This is information that very few owners and tenants know, and yet it can cost dear in the event of claims.
In general, when you go on vacation, you think of cutting the water, emptying the fridge, putting out certain catches, preventing neighbors, but you rarely think of rereading your home insurance contract. And yet, on the return, some discover that their accommodation has been flooded or robbed … without them being able to touch a penny. Not because they forgot to pay their monthly payments, but because of an often ignored detail, although perfectly legal. This detail can make all the difference between complete compensation and an invoice for several thousand euros.
This type of unpleasant surprise arrives especially when the accommodation remains empty for several weeks. Water damage occurs while you sunbathe at the other end of the country, a fire is declared that no one is there to intervene, and insurance refuses to cover the damage. The reason? You have exceeded the authorized duration of absence. This limit, written black on white in insurance contracts, has a little known name for the general public: the inhabitation clause, also called the vacuum clause. And it concerns both owners and tenants.
Concretely, according to Axa Assurance, this clause “Stipulates that your accommodation can remain uninhabited for a certain period every year, in the order of 30 to 90 days”. This period varies according to insurers. Beyond, “Your insurer considers that risks increase considerably in your absence and may in the event of theft, reduce your compensation or refuse to compensate you”, Can we read on the AXA site, in the “Home Advantage” category. But then what to do to protect yourself?
If you are often absent from your accommodation over a long period, even for professional trips, AXA Assurance advises to “Negotiate with your insurer its abolition or the extension of the inhabitation period, with a surprise. If the amount of your subscription seems too high, you still have the possibility of ensuring only certain valuables.” And if you do not know if your contract integrates or not this clause, the best is to contact your agency directly to check. This will save you unpleasant surprises when you return a leave!
