By Landlord insurance in 60 seconds
When you need PNO
- You own a French flat and don't live in it (rented out, holiday home, empty).
- Mandatory by loi ALUR 2014 for co-owned flats, even if let.
- Highly recommended for houses too : civil liability + structure cover.
What it covers
- Civil liability as the owner : if a tile falls on a passer-by, etc.
- Structural damage if your tenant's MRH doesn't cover it.
- Optional GLI for unpaid rent (~3.5% of monthly rent).
Who needs PNO insurance ?
PNO is for property owners who don't live in the property. The most common situations among expats :
- Non-resident expat owners who bought a French property as an investment and rent it out long-term ;
- Expats moving abroad who keep their French flat and let it out ;
- Owners of an inherited property they don't occupy ;
- Buy-to-let investors with one or several rental flats ;
- Owners between tenants : even when the property is empty, PNO is required.
For expats who occupy their second home themselves (without renting out), the relevant product is résidence secondaire MRH : different category.
Legal obligation : the loi ALUR
Since the loi ALUR du 24 mars 2014 (article 9-1 of the loi du 10 juillet 1965 on co-ownership), every owner of a flat in a French co-ownership is required to subscribe at minimum a civil liability insurance covering damage caused to others by the property.
The rule applies regardless of occupation :
- You occupy the flat yourself : your standard MRH satisfies the obligation ;
- You let it out : the tenant's MRH covers their occupation, but you still need PNO civil liability ;
- It's empty between tenants : PNO required ;
- Holiday let : PNO required + commercial cover declaration.
For independent houses (not in a co-ownership), there's no legal obligation, but PNO is highly recommended. Without it, you bear all the costs of fire, water damage or structural issues yourself.
PNO basic vs full PNO
PNO basic (legal minimum)
Covers only civil liability as required by loi ALUR. Cheap (€50-€150/year) but doesn't cover damage to your own property. Useful only when :
- The property is rented out and the tenant has comprehensive MRH ;
- The building is in a co-ownership with strong collective insurance ;
- You accept the risk of paying for fire/water-damage repairs yourself.
Full PNO (recommended)
Covers civil liability + structural damage to your property :
- Civil liability (mandatory) ;
- Fire and explosion ;
- Water damage (yours, neighbours', building) ;
- Glass breakage ;
- Natural disasters ;
- Damage to common areas shared with the syndic ;
- Vacancy cover : covers theft and vandalism even when the property is empty (with conditions).
Cost : €150-€350/year for an average flat, €250-€600 for a house.
Guarantee loyers impayés (GLI) : unpaid rent cover
GLI (garantie loyers impayés) is a separate insurance from PNO, often subscribed alongside it. It covers :
- Unpaid rent and charges after a tenant defaults ;
- Legal procedure costs (huissier, lawyer, court fees) to evict an unpaying tenant ;
- Damage caused by the tenant in excess of the security deposit ;
- Vacancy due to tenant default while you find a new tenant.
Cost : 2.5% to 3.5% of the monthly rent. For a €1,000/month rent, that's €25-€35/month or €300-€420/year.
GLI is incompatible with the Visale state guarantee (subscribed by the tenant) and with personal guarantors : you must choose one or the other. For most non-resident landlords, GLI is the easier option since you're not in France to pursue defaulting tenants directly.
Tenant eligibility for GLI
The tenant must usually meet these criteria :
- Income : at least 2.85× the rent (some insurers require 3×) ;
- Stable employment : permanent contract (CDI), retiree, or income-equivalent self-employed ;
- Clean rent history ;
- French resident or with strong financial guarantor.
Holiday-let scenarios (Airbnb, Booking)
If you let your French property as a seasonal rental (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, gîte), specific cover is needed beyond standard PNO :
- Civil liability extended to guests : if a guest injures themselves on a wobbly stair or near an unmaintained pool, you're liable.
