The student is a tenant like any other, and as such, is subject to the same risks and obligations regarding the insurance of his accommodation. Overview of the different rental statuses and the related insurance obligations, whether the student is a tenant or a roommate!
Is student housing insurance compulsory in France?
Depending on whether the student is a tenant or a roommate, or whether he occupies an empty or furnished apartment, lodged in a hostel/a room in a university residence (Crous), or a room in a private home, he may be subject to the obligation of rental risk insurance.
Tenants subject to the rental risk insurance obligation
Students renting a studio or apartment, alone or in shared accommodation, are required to cover their rental liability towards the owner (law n° 89-462 of July 6, 1989).
A certificate must be provided when signing the lease.
Tenants exempt from the insurance obligation
Some students are exempt from this obligation. These are student tenants in:
Owner’s request
Although they are not subject to this obligation, this does not mean that they can avoid taking out a contract covering their rental liability.
The owner may decide to include a clause in the lease making rental risk coverage mandatory. Taking out this guarantee is also strongly recommended.
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What are the conditions for insuring a student’s apartment?
Student card
When the contract taken out is specific to students, to benefit from it, they must prove their status by presenting:
Housing area
According to insurers, only occupants of accommodation not exceeding a certain surface area can benefit from the formula reserved for students:
- two rooms for single accommodation;
- four to five rooms for a shared apartment.
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What home insurance for student accommodation?
A multi-risk home insurance contract
Whether it is a normal rental or a shared accommodation, student occupants are insured by taking out a multi-risk home insurance policy.
Essential guarantees
The contract must include the following guarantees:
- rental risks (mandatory);
- the recourse of neighbors and third parties (not obligatory, but essential);
- civil liability in the event of an accident (not obligatory, but essential, in your private life or during work placements);
- a guarantee covering the student’s movable property and personal effects.
Events covered by home insurance
The contract generally covers the following events:
- fire and related risks (explosion, implosion, lightning, etc.);
- storm, snow, hail;
- water damage;
- theft and vandalism;
- broken windows;
- attacks and acts of terrorism;
- natural disasters;
- technological disasters;
- defense & appeals.
Beware of student-specific contracts
Some contracts, modeled on multi-risk home insurance, but designed for students, provide for limited capital for furniture and personal effects, which has the effect of reducing the contribution.
Be careful in this type of contract about the guarantee of precious objects and valuables (see the exact definition in the General Conditions of the contract), which is not always acquired.
Optional guarantees
Depending on the insurer, other guarantees may be offered:
- Assistance and troubleshooting.
- Advance of funds for basic necessities.
- Warranty for computer equipment or household appliances.
- Legal protection.
- Compensatory allowance in the event of inability to attend examinations for medical or family reasons, etc.
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How to take out student housing insurance?
Compare student housing insurance
Do some research online to compare different insurance companies and their specific student housing insurance offerings.
View warranties, pricing, deductibles and customer reviews.
Finding your home insurer
Determine which guarantees are essential for you (fire, theft, water damage, civil liability, etc.).
Then contact several insurers to get quotes. This can often be done online, via a form or a quote simulator.
Take out your insurance
Once you have chosen an offer, fill out the subscription form online or in an agency. You will need to provide personal information and details about the accommodation.
You will need to pay the first insurance premium to activate your contract.
Receive your student housing insurance certificate
Once the insurance is purchased, you will receive a certificate of insurance.
Keep it safe, as it may be required by your landlord.
Cancel your home insurance contract
How much does student housing insurance cost?
The price of student housing insurance varies depending on the location of the accommodation, its size, the guarantees chosen and the insurance company.
In general, student housing insurance costs between 50 and 200 euros per year.
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The special case of shared accommodation
Same insurance obligation
Roommates, like any tenant of a dwelling (except the occupant of furnished accommodation), are legally required to guarantee their rental risks and provide proof of insurance.
Individually responsible roommates
It is good to know that in shared accommodation, if the roommates are collectively responsible towards the owner, each remains individually responsible in proportion to their contribution to the rent.
This is why each roommate must check that they are properly covered individually in the event that their personal civil liability is called into question.
Choose the same insurer
It is in the interest of roommates to take out their contracts with the same insurer. This makes it easier to settle claims in the event of a claim.
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What home insurance should you choose for students sharing an apartment?
Coverage by individual contracts
Each roommate must take out an individual contract which covers not only their rental liability, but also the recourse of neighbors and third parties and their civil liability.
It can also guarantee capital covering the student’s personal property and effects.
Coverage by a group contract
At the initiative of one of the roommates, a collective contract can be taken out for the entire shared accommodation. This contract must clearly name all the roommates.
Please note that any change of roommate during the contract must be reported to the insurer and be the subject of an amendment.
If the subscriber to the contract leaves the shared accommodation and therefore terminates the contract, the others must subscribe to a new one without delay, otherwise they will no longer be insured.
In the event of a collective subscription, if the civil liability of the co-tenants is indeed acquired, it does not apply between them, because living under the same roof, they do not have the status of third parties between them.
Insurance taken out by the owner on behalf of the roommates
The owner can offer in the lease to take out insurance on behalf of the co-tenants (formula known as “insurance on behalf of whom it may concern”).
This formula has the advantage of:
- secure coverage for the owner;
- avoid the hassle of changing roommates;
- eliminate the risk of a roommate not being insured.
A clause waiving recourse against the co-tenants must then appear in the lease.
The annual contribution is collected with the rent on the basis of one twelfth and shared between the roommates in proportion to the private surface area occupied by each of them.
This last solution is by far the most practical for both the lessor and the roommates and is often the least expensive.
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