Landlord insurance (PNO)

What is landlord insurance?

The difference between MRH and PNO insurance

Let's start with the basics. There are several types of home insurance. We know, why keep it simple when you can make it complicated? Anyway, comprehensive home insurance (MRH for short, from the French "multirisque habitation") is different from landlord insurance (also known as PNO, for "propriétaire non-occupant").

While both protect the property itself, only MRH insurance covers what's inside it. For example, if your washing machine suddenly decides to go haywire and flood part of your home, landlord insurance will only cover damage to the structure (such as the walls), whereas MRH insurance can reimburse your washing machine, provided it was included in your policy.

Both protect your property but are designed for different profiles:

• MRH insurance is taken out by tenants or owner-occupiers
• Non-occupying owners, on the other hand, take out landlord insurance, even if they let their property

Compulsory or not, that is the question

Landlord home insurance isn't compulsory, unless your property is in a jointly owned building (copropriété).

To make things simpler, let's look at a few examples:

• You've bought a house in the countryside and don't plan to live in it, so you're not required to insure it
• You've invested in a flat and want to let it out. Since your property is in a jointly owned building (the block the flat is in), you must take out landlord insurance. This applies even if your tenant takes out their own comprehensive home insurance.
• You own a house that you let out: you're not required to take out home insurance, but your tenants are

What is landlord insurance for?

Logically, now that you know this insurance isn't compulsory, you're wondering what it's for. Very good question, let us answer it.

• Even when empty, a property can still get damaged. A storm sends the roof tiles flying, a pipe bursts and weakens the floor… All sorts of disaster scenarios that could cost you a pretty penny in repairs. Unless your property is insured.
• If your tenants aren't insured, your landlord insurance takes over.
• Construction defects and other latent defects aren't covered by your tenant's insurance, but they are covered by landlord insurance.

How much does landlord insurance cost?

Once again, a very good question, but a tricky one to answer. The price of landlord insurance depends on many factors. But the average cost of landlord insurance is estimated at between €70 and €200 a year, or an average of around €10 a month.

So how do you get a landlord insurance quote? Simply run a free simulation on our website. In just 30 seconds you'll get a quote that you can then customise.

Which landlord insurance should you choose?

Specific cover depending on your situation

Let's take a quick look at the cover usually included in your landlord insurance:

• Fire
• Water damage
• Public liability
• Theft and vandalism
• Storms and natural disasters
• Acts of terrorism
• Technological disasters

On top of these, you can add options such as the following (non-exhaustive list):

• Furnished lets
• Glass breakage
• Damage to your swimming pool and hot tub (lucky you)
• Rent guarantee insurance
• Furniture storage costs

What does the Loi Alur-Duflot (Alur-Duflot Act) change for non-occupying owners?

Since the Loi Alur (Alur Act) of 24 March 2014, if you're a non-occupying owner, you must take out (at the very least) public liability insurance for your rented property. As we explained above, this insurance is also required for all co-owners in a jointly owned building, whether or not they live there.

Public liability insurance covers damage your property might cause to your neighbours or any tenants.