Home Insurance: Termination of Contract

Verified 01 July 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

Do you want to cancel your home insurance contract without having to pay penalties?

This is possible if you request termination at the annual deadline or for a reason provided by the contract or by law.

Your insurer also has the right to terminate the contract under certain conditions.

The termination rules apply regardless of your nationality and regardless of the length of your stay in France.

By the insured

You can request the termination of your home insurance at each annual deadline, after the first year of contract, and in case of a change of situation.

You have the right to terminate your home insurance contract at the first annual due date (on the date on which the premium payment is called).

The first annual maturity date is 1er anniversary of the signing of the contract.

The insurer is required to send you an information notice reminding you that you have the right to terminate the contract at the first annual term.

The Information Notice must specify the date of this first deadline and the deadline by which you can submit a request for termination.

This notice should at least come to you 15 calendar days before the deadline by which you can request termination of the contract.

You have the right to request termination after receiving the information notice, but you can also request termination without waiting for that notice.

Termination after receipt of the information notice

The situation varies depending on whether the insurer sent the information notice on time or not, and depending on whether you are a tenant or owner.

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The information notice shall be sent on time

The procedure for sending your cancelation request varies depending on whether you are a tenant or a landlord.

You're a tenant

If the insurer sends you the information notice at least 15 calendar days before the deadline to request termination, you must send your request for termination to the customer before that date.

You do not have the right to send the cancelation request to your insurer yourself, as your accommodation may be left without insurance after the cancelation.

However, home insurance is a mandatory insurance for the tenant and your home must be insured at all times.

To ensure that your home is insured without interruption, the law provides that you must take out a new insurance that will take over before terminating your current insurance.

And it is the insurer with whom you will take out the new contract that must send your request for termination to the former insurer.

Termination will be effective on the date of the annual due date.

You own it

If the insurer sends you the information notice 15 calendar days or earlier than the deadline for requesting termination, you must send your request for termination to the customer before that date.

The cancelation request must be sent to your insurer by one of the following means:

  • Online if the contract has been signed online or if, at the time of termination, the insurer offers online subscription
  • Paper Letter
  • On-site declaration at the insurer's head office or at the insurer's representative's place of business (general agent, broker)
  • Extrajudicial Act (via a Commissioner of Justice)
  • Remote communication mode, when the contract has been concluded by this means (mail, telephone, etc.)
  • Any other means provided for in the contract

You can use a termination letter template:

Terminate your current insurance contract

Termination will be effective on the date of the annual due date.

The information notice shall be sent after the expiry of the period

The procedure for sending your cancelation request varies depending on whether you are a tenant or a landlord.

You're a tenant

If the insurer sends you the information notice less than 15 calendar days before the deadline to request termination, you must send your request for termination to the customer in 20 calendar days according to the date of dispatch of the notice.

The same applies when the insurer sends you the information notice aafter the deadline to request termination.

The period of 20 calendar days is from the date on the postmark or the date of sending of the certified mail by time stamp.

You do not have the right to send the cancelation request to your insurer yourself, as your accommodation may be left without insurance after the cancelation.

However, home insurance is a mandatory insurance for the tenant and your home must be insured at all times.

To ensure that your home is insured without interruption, the law provides that you must take out a new insurance that will take over before terminating your current insurance.

And it is the insurer with whom you will take out the new contract that must send your request for termination to the former insurer.

You own it

If the insurer sends you the information notice less than 15 calendar days before the deadline to request termination, you must send your request for termination to the customer in 20 calendar days according to the date of dispatch of the notice.

The same applies when the insurer sends you the information notice after the deadline to request termination.

The period of 20 calendar days is from the date on the postmark or the date of sending of the certified mail by time stamp.

The cancelation request must be sent to your insurer by one of the following means:

  • Online if the contract has been signed online or if, at the time of termination, the insurer offers online subscription
  • Paper Letter
  • On-site declaration at the insurer's head office or at the insurer's representative's place of business (general agent, broker)
  • Extrajudicial Act (via a Commissioner of Justice)
  • Remote communication mode, when the contract has been concluded by this means (mail, telephone, etc.)
  • Any other means provided for in the contract

You can use a termination letter template:

Terminate your current insurance contract

Termination shall take effect the day following the date on which the request for termination is sent.

The insurer did not send an information notice

If the insurer has not sent you any information notice, you can request the termination of the contract at any time after the expiry date, without penalty.

