. Understand basic legal obligations
In France, a Multi-Risk Home Insurance (MRH) contract generally covers: real estate and personal property, as well as the civil liability of the insured.
- Tenants : home insurance (at least rental risks + civil liability) is compulsory .
- Owner-occupiers : there is no legal obligation , unless otherwise stated in the co-ownership regulations.
2. What guarantees are really essential?
| Guarantee | Why it is essential |
|---|---|
| Private life civil liability | Covers damage caused to others: child breaking something, domestic damage, etc. |
| Rental risks | Protects against fire, explosions, water damage: essential for any tenant. |
| Fire, explosion, lightning | Mandatory basic coverage, which often includes smoke and emergency services (firefighters, etc.). |
| Water damage | Frequent and often costly: leaks, infiltrations, burst pipes. |
| Theft, burglary, vandalism | Protects your home belongings from break-ins or malicious acts. |
| Natural disasters |
Covers climatic losses (floods, storms, earthquakes, etc.), subject to ministerial decree. |
| Broken glass | Useful depending on the habitat (verandas, windows, bay windows, etc.). |
3. Recommended options to strengthen your protection
- Legal protection : useful in a dispute (e.g. neighbor, consumption).
- Emergency assistance and rehousing : valuable in the event of unusable housing (theft, fire, etc.).
- Electrical damage : covers breakdowns due to power surges or electrical damage.
- Valuable Goods & Household Appliances : Offers replacement compensation for expensive goods.
- Sports, swimming pools, outbuildings, garden : to be considered depending on the housing profile.
4. What safeguards are often superfluous or redundant?
- Check for duplicates : some guarantees (e.g. legal protection, school insurance) may already be included in your MRH contract or even carried by your premium bank card.
- If premiums increase, avoid removing essential guarantees such as water damage or civil liability, as this exposes you to serious claims.
5. How to choose well according to your profile
- Tenant : Give priority to basic guarantees (civil liability, rental risks, water damage, fire).
- Owner-occupier : Even if not obligatory, it is strongly recommended to take out MRH insurance to protect yourself effectively.
- Landlord : Choose a contract with suitable options (including theft and water damage) to avoid disputes related to your tenant.
- Always remember to do comparative simulations , to compare guarantees and prices, and adapt your contract to your budget.
In conclusion
Good home insurance is based on a fair balance between essential guarantees (fire, water damage, civil liability, theft, natural disasters) and well-selected options (assistance, legal protection, valuables).
Take the time to compare offers , analyze your real needs according to your situation and avoid unnecessary duplicates so as not to pay too much for superfluous guarantees.