Next summer we are renting a house in St Remy Provence for the family through VRBO. On this forum, as far as I can tell, all the information about insurance on this topic is dates back to 2014. I am getting conflicting information on various websites about obtaining personal liability insurance in case "we burn down the house". Our VRBO confirmation says nothing about Liability Insurance for the person/family renting, but only for the protection of the Property Owner. The contract we signed and sent back to the Property Manager is a one page document and only deals with deposits, cancellation and occupancy. We already have Travel Insurance for every conceivable circumstance except personal liability. Our Home Owner policy does not cover Personal Liability. I am not sure when French Law implemented the tenant liability requirement. Also, if that law only applies to specific property like high rise apartments, with multiple owners, who might be damaged by a third party. Any help would be appreciated.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11151 posts
Never have used vrbo, so no personal knowledge.
Looking at a couple listings in St Remy, I find this wording in the listing:
Damage and incidentals
You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.
The only damage policy that I see on the vrbo site has a $1500 coverage for $59.
I would consult your insurance agent for a special rider to your policy or a special policy ( perhaps Lloyds?) if you are concerned about severe damage that you might cause.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10176 posts
Yes, I remember the first time we were required to buy insurance in Paris when renting through an agency (not an internet platform) was about 20 years ago. It cost about 11€, was offered by the rental agency, and we were told it is required.
There is a private Facebook group called “Strictly Legal France.” You should be able to get answers there. Someone will often provide a copy of the relevant statutes.
Posted by
OP
Florida
3 posts
Thanks for the replies. We did check with our Travel Insurance Provider and there is no rider for the policy. Homeowners Insurance does not cover this either. I am not a Facebook subscriber but I will ask a relative to check out "Strictly Legal France" thanks for the tip. I cannot change to a different Travel Insurance to get a special policy. A large part of the coverage I have now is a carryover for a trip that had to be cancelled because of Covid. Similar to the incidental damage policy by CSA ($59) my present insurance also has incidental damage covered. I am not worried about incidentals. From what I have read it appears French law requires the Vacationer to cover the Owner and his Neighbors from damages caused by our negligence. They say nothing about injuries so that has me worried.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10176 posts
I have absolutely no experience with this, but first, I believe that universal healthcare and the social safety net make a difference with lawsuits in France. Second, lawsuits are less frequent.
However-- it can take years to iron out legal problems due to conflicting laws, slow resolution. For example, it can take years to get squatters out of your house. Or, a neighbor cuts off access to your house because the access road goes through his property and he's put up a fence with a giant deadbolt. I know of two different cases like this.
We, and everyone we know, have legal assistance riders on our French homeowners insurance.
It's not lawsuits but it is complications and long resolution.