By French home insurance in 60 seconds
The basics
- Multirisque habitation (MRH) is the standard product. Includes water, fire, civil liability, plus options.
- Mandatory for tenants of unfurnished homes (loi du 6 juillet 1989).
- Owners are not legally required, but co-ownership rules and mortgage banks usually require it.
For expats
- Get the attestation BEFORE the lease signing : bailleurs can refuse the keys without it.
- English-speaking options : Luko (FAQ EN), Lemonade (app EN), AXA International, Allianz Worldwide.
- Switch any time after 12 months under Loi Hamon : the new insurer handles cancellation.
How much does home insurance cost in France ?
Live monthly premium ranges across the 18 active MRH offers, broken down by occupant profile. Min, average and max come straight from the Selectra Insurance API : every published formula in the panel is included in the aggregation.
| Occupant profile | Cheapest | Average | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Locataire appartement | €6.17 / mo | €13.82 / mo | €28.90 / mo |
| Locataire maison | €9.84 / mo | €23.89 / mo | €50.98 / mo |
| Propriétaire appartement | €7.10 / mo | €18.72 / mo | €32.79 / mo |
| Propriétaire maison | €14.61 / mo | €40.14 / mo | €115.96 / mo |
Live data · Selectra Insurance API · 18 home offers analysed · Updated 8 May 2026. Your individual quote depends on exact postal code, declared mobile-property value and claim history.
For a personalised quote that matches your exact address and profile, our advisor compares the panel in your name (free service, paid by insurers) :
Compare home insurance offers live
Pick your occupant profile in the selector below to see the top 5 cheapest insurers for that property type, with full coverage detail and monthly price. Pulled live from the Insurance API.
Locataire en appartement
Minimum légal
For a well-protected home.
6.17 € /month With a 300.00€ deductible
- Personal liability : 10,000,000 €
- Fire & explosion
- Water damage
- Theft & vandalism
- Glass breakage
- Weather events
- Replacement-cost cover
| Coverages | Minimum légal |
|---|---|
| Mandatory coverages Personal liability, Fire & explosion, Water damage, Natural & technological disasters, Terrorism & attacks | |
| Weather events | |
| Bris de glace | |
| Assurance Scolaire | |
| Responsabilité civile immeuble | |
| Responsabilité civile locative | |
| Dépannage serrurerie | |
| Lutte contre les nuisibles | |
| Vol et vandalisme à domicile | |
| Bris de vitres immobilier | |
| Dommages électriques | |
| Replacement-cost cover | |
| Protection juridique | |
| Responsabilité civile "fête" | |
| Responsabilité civile villégiature |
Average customer ratings
Locataire en appartement
Formule Standard
For a well-protected home.
7.00 € /month With a 300.00€ deductible
- Personal liability : 6,000,000 €
- Fire & explosion
- Water damage : 30,000 €
- Terrorism & attacks
- Theft & vandalism : 30,000 €
- Glass breakage
- Weather events
- Replacement-cost cover
| Coverages | Formule Standard |
|---|---|
| Mandatory coverages Personal liability, Fire & explosion, Water damage, Natural & technological disasters, Terrorism & attacks | |
| Responsabilité civile mobilière | |
| Reconstruction à neuf | |
| Protection des biens extérieurs (canalisations, végétaux, abris de jardin) | |
| Vol et vandalisme auto | |
| Bris de vitres mobilier | |
| Protection juridique | |
| Responsabilité civile chiens dangereux | |
| Assurance Scolaire | |
| Défense et recours | |
| Bris de vitres immobilier | |
| Dommages électriques | |
| Dépannage plomberie | |
| Logement temporaire | |
| Gardiennage | |
| Vêtements et objets de première nécessité | |
| Nettoyage domicile | |
| Garde d’enfants | |
| Garde animaux | |
| Dépannage électricité | |
| Dépannage serrurerie | |
| Weather events | |
| Perte d'usage | |
| Hébergement d'urgence | |
| Clés perdues, brisées ou volées | |
| Responsabilité civile locative | |
| Vol et vandalisme à domicile | |
| Responsabilité civile immeuble | |
| Responsabilité civile villégiature | |
| Rééquipement à neuf | |
| Replacement-cost cover | |
| Protection équipement énergies renouvelables | |
| Responsabilité civile "fête" | |
| Vol à l'extérieur | |
| Frais complémentaires | |
| Assistance psychologique | |
| Rapatriement à domicile | |
| Remise en état | |
| Casse et dommages accidentels |
Average customer ratings
Locataire en appartement
Essentielle
For a well-protected home.
