Getting insurance to rent an apartment in Avignon France,is this normal?

We're renting an apt in Paris in Feb and the mgr gave me the name of an ins co for fire, water damage and cancellation but he said it is optional. I chose not to get it. It's only if you cause the fire or water damage.
We won't be causing either one... : )
Edit: if I had gotten it, it would cost about $75 for 2 wks

When I've rented through agencies, they are the link to the insurance. It's usually very low price, about 10 euros. I have never had to buy insurance when the owner rents directly, but I do think it's the law. I have no idea how one gets insurance without an agency. Have you asked the owner?

I was asked for this when I rented an apartment in Paris. I called my home insurer who told me my policy covered me for vacation rentals.

My daughter rented an apartment in Paris from Lodgis, she was required to obtain extra insurance . It was cheap so she just did it .

At least you know it's a legal rental , illegal ones dont ask .

If you sign a one-year lease, or a 9-month lease if you're a student, and will actually be living in the apartment the entire time, an agency will ask you to provide property insurance. The cost per month is normally around 23 EU for fire and water damage.

If you are renting short-term, it is the property owner's duty to have his own insurance.
This is a requirement when you purchase an apartment. The owner may not pass on the price of property insurance to a part-time tenant.
I'd look elsewhere.

Chexbres response makes a lot of sense, and he/she appears to be a Paris resident. I've rented houses and apartments all over France dozens of times, in cities and villages, and have never been asked to buy insurance.

it is s perfectly good question to ask, as I starting to look into this when booking an apartment in paris, for a few days. seemed like it was a law?? and could effect the entire building? i found many 'mixed' responses. just because someone says they did not get asked doesn't mean is not required. in the end I just booked hotels etc.
I would also like to know definitively?

I've lived in Paris for 10 years.
The "insurance" that short-term rental agencies ask their clients to pay is not actual "property insurance", but rather the charges associated with the upkeep of the building.
Since the property owner is responsible for insuring his apartment, he may not transfer the title of his contract to a short-term rental client.

These illegal charges include, but are not limited to: collective heating and water, garbage disposal fees and costs of maintaining a gardienne on the premises. These charges are the responsibility of the property owner to pay, normally on a quarterly basis.
If individual meters for electricity and/or gas are in the apartment, it is common for these charges to be passed on under the cover of "insurance", or they may simply be included in the rental fee.

If the client is staying for a month or more, there may be a clause in the rental contract specifying the normal usage fees for electricity and/or gas. In this case, the client is responsible for paying the amount set by the property owner, based on historical use.

If a one-year lease (or 9 months for a student) has been signed, and individual meters are available, the tenant must set up accounts with the utility companies.
If a one-year or 9 month lease has been signed, it is the responsibility of the tenant to purchase "property insurance". A copy of this insurance must be provided to the property owner.

Thank you for all the help and replies,I contacted the owners and they told me it was an old french contract,I should forget it,they sent me a new one in English for me to sign... I am glad I did not have to go to all this trouble.problem solve.
MERCI beaucoup,thanks. Carolle👍👍👍👍

We've rented three apts in Paris and have never been asked to pay insurance or any extra fee. My post above refers to an apt we have rented for our stay in Feb, we were given the website for fire, water damage and cancellation ins and told it was totally optional. No obligation to have it. We have always rented from very reputable companies.

Actually.. my daughter had to purchase the insurance from an insurance company( not through Lodgis.. ) .. and present the papers before they were allowed occupancy.. it was definately insurance and not maintenance fees.

Lodgis and a few other agencies provide listings for "corporate housing", which they are legally allowed to do.

But if they passed the insurance on to your daughter - especially on a short-term basis - the apartment was not legal.
It is the property owner's responsibility to provide "assurances d'habitation", as stated in the by-laws of the building when he purchases the apartment.