Sometimes still called fire insurance, home insurance is much broader in its coverage. It is still necessary to understand the terminology and choose the right options. An essential step when you become a tenant.
Compulsory in Wallonia since September 1, 2018 and in Flanders since January 1, 2019, home insurance is not compulsory in Brussels for a tenant. The owner of the property can however impose it in the lease. It goes without saying that this insurance is highly recommended. Obliged to return the property in its original state, the tenant could be faced with a dramatic disbursement in the event of a fire started by his fault, for example. It should be noted that the tenant’s insurance is roughly a quarter cheaper than that of the owner, the latter covering the new value of the property and not its current condition.
…
Compulsory in Wallonia since September 1, 2018 and in Flanders since January 1, 2019, home insurance is not compulsory in Brussels for a tenant. The owner of the property can however impose it in the lease. It goes without saying that this insurance is highly recommended. Obliged to return the property in its original state, the tenant could be faced with a dramatic disbursement in the event of a fire started by his fault, for example. It should be noted that the tenant’s insurance is roughly a quarter cheaper than that of the owner, the latter covering the new value of the property and not its current condition. This essential insurance for the tenant is actually the rental RC (RC for civil liability) which concerns the building, specifies Sophie Danneels, Housing product manager at Axa. It covers the liability of the tenant with regard to the owner, recalls for his part Denis Querton, head of the disaster service at the broker Soyer & Mamet, who specifies: “If a fire comes from the tenant, he is legally presumed responsible. It is up to him to prove the contrary”. But if an original equipped kitchen is covered by such a contract, the same does not apply to the furniture belonging to the tenant, insist the two professionals For this, it is necessary to add a “contents insurance”, the duo thus formed constituting what is commonly called home insurance. There is no doubt that the insurer or the broker will underline the distinction with regard to a neophyte tenant… It goes without saying that damage to the tenant’s furniture caused by a problem relating to the building, a roof that pierces for example, will be covered by the owner’s insurance. It should also be noted that family RC insurance does not cover damage due to fire or water damage, i.e. precisely those that fall under rental RC. Even supplemented by content coverage, home insurance does not cover theft: it is still an additional option. It is important not to lose sight of this for two reasons. On the one hand, the additional bonus is not marginal: it can increase the total by several tens of percent. Normal: “this is the highest risk for companies, especially in recent years”, explains Denis Querton. Which specifies: “The theft of the contents is covered as long as there has been a break-in… if the person is absent. On the other hand, in the event of presence, it is covered even without a break-in, which few people know” . Please note: the insurer can exclude prolonged absences (several months) which have not been notified to it. Second reason to be careful: the cover is not unlimited, the premium evolving according to the ceiling chosen. At Axa, we offer flight and flight+ but not a system that evolves in stages. On the other hand, we can also estimate the value of the content and establish the premium in parallel with the amount obtained. Beware of valuables: some contracts provide for a maximum amount per item, around 2,500 euros for example. The price and extent of cover against theft offer a frankly disconcerting diversity: for the same price of 88 euros per year, you are covered for 25,000 euros in one company and twice that in the other. Stronger: one of the market leaders offers three times more for around fifty euros. However, observes Diane Hendrickx, project officer in financial services at Test-Achats, these differences are not necessarily justified by deep differences in the conditions: there really are big price differences. Another tip to consider: the deductible, or the amount not reimbursed by the insurer, which is now approaching 300 euros. However, several companies apply the “English deductible” which consists of eliminating this deductible if the damage exceeds a certain amount, around 1,200 euros for example. To what extent does the insurer take into account the obsolescence of an object? Will a computer paid 1,000 euros be compensated at this level, or much less depending on its seniority? “We take into account the obsolescence from a certain percentage, explains Sophie Danneels: below 20% for example, it will generally not be retained”. No problem a priori for a laptop bought last year. If it is already several years old, on the other hand… Most insurers extend theft more or less significantly beyond the main residence of the insured, in particular to the accommodation occupied during the holidays, or even to equipment placed in the sports club locker. But also theft with violence or threat, in the street and everywhere while travelling, like snatching a bag. Note that damage caused by thieves, a forced lock for example, is covered by the owner’s home insurance. Some insurers, AG in particular, however accept to compensate for minor damage of this kind via the “theft” contract, to avoid administrative complications. Another aspect of things: we obtain quite logically a reduction in the premium to be paid by taking measures such as the installation of a reinforced door or an alarm, a fortiori connected to a central. Up to 50% at Axa, reports the company, which has an agreement with a company that does a lot of television advertising… What happens when a tenant decides to live with his soul mate? Is the couple fully covered by the policy previously taken out by the single person? Most contracts automatically cover the insured “and the people living under the same roof”, underlines Gerrit Feyaerts, spokesperson for AG Insurance. the cohabitant than the children.” On the other hand, it will be necessary to adapt the family RC contract which specifically covers one person. And see if the furniture brought by the partner does not break the ceiling that may be included in the contract. Regarding the specific case of hosting a Ukrainian refugee, no company has officially spoken, it seems. But there is no reason why the notion of home should not apply, consider the professionals. Finally, what about moving? In most companies, home insurance covers both the old and new addresses for a certain period of up to three months. Axa points out that its content insurance contract also covers damage that may occur during the move itself.
.