Comments on: Are your gites insured?

By: Boris

Boris — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:35:29 +0000

[...] our (and probably many others) gites were not properly insured. You can read about that at ‘oops I forget to insure my property‘ (as it should have been [...]

By: Jacqui U

Jacqui U — Sun, 17 May 2009 14:50:57 +0000

I would probably put money on it…..

By: Boris

Boris — Sun, 17 May 2009 14:40:40 +0000

Thanks all, it’s good to hear that it’s not just me being daft. I suppose it means we have to look through all our other insurance policies as well. Should make for a fun evening.
When we claimed for our swimming-pool liner we thought our cover would be enough, but it only covered the ‘early stages’ so as soon as europiscine said they weren’t going to pay and the only option was to go to court…our insurance legal cover stopped as well. A fact they were perhaps aware of when they refused to pay up?

By: Jacqui U

Jacqui U — Sun, 17 May 2009 14:17:59 +0000

We knew about this – not because we are clever so-and-so’s (we are not!) but only because we rent out an apartment in France to ‘curistes’ (who are always French).
The previous owner gave us copies of all her documentation including proposals and contracts which made us query the paragraph that said they had to provide a written ‘attestation’ from their home insurers proving that they were covered for damage at our property BEFORE being allowed into the property.
Problems start, not only as you mentioned (if we ever rent to non-French) but also if we let UK friends/family stay (rent free) when they come to visit us – we would not be covered.
With French clients, we have problems if (say) they live at home with their parents, because their parents’ insurance would not cover them…it is all SO SO different here, with hidden pitfalls!

Jacqui U
xxxx

By: Schofields

Schofields — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:15:05 +0000

I think most people will be unaware of this, and just assume they are covered.

It is common in France that if a French person renting your gite/holiday home causes damage, then you claim on their home insurance. But as you point out, this is not the case for UK/overseas renters, and getting standalone liability insurance for renting a French gite is difficult.

Someone renting from the UK may be covered for third party liability as part of their travel insurance, but what happens if they don’t have travel insurance?

This will only apply to those with French insurance. UK holiday letting insurance would normally cover the homeowner for damage by guests.

Homeowners should take note of this and double check they are covered when renting to non-French residents.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:17:42 +0000

Boris I doubt that its 10% who don’t know, more likely to be 90% though this will only apply to those with french insurance as it seems all french insurers have this quirky little clause which assumes all visitors will be french. I found this out some 10 years ago by chance when another quirky clause was invoked on me. This time it was a claim for storm damage when tiles from my roof were taken off by the wind and smash into my greenhouse, the wind then ripped most of the remaining glass out. I was told it was my tiles therefore it was my responsibility,on quirying this my agent informed me he was dealing with a clients case where a father and son were driving in opposite directions on a narrow lane and had a collision, the insurer refused to pay out as both cars were on the fathers policy.
It took a fiscal lawyer several weeks to sort out my policy with the insurer so that now I have a “Professional multi-risk Policy”.
I’m sure that there are other problems with insurance out there so be warned.