- Damage caused by guests : vandalism, careless damage, theft of furniture.
- Loss of rental income after a covered claim : fire makes the property uninhabitable for 3 months, the insurer compensates lost bookings.
- Theft by guests : usually a separate option (standard "vol" excludes occupants).
Airbnb's AirCover for Hosts and Booking's Partner Liability Insurance overlap with French PNO but don't replace it. Without a French contract, you're personally liable for water damage to neighbours, public-area incidents, and anything outside the platform's narrow definition.
See our second-home / holiday rental guide for the holiday-let-specific clauses.
PNO insurers we recommend
For non-resident expat landlords specifically (English-friendly + accept foreign IBANs) :
- AXA Connect Habitation Risque Locatif : full PNO with English-speaking agencies in Paris. Accepts SEPA mandates from any Eurozone bank.
- Allianz Propriétaire Non Occupant : comprehensive cover, expat-friendly subscription.
- Pacifica (Crédit Agricole) PNO : competitive pricing for properties in CA's footprint.
- Fab French Insurance : specialist English-speaking broker, full PNO + GLI bundles.
- April International : international-focused, best for owners with multiple French properties.
Live PNO quotes for your profile
Filtered to the 8 insurers we've vetted for PNO products (non-resident-friendly subscription, English documentation on demand). Switch the profile selector to see how the top picks change between owner profiles.
Locataire en appartement
Économique
Ideal household protection.
10.56 € /month With a 150.00€ deductible
- Personal liability
- Fire & explosion
- Water damage : 4,000 €
- Natural & technological disasters
- Terrorism & attacks
- Theft & vandalism : 4,000 €
- Glass breakage
- Weather events
| Coverages | Économique |
|---|---|
| Mandatory coverages Personal liability, Fire & explosion, Water damage, Natural & technological disasters, Terrorism & attacks | |
| Insolvabilité | |
| Dépannage électricité | |
| Vol et vandalisme à domicile | |
| Weather events | |
| Bris de vitres immobilier | |
| Garanties différenciantes habitation | |
| Défense et recours | |
| Responsabilité civile immeuble | |
| Responsabilité civile locative | |
| Protection matériels loisirs (sport - musique) | |
| Protection appareils numériques | |
| Dépannage plomberie | |
| Dépannage serrurerie | |
| Remise en état | |
| Gardiennage | |
| Perte d'usage | |
| Garde d’enfants | |
| Annulation et interruption de vacances | |
| Rapatriement à domicile | |
| Clés perdues, brisées ou volées | |
| Lutte contre les nuisibles | |
| Responsabilité civile villégiature | |
| Responsabilité civile "fête" |
Average customer ratings
Based on 1,236 reviews
Based on 1,670 reviews
Locataire en appartement
Essentielle
Ideal household protection.
14.21 € /month With a 300.00€ deductible
- Personal liability : 20,000,000 €
- Fire & explosion
- Water damage : 4,203 €
- Natural & technological disasters
- Terrorism & attacks
- Theft & vandalism : 3,903 €
- Glass breakage
- Weather events
| Coverages | Eco | Essentielle |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory coverages Personal liability, Fire & explosion, Water damage, Natural & technological disasters, Terrorism & attacks | ||
| Weather events | ||
| Protection appareils numériques | ||
| Assistance déménagement | ||
| Protection matériels loisirs (sport - musique) | ||
| Responsabilité civile mobilière | ||
| Défense et recours | ||
| Gardiennage | ||
| Logement temporaire | ||
| Vêtements et objets de première nécessité | ||
| Garde animaux | ||
| Envoi d'artisans en cas d'urgence | ||
| Garde d’enfants | ||
| Nettoyage domicile | ||
| Dépannage plomberie | ||
| Dépannage serrurerie | ||
| Rapatriement à domicile | ||
| Perte d'usage | ||
| Frais complémentaires | ||
| Responsabilité civile locative | ||
| Garanties différenciantes habitation | ||
| Dépannage électricité | ||
| Protection des biens extérieurs (canalisations, végétaux, abris de jardin) | ||
| Protection juridique | ||
| Remboursement des mensualités de prêt immobilier | ||
| Bris de vitres mobilier | ||
| Vol et vandalisme à domicile | ||
| Rééquipement à neuf | ||
| Protection piscine | ||
| Dommages électriques | ||
| Assistance psychologique | ||
| Remise en état |
Average customer ratings
Based on 12,129 reviews
Based on 815 reviews
Based on 1,192 reviews
Locataire en appartement
Niveau 0
Ideal household protection.