The procedure for sending the cancelation request varies depending on whether you are a landlord or a tenant.

You're a tenant

You do not have the right to send the cancelation request to your insurer yourself, as your accommodation may be left without insurance after the cancelation.

However, home insurance is a mandatory insurance for the tenant and your home must be insured at all times.

To ensure that your home is insured without interruption, the law provides that you must take out a new insurance that will take over before terminating your current insurance.

And it is the insurer with whom you will take out the new contract that must send your request for termination to the former insurer.

Termination takes effect the day after the date on which your new insurer sends the termination request.

The insurer must reimburse you within 30 calendar days the part of the premium corresponding to the period following termination.

Otherwise, he will have to pay you interest on that amount at the legal rate.

You own it

The cancelation request must be sent to your insurer by one of the following means:

  • Online if the contract has been signed online or if, at the time of termination, the insurer offers online subscription
  • Paper Letter
  • On-site declaration at the insurer's head office or at the insurer's representative's place of business (general agent, broker)
  • Extrajudicial Act (via a Commissioner of Justice)
  • Remote communication mode, when the contract has been concluded by this means (mail, telephone, etc.)
  • Any other means provided for in the contract

Termination shall take effect the day following the date on which the request for termination is sent.

The insurer must reimburse you within 30 days for the part of the premium corresponding to the period following the termination.

Otherwise, he will have to pay you interest on that amount at the legal rate.

Termination before the Information Notice

If you want to terminate your home insurance without waiting for the information notice from the insurer, you must send the termination request 2 months before the date of the annual deadline.

The procedure for sending your cancelation request varies depending on whether you are a tenant or a landlord.

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You're a tenant

You do not have the right to send the cancelation request to your insurer yourself, as your accommodation may be left without insurance after the cancelation.

However, home insurance is a mandatory insurance for the tenant and your home must be insured at all times.

To ensure that your home is insured without interruption, the law provides that you must take out a new insurance that will take over before terminating your current insurance.

And it is the insurer with whom you will take out the new contract that must send your request for termination to the former insurer.

Termination will be effective on the date of the annual due date.

You own it

The cancelation request must be sent to your insurer by one of the following means:

  • Online if the contract has been signed online or if, at the time of termination, the insurer offers online subscription
  • Paper Letter
  • On-site declaration at the insurer's head office or at the insurer's representative's place of business (general agent, broker)
  • Extrajudicial Act (via a Commissioner of Justice)
  • Remote communication mode, when the contract has been concluded by this means (mail, telephone, etc.)
  • Any other means provided for in the contract

You can use a termination letter template:

Terminate your current insurance contract

Termination will be effective on the date of the annual due date.

After the first year of the contract, you have the right to terminate your home insurance at any time, without penalty.

The procedure for sending your cancelation request varies depending on whether you are a tenant or a landlord.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

You're a tenant

You do not have the right to send the cancelation request to your insurer yourself, as your accommodation may be left without insurance after the cancelation.

However, home insurance is a mandatory insurance for the tenant and your home must be insured at all times.

To ensure that your home is insured without interruption, the law provides that you must take out a new insurance that will take over before terminating your current insurance.

And it is the insurer with whom you will take out the new contract that must send your request for termination to the former insurer.

Termination of the contract will take effect 1 month after receipt of the request for termination by the insurer.

You will be reimbursed the portion of the premium corresponding to the remaining contract period.

You own it

The cancelation request must be sent to your insurer by one of the following means:

  • Online if the contract has been signed online or if, at the time of termination, the insurer offers online subscription
  • Paper Letter
  • On-site declaration at the insurer's head office or at the insurer's representative's place of business (general agent, broker)
  • Extrajudicial Act (via a Commissioner of Justice)
  • Remote communication mode, when the contract has been concluded by this means (mail, telephone, etc.)
  • Any other means provided for in the contract

Termination of the contract will take effect 1 month after the insurer has received your request.

You will be reimbursed the portion of the premium corresponding to the remaining contract period.

Certain changes in circumstances may allow you to request the termination of your insurance contract at any time.

Your heirs may also terminate the contract following your death.

Changes allowing termination

Under certain circumstances, you can terminate your contract regardless of the due date, even if it is before the end of the first year.

