Mandatory insurance
Full guide
If you’re moving into a new home, a key question arises before you unpack: is home insurance mandatory?
The answer depends on your situation …
You are…
Type of housing
Mandatory insurance
Things to know
Tenant
Empty housing
YES
Required by law (Article 7 of the Law of July 6, 1989). The landlord can terminate the lease if you are not insured.
Tenant
Furnished housing
YES
Obligation specified in the lease. The only exception: if the landlord takes out insurance themselves and passes the cost on in the charges.
Flatmate
Empty or furnished housing
YES
Each flatmate can have their own insurance or take out a joint policy.
Student in university residence
CROUS room or private room
YES
A special plan often offered. Sometimes included in student insurance or housing packages.
Owner-occupier
Primary residence
NO
Not mandatory, but essential to avoid financial losses in case of fire or water damage.
You are tenant
In an empty housing
Yes, insurance is mandatory and required by law.
You are tenant
In a furnished housing
Yes, insurance is an obligation specified in the lease (unless the landlord has taken out the policy themselves).
You are flatmate
In an empty or furnished housing
Yes, each flatmate must have insurance (either individually or through a joint policy).
You are a student in university housing
In your CROUS or private room
Yes, insurance is mandatory, just like for tenants
You are an owner-occupier
In your primary residence
Insurance is not mandatory but essential to avoid financial losses.
En bref :
If you are an owner, it is not mandatory for you, but in a co-ownership, the ALUR law requires at least liability coverage.
Without insurance, you risk lease termination and, more importantly, having to pay thousands of euros in case of a claim.
If tenant home insurance is mandatory, it’s not to make life difficult, but to protect everyone. This requirement serves two main purposes :
A fire, water damage, or explosion in a rental property can cause important damage not only to the rented home but also to the landlord’s property and neighboring apartments.
Without insurance, you will be held financially responsible.
The law requires that the tenant covers at least their rental liability. This means you are covered if you cause damage to the rented property (for example: a fire started by a candle or water damage caused by a leak you didn’t report).
To understand the difference with general liability insurance, read our dedicated article: What is Civil Liability ?
The landlord not only has the right to require that you have insurance, but also has the duty to verify your coverage. Specifically:
When handing over the keys, they can request a home insurance certificate.
Each year, they can ask for a new certificate to ensure you are still covered.
Legally, the only mandatory coverage for a tenant is rental liability (often called “rental risk coverage”). But in practice, most home insurance policies include much broader coverage… and that’s a good thing!
It covers damage you cause to the rented property :
Fire (e.g., a candle left unattended)
Water damage (e.g., a leak you neglect)
Explosion (yes, even from a stove!)
⚠ Warning: This coverage does not protect your personal belongings (computer, clothes, etc.) or damage caused to neighbors.
Coverage
Why it is essential
Liability insurance
Required by law (Article 7 of the Law of July 6, 1989).
Fire and water damage
This time, this coverage is dedicated to your personal belongings, not your neighbors’ property.
Theft and vandalism
Your laptop or phone gets stolen? Your home is ransacked? Without this coverage, you pay for everything yourself.
Glass breakage
A broken window is expensive. This coverage saves you from paying at least €300 out of pocket.
Natural or technological disasters
Floods, storms, power surges… With the current climate, this has become essential.
Terrorist act
You never know what the world has in store for us…
Liability insurance
Required by law (Article 7 of the Law of July 6, 1989).
Fire and water damage
This time, it’s dedicated to your personal belongings, not your neighbors’ property.
Glass breakage
A broken window is expensive. This coverage saves you from paying at least €300 out of pocket.
Natural or technological disasters
Floods, storms, power surges… With the current climate, this has become essential.
Terrorist act
You never know what the world has in store for us…
Not having insurance is playing with fire… and sometimes with thousands of euros. Here are the possible consequences depending on your situation :
Tu es…
Type of housing
What are the risks?
Tenant
Empty housing
Lease termination, eviction, and you pay for all damages in case of a claim.
Tenant
Furnished housing
Same risks + mandatory insurance (often more expensive than if you had taken it out yourself).
Flatmat
Empty or furnished housing
If a flatmate causes damage, you can be held jointly liable.
Owner-occupier
Primary housing
Major incident = huge financial losses, uninhabitable home.
Student in residence
CROUS or private room
Insurance is required. Without it, no housing and no reimbursement in case of a claim.
You are a tenant
In an unfurnished property
The risk : lease termination, eviction, and having to pay for all damages in case of a claim
You are a tenant
In a furnished property
Same risks + mandatory insurance (often more expensive than if you had taken it out yourself).
You are a flatmate
In an unfurnished or furnished property
The risk : if a flatmate causes damage, you can be held jointly liable.
You are a student in university housing
In your CROUS or private room
Insurance is required. Without it, no housing and no reimbursement in case of a claim.
You are an owner-occupier
In your primary residence
The risk = major incident: huge financial losses, uninhabitable home.
Home insurance isn’t just a formality—it’s your shield against catastrophic expenses. Whether you’re renting a studio, sharing a flat, or living in student housing, an accident can happen at any time… and without insurance, you pay the full cost.
Good news: at STUDCORP, we’ve thought of everything for you! A simple, affordable, and comprehensive student home insurance.
Subscribe online in 2 minutes and receive your certificate immediately!
If you are still looking for housing, feel free to check out our article: Finding Your Student Accommodation