Many retirees take advantage of their free time to go on vacation for several weeks, or even several months. Before packing their bags, one point in the home insurance contract deserves their full attention. It can have irreversible consequences.
In retirement, we travel differently. Stays are becoming longer, destinations more varied and the schedule much more flexible. Some spend the winter in the sun, others take the opportunity to visit their family living abroad or travel to several countries during the same trip. When preparing to leave, passports, reservations and medical treatments are usually at the top of the list. The home insurance contract often remains in a drawer.
However, it is he who can have a nasty surprise in store in the event of a burglary. Many owners think that their home is covered in all situations as long as they pay their contribution. In reality, the guarantees provided by home insurance are accompanied by conditions which are not always known to the policyholders. They easily go unnoticed when the contract is signed and only come to the forefront when a disaster occurs.
Indeed, in France, home insurance contracts generally cover risks such as fire, water damage or even theft when this guarantee has been taken out. But each insurer sets its own rules and certain clauses may modify the compensation conditions depending on the situation.
This is why it is always useful to reread your contract before a prolonged absence, especially when the accommodation must remain empty for several weeks. Indeed, as the official Public Service website points out, many insurers set a limit beyond which the guarantee against theft can be limited or suspended. This duration is often between 30 and 90 consecutive days.
Therefore, if the accommodation remains unoccupied for longer, it may be necessary to notify your insurer or take out an extended warranty in order to maintain the same protection. Depending on the company, this extension may be offered for the duration of the trip or integrated into a more complete package. These conditions vary from one insurer to another, so it is best to check them before a prolonged absence.
