- Report the damage to your insurer in writing as soon as you become aware of it: usually within 5 working days, 2 for a burglary.
- For water damage coming from a neighbour, your own insurer usually handles the claim.
- You generally have 2 years to take action against your insurer: do not let a claim drag on.
How quickly must I report the damage?
| Type of damage | Minimum reporting period |
|---|---|
| Water damage, fire, storm | As set by your policy, but no less than 5 working days |
| Burglary, theft | No less than 2 working days — also file a police report |
| Natural disaster (flood, landslide…) | 30 days after the official « natural disaster » order is published |
Report by registered letter or through your insurer's online space, keep proof of the date, and attach photos. Take reasonable steps to limit further damage (cutting off the water, securing a broken window), and keep the receipts.
I live abroad and only discovered the damage weeks later
This is very common for second-home owners. The reporting period runs from the moment you became aware of the damage, not from the day it occurred. In addition, your insurer can only refuse cover for late reporting if the policy provides for it and if it proves the delay caused it a loss.
Ask your caretaker, neighbour, letting agent or « syndic » (building manager) to inform you in writing as soon as a problem is noticed: that written notice will help establish when you became aware of the damage.
Water damage in an apartment building: who pays?
For most water damage in apartment buildings, French insurers apply an agreement between themselves (known as the « IRSI » convention). In practice, your own insurer usually handles your claim, even if the leak came from the flat upstairs, and then settles the matter with the other insurers. For larger losses, ordinary liability rules apply and the process takes longer.
If the leak came from a common part of the building (a riser, a roof, a facade), the building's insurance, through the syndic, may be involved.
I rent out my property as a holiday let
Check that your policy covers seasonal or short-term letting: standard home insurance does not always do so, and an insurer may refuse cover if the use of the property was not declared. Also check what happens when the damage is caused by a guest, and what your letting platform's own protection really covers.
The insurer refuses to pay or offers too little
Ask for the refusal in writing, with the exact clause of the policy relied on.
An exclusion clause is only valid if it is clear, precise and limited, and printed in a very visible way in your policy; it is up to the insurer to prove it applies.
You can appoint your own loss assessor (« expert d'assuré ») to challenge the insurer's expert.
You can make a complaint to the insurer, then refer the matter free of charge to the insurance ombudsman, or go to court.
Is there a time limit?
Claims against your insurer generally become time-barred 2 years after the event (5 years for natural disasters under recent policies). The appointment of an expert after the loss, or a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt concerning payment of the claim, stops the clock and starts it again. Do not let negotiations run on without taking these steps.
Own a home on the French Riviera and facing an insurance dispute? I can help, in English.
This guide provides general information on French law. It is not a substitute for advice on your individual situation.