7.80 € /month With a 250.00€ deductible
- Personal liability
- Fire & explosion
- Water damage
- Terrorism & attacks
- Weather events
| Coverages | Essentielle |
|---|---|
| Mandatory coverages Personal liability, Fire & explosion, Water damage, Natural & technological disasters, Terrorism & attacks | |
| Défense et recours | |
| Assurance Scolaire | |
| Weather events | |
| Protection des biens extérieurs (canalisations, végétaux, abris de jardin) | |
| Protection piscine | |
| Dommages électriques | |
| Garanties différenciantes habitation | |
| Responsabilité civile immeuble | |
| Responsabilité civile "fête" | |
| Responsabilité civile villégiature | |
| Hébergement d'urgence | |
| Gardiennage | |
| Garde d’enfants | |
| Garde animaux | |
| Rééquipement à neuf | |
| Dépannage électricité | |
| Dépannage plomberie | |
| Dépannage serrurerie |
Average customer ratings
Locataire en appartement
Standard
For a well-protected home.
7.92 € /month With a 300.00€ deductible
- Fire & explosion
- Water damage
- Terrorism & attacks
- Theft & vandalism
- Glass breakage : 1,200 €
- Weather events
| Coverages | Standard |
|---|---|
| Mandatory coverages Personal liability, Fire & explosion, Water damage, Natural & technological disasters, Terrorism & attacks | |
| Responsabilité civile mobilière | |
| Protection juridique | |
| Défense et recours | |
| Reconstruction à neuf | |
| Protection des biens extérieurs (canalisations, végétaux, abris de jardin) | |
| Assurance Scolaire | |
| Bris de vitres mobilier | |
| Protection piscine | |
| Bris de vitres immobilier | |
| Dommages électriques | |
| Dépannage plomberie | |
| Vêtements et objets de première nécessité | |
| Logement temporaire | |
| Gardiennage | |
| Nettoyage domicile | |
| Garde d’enfants | |
| Garde animaux | |
| Dépannage électricité | |
| Dépannage serrurerie | |
| Lutte contre les nuisibles | |
| Violences intrafamiliales | |
| Weather events | |
| Perte d'usage | |
| Garanties différenciantes habitation | |
| Vol et vandalisme à domicile |
Average customer ratings
Locataire en appartement
Essentiel
For a well-protected home.
10.67 € /month
- Personal liability
- Fire & explosion
- Water damage
- Terrorism & attacks
- Theft & vandalism
- Weather events
| Coverages | Essentiel |
|---|---|
| Mandatory coverages Personal liability, Fire & explosion, Water damage, Natural & technological disasters, Terrorism & attacks | |
| Vol et vandalisme auto | |
| Logement temporaire | |
| Responsabilité civile mobilière | |
| Défense et recours | |
| Bris de glace | |
| Dépannage électricité | |
| Assurance Scolaire | |
| Violences intrafamiliales | |
| Responsabilité civile "fête" | |
| Weather events | |
| Contenu mobilier | |
| Dommages électriques | |
| Vol et vandalisme à domicile | |
| Dépannage plomberie | |
| Dépannage serrurerie | |
| Rapatriement à domicile | |
| Hébergement d'urgence | |
| Gardiennage | |
| Nettoyage domicile | |
| Vêtements et objets de première nécessité | |
| Lutte contre les nuisibles | |
| Responsabilité civile locative | |
| Responsabilité civile immeuble | |
| Responsabilité civile villégiature | |
| Protection juridique | |
| Frais complémentaires | |
| Perte d'usage |
Average customer ratings
Top home insurance picks
6 highest-rated home insurers right now, ranked by Selectra score. Click through for a free quote on the partner's site.
Live data from Selectra Insurance API · Updated 8 May 2026 · Selectra score reflects price competitiveness, claim handling and customer satisfaction (A = best).
What is multirisque habitation (MRH) ?
Multirisque habitation is the canonical home insurance product in France. It bundles in a single contract the cover that, in the UK or US, would typically be split between buildings, contents, public liability and natural-disaster policies. Every French home insurer sells some version of MRH ; differences lie in the optional add-ons, the franchise (excess), and the maximum reimbursement caps.
Mandatory coverages
All MRH contracts in France include, at minimum :
Civil liability (RC)
Covers damage you (or your family, pets) cause to others. Required by every condominium charter.
Water damage
Leaks, infiltrations, overflows. The most frequent claim category in France. How to declare.
Fire and explosion
Including damage from electrical short-circuits and lightning strikes.
Natural disasters
Floods, droughts, storms : kicks in once an interministerial decree declares a disaster zone.
Common optional coverages
Theft and vandalism
Subject to anti-burglary requirements (reinforced door, alarm). Declaring a burglary.
Glass breakage
Windows, vérandas, vitrocéramique cooktops, sometimes mirrors and aquariums.
