French Holiday Home Insurance
Compare cover for your house in France
- Cover for French houses and gites
- Compare quotes with one short form
- Options for lets and renovations
Insuring a holiday home in France: UK-based or French insurer?
You can insure a French house with a UK-based specialist or a French insurer. A UK-based policy usually gives you documents in English and a UK claims line.
Whichever you choose, the policy must name the French address and how you use the house. That means family stays, lets or renovation work.
Which French property situation is yours?
Your use of the property decides the cover, so start here.
| Your French property | What to ask the insurer |
|---|---|
| A family house used for summers | How long it can be empty, and the winter conditions |
| A gîte let to holidaymakers | Public liability for guests and loss of booking income |
| An apartment in a shared building | What the building’s own policy covers |
| A farmhouse under renovation | Whether building work and empty periods are allowed |
| A mobile home on a campsite | Whether it needs a separate mobile home policy |
| A house you have inherited | Who can be named on the policy while the estate is settled |
If you spend summers at your French house
Your stays are limited by entry rules, so the house will be empty for long stretches. GOV.UK says British visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa.
GOV.UK also says the EU’s new Entry/Exit System is being introduced across the Schengen area. Give the insurer a realistic pattern of visits.
Ask a neighbour or a key holder to check the house. Many policies set visit conditions for empty spells.
If you let your house in France as a gîte
Letting adds guests, cleaners and bookings to the risk. Your policy needs to say it covers paid lets.
Local rules apply too. The FCDO guidance on buying property abroad tells owners to research and follow local laws on buying and renting out property.
Renovating an old house in France
Building work changes the risk, so declare it before work starts. Some policies limit theft or water damage while a house is a building site.
The Financial Ombudsman Service says many unoccupied property disputes involve homes being refurbished. Keep receipts and photos of the work.
Contents you leave in a French holiday home
Contents cover pays for furniture, appliances and kit you keep in the house. Value it at what it would cost to replace, not what you paid years ago.
Many policies limit cover for valuables in an empty house. Take jewellery, laptops and cameras home with you, or ask the insurer what limits apply.
Garden furniture, bikes and pool equipment are often treated as outdoor items. They may have a lower limit or need listing.
Who looks after your house in France while you are away?
A named key holder makes a real difference to empty-property cover. Many policies expect regular checks, and some set how often they must happen.
Write down what the key holder should look for: leaks, broken windows, storm damage and signs of a break-in. Ask them to report problems straight away, because most policies expect prompt notice of a claim.
If you pay a local caretaker, tell the insurer. It can help show the house is being watched.
Buying property in France: costs to plan for
The FCDO lists insurance among the extra costs of buying abroad, alongside legal and translation fees.
Its guidance also suggests checking for unpaid utility bills or local taxes before purchase, and making a will in the country where the property is.
Checklist before you compare house insurance in France
- The full French address and the size of the house
- The rebuild cost, plus outbuildings and any pool
- Months you usually stay and the longest empty spell
- Whether you let it, and how bookings are taken
- Any building work planned this year
- Who checks the house while you are in the UK
Compare insurance for French homes with Tiger.co.uk
Tiger.co.uk lets you compare French house insurance quotes from a panel of over 50 holiday property providers with one short form.
Heading out there yourself? Remember travel insurance for the journey, because a property policy does not cover you as a traveller.
Can a UK-based company insure my house in France?
Yes, some will, and their wording is usually in English. Ask who handles claims on the ground in France. Then check that the French address and how you use the house are written on your schedule.
Does French holiday home insurance cover a mobile home on a campsite?
Not always. A mobile home on a French campsite is often insured separately from a house. Say which you own when you ask for quotes.
Do I need to tell my insurer if I let my French house?
Yes. Letting to paying guests is a big change in risk. Many family-use policies exclude it unless you add letting cover.
How long can I stay at my house in France?
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, says GOV.UK’s entry rules for France. It adds that second-home owners may need to show proof of ownership, such as a tax or utility bill. Longer stays mean meeting French entry rules, so tell your insurer if your visits change.
Who can help with the legal side of owning a house in France?
GOV.UK’s Living in France guidance points owners to English-speaking professionals in France, including lawyers, translators and notaries. Ask your notary whose names are on the title, so the same people are named on the policy.
Does a policy cover a house I am renovating in France?
Some do, but only if you declare the work. The Financial Ombudsman Service says many unoccupied property disputes referred to it involve homes being refurbished or renovated. Get the terms in writing.
Get a quote for your French holiday home with Tiger.co.uk. Cover differs between insurers, so read the documents before you buy.
Fact-checked by Ian Wilson, Managing Director at Tiger.co.uk. 20+ years in price comparison; MEng, Queen’s University Belfast.