Renting Paris apartment for one week this August - is home insurance a wise idea?

Look, you already have decided to rent.. and the agency you are using requires this insurance ( I have heard of this before but not had to do it via the agency I rented through) so you have to pay it like it or not.

I personally would pay the minimum.. insurance for mugging is stupid.. you are most likely to get pickpocketed.. not mugged.. and getting insurance to cover that will be very difficult.. you will have to file a police report. ( which can take HOURS) .. and then have proof of loss ( impossible) etc.. I think THAT insurance is a rip.

If you want worry free pay for a hotel room. They covere everything.. Apartment rentals do require more research .. its just the way it is.. ( and yes. I rent apartments and stay in hotels both.. depends on circumstances, length of stay,, but hotels are easiest()

I have never had to pay for any type of insurance (I stay in apartments 99.9% of the time) but then again I have never rented through Lodgis. I agree that if it's mandatory, then you really don't have an option so just get the least amount to make them happy :)
I am confused though. Isn't that what a damage deposit is for? And as far as getting mugged, that has nothing to do with the apartment itself.

Wow. That seems outrageous to me. Are you aware that many short-term apartment rentals in Paris are illegal? If your apartment is one of them, I suspect that any insurance claim you might need to make would be judged invalid. The mayor of Paris has gone on a crusade against the many short-term rentals in the city; she has a staff dedicated to finding the owners and shutting them down. Here is an article about the current situation. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find an English-language account.
http://www.challenges.fr/internet/20150521.CHA6046/airbnb-home-exchange-la-mairie-de-paris-declare-la-guerre-aux-locations-tres-courtes.html

I think someone linked to an English-language article from France 24 on the thread that I started on this subject the other day . . .

Oh good. Glad to hear that. The mayor is serious about this issue. I should add that they are not targeting Airbnb in particular. Btw, owners of apartments can legally rent their own apartment for up to 4 months per year. An apartment (short-term) rental that is not owner-occupied is usually illegal; the owner could face a huge fine and be asked to stop renting it.

Kim, here is that thread, link to France 24 English language video and text is in the 11th reply:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/paris-authorities-launch-three-day-raid-against-airbnb-type-rentals-in-the-marais#bottom

I have had French landlords mention that insurance was "required," but have never taken it out because we've always rented from private landlords, never from a company. Just found the following online (note final paragraph), but I agree with other posters that you'll probably need to do the minimum with this company.

"If you rent out property, or you are a tenant, the law requires that all tenants of unfurnished accommodation take out (at least) public liability insurance (risques locatifs) covering their own responsibility for damage to third parties and the property.

In general, their responsibilities would be best covered by an all risks policy (multi-risques d’habitation) that they could take out to also cover their own person and possessions.

This rule does not apply to tenants of furnished properties, or those renting a holiday home."

This is a new one to me, I've never been asked to pay for any insurance, but I've never rented through Lodgis.com, and I doubt if I would after learning this. Seems like a ripoff, especially when you're already providing a damage deposit. But you probably have no choice if you've confirmed the booking, unless you can cancel without penalty and want to start looking again (but August is coming up fast....)

BTW, I'm sure Janet didn't mean to imply that you were "most likely" to get pickpocketed rather than mugged. More likely, yes, but still very unlikely if you take reasonable precautions. The risk of being mugged (held up, assaulted) would be vanishingly rare.

We have rented several apartments in Paris through Lodgis over the last fifteen years, from studios to two-bedrooms. It's a French agency that follows the laws carefully. Insurance became mandatory about five years ago; before that, it was never mentioned. This three-levels of insurance is a new twist, and like you, I'd get the cheapest one that fulfills the legal requirement. We were surprised by the insurance the first time they required it, but my French husband talked with them to be sure about it. It's legit.

Lodgis is a reputable middle-man agency that links renters with owners, not an agency that owns its own apartments. It's French, so not many people on this Forum have ever used it. They work with both long-term and vacation rentals so they know the laws.
Lodgis does inspect, rate, and photograph everything themselves, including the toilet; I've learned to scrutinize the photos very carefully
In the past, we have found that some landlords use it to build up clientele and will then rent directly to you once you know each other, going under the radar on return visits. On the other hand, once when we had to leave an unsatisfactory apartment (friends of friends deal), we simply walked into their office on rue du Paradis in the 10th and were able to rent a new Montmartre listing on the spot.

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Let me clarify just a little more: most people on this forum recommend agencies that own their own apartments. The advantage to that is the agency is responsible for your well-being for the duration of the rental. When you rent an apartment from Lodgis, you are essentially renting from an individual. The agency is only a matchmaker. There are advantages to using an agency that owns its own rentals. Furthermore, the insurance is probably included in the rental price, which is why others haven't paid it separately.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

Bets: It is reassuring to hear you have also rented from Lodgis and have recently came across the insurance obligation and found it to be legit. Based on everyone's advice on here, I will take out the most basic coverage to satisfy their requirement.

Paris is expensive and if you do the math for my rental, it still comes out cheaper than a one or two star hotel in the Rue Cler area. Plus I have the benefit of having a kitchen and washing machine.

