Buildings Insurance After a Death in France

One of the first things you’ll want to do after inheriting a property in France is make sure it remains properly insured.

It’s easy for this to be overlooked while you’re dealing with notaires, paperwork and the succession process, but leaving a property uninsured—even for a short period—can prove incredibly costly. Whether the property is occupied, sitting empty awaiting probate, or is due to be sold, appropriate buildings insurance should remain in place throughout.

For UK beneficiaries, this can be more difficult than expected. Many French insurers are geared towards French residents and obtaining cover directly isn’t always straightforward. Fortunately, there are several specialist brokers who regularly arrange insurance for British owners of French property.

Does the Existing Insurance Continue?

Sometimes.

If the deceased already had buildings insurance, the policy doesn’t necessarily end immediately upon their death. However, you should notify the insurer as soon as possible.

The insurer will explain whether:

• The existing policy can continue temporarily;
• The policy needs to be amended;
• A new policy is required; or
• Additional information is needed from the estate.

Don’t assume the existing policy will simply continue until the property is transferred to the beneficiaries. Every insurer has its own terms and conditions, and many require notification of the death within a reasonable period.

When Should You Arrange New Insurance?

If there isn’t an existing policy, or the insurer is unwilling to continue it, you should arrange replacement cover as soon as possible.

Remember that throughout the French succession process, the property still forms part of the deceased’s estate. Damage caused by fire, flooding, storms, escape of water or vandalism could significantly reduce the value of the inheritance if adequate insurance isn’t in place.

If the property is going to remain empty for several months—as is often the case during French probate—you should also ensure the policy specifically covers unoccupied properties, as many standard policies restrict cover once a property has been vacant for a certain period.

Why UK Residents Often Struggle

This is one of those areas where the process becomes more complicated simply because you don’t live in France.

Many large French insurers expect:

• A French correspondence address;
• French-speaking customers;
• A French bank account; or
• Someone who can deal with local paperwork and documentation.

That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to obtain insurance—it simply means that going directly to an insurer can often become frustrating for overseas beneficiaries.

Using a Specialist French Insurance Broker

Rather than approaching insurers directly, many UK beneficiaries instead use a broker that specialises in arranging insurance for French property owned by non-residents.

Some of the best-known companies include:

• CA Britline
• Andrew Copeland
• AXA

These brokers understand the unique circumstances surrounding inherited French property and are accustomed to helping British clients navigate the process.

Don’t Expect an Instant Online Quote

One thing that surprised me was that most of these brokers don’t simply provide an online quotation after answering a few questions.

Instead, you’ll usually complete a short enquiry form providing details about:

• The property;
• Whether it’s occupied or vacant;
• Its construction;
• How it will be used; and
• Your contact details.

Rather than immediately displaying a premium, they’ll normally contact you by telephone or email to discuss the property before preparing a quotation.

Although this initially feels unusual, it’s actually helpful, particularly if the property forms part of an estate. It allows them to understand the circumstances and recommend the most appropriate level of cover.

What Information Will They Ask For?

While every broker is slightly different, expect to provide information such as:

• The property’s address;
• The approximate size of the property;
• The number of bedrooms;
• Whether anyone is currently living there;
• Whether the property will remain vacant;
• Any security measures in place; and
• Whether the property is awaiting probate or sale.

If you’re still waiting for the succession to complete, simply explain this. Brokers dealing regularly with overseas owners are very familiar with inherited properties and estates.

If You Plan to Sell the Property

Even if the property is due to be sold, don’t cancel or delay arranging insurance.

The estate remains responsible for the property until ownership changes, and unexpected damage during this period could delay a sale or significantly reduce the value of the estate.

Maintaining adequate insurance right up until completion protects both the beneficiaries and the estate itself.

Our Experience

One of the things we found during our own succession was that arranging insurance wasn’t nearly as straightforward as it would have been in the UK. Most of the specialist brokers wanted to speak to us before providing a quotation rather than offering an instant online price.

Whilst this initially seemed inconvenient, it actually made sense. Every inheritance is different, and speaking to someone who understood French property and overseas ownership meant they could tailor the cover to our circumstances rather than trying to fit us into a standard policy.

If you’re administering a French estate from the UK, we’d strongly recommend speaking with one of the specialist brokers above. They deal with these situations every day and can make what initially feels like another daunting task much simpler.