Electrical damage
Surges, short-circuits damaging appliances. Recommended in lightning-prone regions.
Legal protection
Lawyer fees in case of dispute with bailleur, neighbour or co-owners.
For a full breakdown of every coverage and how it differs across the 18 active offers, see our multirisque guide.
Who needs home insurance in France ?
Tenants (locataires)
Mandatory. Article 7 g of the loi du 6 juillet 1989 requires tenants of unfurnished properties to insure against risques locatifs (fire, water, explosion). The bailleur asks for the attestation d'assurance habitation before handing over the keys : it's the single most-requested document at the lease signing and état des lieux.
Tenants of furnished rentals (meublé)
Not legally mandatory, but the lease itself almost always requires it. And without civil liability cover, you're personally exposed to neighbour-damage claims in case of a fire or water leak you cause.
Owner-occupiers (propriétaires occupants)
No legal obligation, but :
- Mortgage banks require MRH cover for the entire loan duration ;
- Co-ownership rules (loi ALUR 2014) require at minimum a civil liability cover for any condo owner, occupant or not ;
- Without MRH, you alone bear the cost of fire, theft, water damage to your own property.
Non-resident owners (PNO)
If you own a French property and don't live in it (you rent it out, or use it as a holiday home), you need either a propriétaire non-occupant (PNO) contract or a résidence secondaire MRH. Your tenant's MRH covers their own goods, not yours. PNO guide · Second-home guide.
How to choose your home insurer
Five criteria, in order of priority for a typical expat profile :
- Price for your profile : premiums vary by ±50% across the 18 insurers for the exact same flat. Use our live comparator.
- English support : if your French is shaky, prefer Luko, Lemonade, or work with our advisor service.
- Declared mobile-property value : under-declaration leads to partial reimbursement in case of claim. Make a list of valuable items and sum them honestly.
- Franchise (excess) : usually €120 to €300 per claim. Higher franchise = lower premium. Negotiable.
- Claim handling reputation : check Trustpilot and the Médiateur de l'assurance reports. The cheapest contract is pointless if claims drag for months.
Switching home insurance
Switching is friction-free under Loi Hamon after the first 12 months : tell the new insurer, they handle the resignation letter to the old one, switch effective in 30 days, no fee. Before 12 months, you need a legitimate motive : the most common ones for expats : déménagement (move), sale of the property, departure from France.
Read the step-by-step home insurance switch guide for the full process and resignation-letter templates.
Expat-specific tips
- Get the attestation BEFORE the lease signing. Most online insurers (Luko, Lemonade, Acheel) deliver it within 30 minutes of subscription. Subscribe the day before key handover.
- Declare your professional equipment honestly. Working from home is the norm post-2020 : but your laptop, phone and screen used for work may be excluded under the standard MRH unless declared. Add a "matériel professionnel à domicile" option.
- Holiday-rental income changes the contract type. If you Airbnb your flat occasionally, your standard MRH may not cover damage caused by guests. Discuss with your insurer.
- Returning the keys in good condition. The état des lieux at lease end will trigger MRH claims if there's water-damage history. Keep claim documentation for the entire tenancy.
- If you leave France, use the "departure" motive. Loi du 11 février 2014 considers a permanent move abroad as a legitimate motive : your insurer must cancel within 30 days of receiving your notice + proof.
Frequently asked questions
Is home insurance mandatory in France ?
Yes for tenants of unfurnished properties (loi du 6 juillet 1989). For owners and tenants of furnished rentals, it's not legally mandatory but the lease, the mortgage bank, or the condo charter usually require it.
When do I need the attestation ?
Before the lease signing. The bailleur will refuse to release the keys without it. Most online insurers deliver the attestation by email within 30 minutes of subscription. How to get yours.
How much will I pay ?
For a Paris studio : €100 to €180 per year. For a 60–80 m² flat : €180 to €300. Owner-occupied house : €280 to €500. Use our live comparator for an accurate quote.
Which insurers offer English support ?
Luko (FAQ in English, French app), Lemonade (full app and chat in English), AXA International, Allianz Worldwide, plus brokers like Fab French Insurance. See our English-speaking insurers list.
Can I switch any time ?
Yes, after the first 12 months, under Loi Hamon. The new insurer handles the cancellation. Before 12 months, you need a legitimate motive (move, sale, departure from France, etc.).
Continue reading
- Multirisque habitation explained : every coverage in detail
- Compare home insurance providers : live ranking
- Get your home insurance certificate : for the bailleur
- Change your home insurance : Loi Hamon step-by-step
- Second-home insurance : résidence secondaire & holiday rental
- Landlord insurance (PNO) : for non-resident owners
- Make a claim : water, fire, theft procedures
- Car insurance in France : the parallel guide