Pat: a hotel definitely has its advantages as well. The concierge is always there if something is wrong, and of course, there would not have been a need for insurance discussions! But an apartment in Paris has such a romantic connotation, it makes me feel local!

Dave, Terry, Kim: I was unaware of the mayor's crackdown until I joined this forum. Thank you for the link. If this continues, it will definitely affect and limit choices of accommodation.

Janet: That seems a strange law, the apartment is definitely furnished. One nagging question remains - what coverage does this landlord have when his apartment isn't being rented? He must have some sort of homeowners policy for the periods when it's vacant. That's why I found it unsettling and thought it was a scam.

Just want to also make clear that insurance matters aside, Lodgis.com is an excellent site for anyone looking for a Paris apartment. It is a pleasure to use. It allows searches by district, has interactive floor plan, lots of photos, Google street map, clear descriptions in English, currency converter, and very prompt responses from its agents. My only beef is, of course, that the insurance part was not explained until after the booking was confirmed.

Thanks again for the helpful advice!

Helen

Helen I have never stayed in a hotel in Paris that HAS a concierge.. lol.. I stay in small family run hotels mostly.. and price out at about 90-120 euros a night max.( I prefer to average 100 euros a night) . for 2 stars at least.. with air conditioning. And I would never stay in the "rue Cler " area.. boring and not central to me. This is my experience after only 35 years or more of visiting Paris.

I think the "romance" of apartment rental is such a myth.. and yes.. I have done it.. ( last summer and the summer before.. so fairly recently) but I also stay in hotels still.. I don't find taking out garbage that romantic but that's just me. I do make a point of getting hotels with mini fridges as I like to stock it with snacks and drinks.

I think you are paying a lot more then I would for an experience.. once you add in extra costs.. and subtract the lack of services you will get ( I love not having to wash towels.. make beds, or take out garbage) .. and for a week only .. who does laundry.. ps.. do be aware French laundering machines are very , very different.. you may end up hating them as many of us end up doing.. lol

Just returned from 3 weeks in France. Rented apts in Paris and Antibes. Have done this all over the world and have never had a problem. Some agencies require insurance...I would suggest the cheapest. Relax and enjoy. Apt renting is so much better than a hotel we think....so much more room, small kitchen for coffee and snacks..we always eat out but sometimes pick up food already prepared at a market or the Momoprix and bring in. A sofa to sit on, maybe a desk or even balcony...we love it. And, you begin to feel like a part of the community...especially when the bakery guy knows what you want when you enter. You will love the 7th. Be sure to go to La Petit Troque..our favorite restaurant! And, visit the markets on Grenelle.

This current thread may be of interest:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/paris-authorities-launch-three-day-raid-against-airbnb-type-rentals-in-the-marais

Sara: Your reassurances and suggestions are sincerely appreciated. This is my first time in Paris, something tells me it won't be my last time.

Kent: The mayor may be a tad short sighted in his crackdown. Rentals keep things competitive and provide more flexibility for an expensive destination. Having more options help promote tourism (an important industry in France) and makes Paris more accessible for travellers of all budget levels. It is a win-win for both the traveller and the local. I live in Vancouver BC, also a popular tourist destination. I own a condo and my retirement plans include as much travelling as a fixed income would allow. Wouldn't it be great if I could rent my place out while I'm away and recoup some of my expenses while giving another world traveller the option of staying in something other than a hotel. Thank you for forwarding the link to an interesting discussion. Happy travels!

Actually due to laws protecting long term renters many landlords want to rent weekly to tourists instead. Paris has a serious housing problem and they want these apartments on the market. Owners can rent out their personal apartments, just the way you plan to do. Another problem is empty apartments families hold on to as inheritances. The mayor is a she.

Helen,

the Mayor should not be referred to as "he". It is a lady we are speaking about.

If a lot of living places are taken out of circulation then the remaining ones for local working families are forced up in price and harder to get. How would you like to be a hard working person who couldn't find the sort of flat you wanted, where you wanted it, at a price you could afford?

So I'm not sure that it can absolutely be said that it is a win-win. It is probably a win for the landlords who can jack the price up for tourists and avoid all the responsibilities that landlords have to long term tenants.

Pardon moi, I meant no disrespect to Madame Mayor of Paris. I am looking forward to visiting her beautiful city.

Helen, She accepts your graceful apology ;) By the way, the two run-off candidates for Paris mayor in the last election were woman.

We had the same requirement in Paris 6 years ago. I called my insurance company and learned that we were covered for rentals with our regular home insurance, so I just put that info on the rental agreement.

Our rental agency in Paris required the proof of insurance too so we paid it. This was the first time we've encountered this requirement.

Our rental apt in Paris this April did not require insurance (or proof of insurance), but when we babysat some friends animals and their home in Provence, I had to forward the appropriate pages of my US Homeowner policy, showing that I was fully insured and could cover any damage that I may have caused. Their insurance agency required this.

A reading of my policy let me to believe that we were covered.

When I initially called my agent about this, he did not know if were covered ......."overseas." He checked with the Underwriters, who confirmed my reading of our policy.

Helen, if you have a Homeowners insurance policy ( that covers you no matter where you reside), you may want to see if they would accept that.