11.58 € /month With a 280.00€ deductible
- Personal liability
- Fire & explosion
- Water damage
- Natural & technological disasters
- Terrorism & attacks
- Theft & vandalism
- Glass breakage
- Weather events
| Coverages | Niveau 0 |
|---|---|
| Mandatory coverages Personal liability, Fire & explosion, Water damage, Natural & technological disasters, Terrorism & attacks | |
| Défense et recours | |
| Weather events | |
| Garanties différenciantes habitation | |
| Responsabilité civile "fête" | |
| Responsabilité civile villégiature | |
| Responsabilité civile immeuble | |
| Vol et vandalisme à domicile | |
| Bris de vitres immobilier | |
| Protection piscine | |
| Garantie panne | |
| Protection juridique | |
| Vol à l'extérieur | |
| Bris de vitres mobilier | |
| Remise en état | |
| Perte d'usage | |
| Contenu congélateur | |
| Rapatriement à domicile | |
| Prise en charge des premiers frais médicaux | |
| Rééquipement à neuf | |
| Assurance Scolaire | |
| Hébergement d'urgence | |
| Nettoyage domicile | |
| Assistance psychologique | |
| Dépannage serrurerie | |
| Gardiennage | |
| Garde animaux | |
| Garde d’enfants |
Average customer ratings
Based on 1,049 reviews
Based on 1,041 reviews
Locataire en appartement
Formule 1
Ideal household protection.
12.59 € /month With a 160.00€ deductible
- Personal liability
- Fire & explosion
- Water damage
- Natural & technological disasters
- Terrorism & attacks
- Theft & vandalism
- Glass breakage
- Weather events
| Coverages | Formule 1 |
|---|---|
| Mandatory coverages Personal liability, Fire & explosion, Water damage, Natural & technological disasters, Terrorism & attacks | |
| Weather events | |
| Assistance déménagement | |
| Reconstruction à neuf | |
| Assurance Scolaire | |
| Défense et recours | |
| Protection juridique | |
| Dépannage plomberie | |
| Annulation et interruption de vacances | |
| Garanties différenciantes habitation | |
| Vol et vandalisme à domicile | |
| Bris de vitres immobilier | |
| Dépannage électricité | |
| Dépannage serrurerie | |
| Hébergement d'urgence | |
| Gardiennage | |
| Rééquipement à neuf | |
| Assistance psychologique | |
| Rapatriement à domicile | |
| Décès et Perte Totale et Irréversible d’Autonomie (PTIA) | |
| Indemnité immobilisation véhicule | |
| Responsabilité civile immeuble | |
| Responsabilité civile locative | |
| Responsabilité civile chiens dangereux |
Average customer ratings
Based on 4,199 reviews
Based on 2,258 reviews
Based on 2,070 reviews
Locataire en appartement
Eko
Ideal household protection.
