How much is second home insurance in France?

Reader Question: We are thinking of buying a second home in France. How much should we expect to pay for insurance?

 There is no legal requirement to insure a second home in France if it is a fully independent property. 

However, if the home is part of a copropriété (shared building) owners must have at least civil liability insurance, and many lotissements (housing estates) require third-party insurance under their internal regulations. Mortgage lenders will also generally insist on it as a loan condition.

Regardless, insurance is something that many second-home owners want to have, even though a policy is likely to be more expensive than insurance for a main residence.

Given that a second home is often unoccupied for long periods, insurers consider it higher risk: the chance of burglary, vandalism, water damage or other problems is greater when no one is there regularly.

Read more: How to lower the amount you pay for insurance in France

Comparison websites often show annual premiums in the €300–€450 range for a standard main residence of around 90m², though prices vary widely depending on location, coverage level, and risk factors. 

For a second home the same variables apply – but expect to pay around 20% more given the greater perceived risk. 

Websites including Meilleurtaux, LeLynx, Wesur, or similar, can give multiple quotes in a few minutes tailored to individual users’ needs.

Read more: Why your home insurance in France is likely to increase

If you already have household insurance in France, the cheapest option is often to ask your insurer to include the second home in your main contract. 

Most providers are happy to do so and the extra charge to your monthly bill will likely be lower than getting a new contract for the second home. However, this is obviously not an option for people whose main home is abroad.

House insurance is usually divided into three sections: damage cover, theft and vandalism, and civil liability.

Whether the insurance is through your existing insurer or with a new provider, be mindful there may be clauses which exclude cover, such as for burglary and vandalism, if the property is left empty.

These clauses are often found in France with variable time frames, usually between 30 and 90 days of the house being empty, depending on the insurer. Note that some firms do not count weekend visits as ‘occupation’.

If this is a problem – the second home being only used for three months in summer, for example – make sure you have this extended.