These are cases where there is a change in your personal life that changes the risk insured by the contract:

  • Change of domicile
  • Change of marital status
  • Change of matrimonial regime
  • Change of professional activity
  • Retirement or permanent cessation of professional activity

You have an obligation to inform your insurer of any changes that may affect your contract.

You must inform the insurer in the 15 calendar days the change of situation, by registered letter.

You can request the termination of the contract for a change of situation before the expiration of a period of 3 months from the event date.

A justification for the change in circumstances invoked must be provided.

The cancelation request must be sent to your insurer by one of the following means:

  • Online if the contract has been signed online or if, at the time of termination, the insurer offers online subscription
  • Paper Letter
  • On-site declaration at the insurer's head office or at the insurer's representative's place of business (general agent, broker)
  • Extrajudicial Act (via a Commissioner of Justice)
  • Remote communication mode, when the contract has been concluded by this means (mail, telephone, etc.)
  • Any other means provided for in the contract

Termination takes effect 1 month after the date of its notification to your insurer.

Termination following death

If you die, your home insurance contract is not terminated.

It continues to cover your home, but your heirs have the right to sue or terminate it.

If your heirs choose to let the contract continue, they must continue to pay the contributions.

If the heirs decide to terminate the contract, they must send a request for termination to the insurer.

The cancelation request must be sent to your insurer by one of the following means:

  • Online if the contract has been signed online or if, at the time of termination, the insurer offers online subscription
  • Paper Letter
  • On-site declaration at the insurer's head office or at the insurer's representative's place of business (general agent, broker)
  • Extrajudicial Act (via a Commissioner of Justice)
  • Remote communication mode, when the contract has been concluded by this means (mail, telephone, etc.)
  • Any other means provided for in the contract

Termination of the contract will take effect 1 month after receipt of the letter of termination by the insurer.

Only premiums relating to the period following the effective date of the termination shall be refunded.

By the insurer

Your insurer also has the right to terminate your home insurance contract without penalty.

It may do so at the end of the year or for reasons provided for in the contract or in the law.

They must notify you within a certain period of time and inform you of the date when you will no longer be covered.

Your insurer has the right to terminate your contract every year, without having to justify it.

He must inform you of his decision to terminate the contract at least 2 months before the due date.

The insurer must send you its decision by registered letter.

The insurer can terminate the contract if you do not pay the premiums.

If you have not paid the contribution within 10 calendar days depending on the due date, the insurer may send you a reminder.

For this, he sends you by registered letter of formal notice of settlement of the premium under 30 calendar days.

If you do not regularize your situation in the 30 calendar days, the insurer may terminate the contract on 10 calendar days after the expiry of that period.

The premium or part of the premium corresponding to the period of coverage remains due to the insurer, even if the contract has been terminated.

If the insurer finds that you have misrepresented or omitted something, it may terminate your contract.

He must send you, by registered letter, a notice of termination indicating the false declaration or omission on which his decision is based.

Termination occurs 10 calendar days afterwards.

Contributions for uninsured periods will be refunded to you.

You must inform your insurer of any changes that may affect your contract, within 15 calendar days, by registered letter.

The insurer may consider a change to be a increased risk, compared to the initial situation.

It can notify you in the 10 calendar days upon becoming aware of the change, either a refusal to cover the new risk or a proposal to increase your contribution.

If the insurer notifies you of a denial of coverage, the termination will be effective 10 calendar days after such notification.

If the insurer offers you a rate increase and you refuse it, the contract will be terminated 30 calendar days later.

Unused contributions will be refunded in the 2 cases.

However, if, after being informed of a possible aggravation of the risk, the insurer has continued to collect premiums or has agreed to compensate a claim, he will no longer be able to terminate the contract.

The insurer may terminate the contract as a result of a claim, for this reason, if so provided for in the contract.

The insurer must notify you of its decision to terminate the contract by registered letter.

Termination occurs 30 calendar days after such notification.

The insurer must then reimburse you for the portion of the contribution that corresponds to the remaining period until the next due date.

FYI  

if the insurer has accepted payment of a premium or part of an insurance premium 30 calendar days after having been informed of a claim, he can no longer terminate the contract.

If you die, your home insurance continues to cover your home.

But the insurer has the right to terminate the contract if it has been transferred to your heir.

If the insurer wishes to terminate the contract, it must do so within a period of 3 months from the day your heir has requested the transfer of the contract in his name.

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