12.72 € /month With a 200.00€ deductible
- Personal liability
- Fire & explosion
- Water damage
- Natural & technological disasters
- Terrorism & attacks
- Theft & vandalism
- Glass breakage
- Weather events
| Coverages | Eko |
|---|---|
| Mandatory coverages Personal liability, Fire & explosion, Water damage, Natural & technological disasters, Terrorism & attacks | |
| Weather events | |
| Vol et vandalisme à domicile | |
| Bris de vitres immobilier | |
| Défense et recours | |
| Clés perdues, brisées ou volées | |
| Hébergement d'urgence | |
| Perte d'usage | |
| Garanties différenciantes habitation | |
| Responsabilité civile locative | |
| Responsabilité civile immeuble | |
| Responsabilité civile villégiature |
Average customer ratings
Based on 266 reviews
Based on 1,787 reviews
Live ranking : 8 insurers offering PNO products
French insurers offering propriétaire non-occupant (PNO) cover, sorted by partner status then by Selectra score. Live data from our Insurance API, refreshed every 30 minutes.
| Insurer | Type | Score | Quote |
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Traditional |  |
Free quote → |
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Traditional |  |
Free quote → |
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Traditional |  |
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Traditional | |
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Traditional | |
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Traditional |  |
Free quote → |
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Traditional | — | — |
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Live data from Selectra Insurance API · Updated 4 May 2026. Note : not every home insurer offers PNO. The listed ones have confirmed PNO products.
How to subscribe PNO from abroad
- Gather documentation : the property's acte de propriété (deed), the lease if let out, your ID, French RIB or SEPA-eligible IBAN.
- Get quotes from 3-5 PNO insurers. Specify : property address, surface, current occupation status (let / empty / holiday-let), reconstruction cost.
- Decide on cover : basic PNO (cheap) vs full (comprehensive). For non-resident owners, full is almost always the right choice.
- Decide on GLI if let out long-term. Match it with the tenant's eligibility profile.
- Subscribe online or via phone. Most non-resident-friendly insurers accept English documentation on request.
- Set up direct debit (a non-resident French bank account simplifies this for landlords abroad) from your French or SEPA account.
- Receive the attestation by email : keep a copy for tax declarations and any future syndic requests.
PNO has expat-specific clauses (vacancy notification, foreign-bank IBAN acceptance, English documentation) that the standard MRH quote forms don't always handle. Our advisor specifically vets the panel for non-resident-friendly insurers :
Tax considerations
PNO premiums are tax-deductible from rental income for properties under the régime réel (real-cost regime). Add the annual premium to your charges déductibles on the 2044 tax form (revenus fonciers).
For micro-foncier regime (rental income under €15,000/year), the 30% standard deduction already factors in insurance : no separate deduction available.
For non-residents : France-source rental income is taxed in France even if you live abroad. PNO premiums remain deductible under the same rules.
Frequently asked questions
Is PNO mandatory ?
For flats in a co-ownership : yes, civil liability minimum required by loi ALUR 2014. For independent houses : not legally required, but highly recommended.
My tenant has MRH : do I still need PNO ?
Yes. The tenant's MRH covers their contents and their civil liability. PNO covers the structure (your responsibility) and your liability as the owner. They're complementary.
How much does PNO cost ?
€100-€350/year for an average flat, €250-€600 for a house. GLI adds 2.5-3.5% of monthly rent. Holiday-let activity adds €50-€150.
Can I subscribe from abroad ?
Yes. AXA, Allianz, Pacifica, Fab French Insurance, April International all underwrite PNO from abroad. SEPA mandate from any Eurozone bank accepted.
Property empty between tenants : still need PNO ?
Yes, the legal obligation persists. Vacancy clauses kick in after 60-90 days continuous emptiness : theft cover may suspend, water-damage cover may require water cut-off. Notify the insurer of extended vacancy.
Can I deduct PNO from taxes ?
Yes, under the régime réel for rental income. Add the annual premium to charges déductibles on form 2044. Under micro-foncier (under €15k/year), no separate deduction : already in the 30% flat allowance.
Continue reading
- Second-home insurance : if you also use the property yourself
- Multirisque habitation : for the tenant's reference
- Compare home insurance providers
- English-speaking insurers
- Change home insurance
- Back to the home insurance hub