Navigating Home Insurance Claims and Reporting Damage: Tips and Advice

Discovering that the home you occupy has suffered damage and loss after a disaster is often upsetting. Taking out good home insurance in advance is a good idea to benefit from appropriate financial assistance when the time comes and to alleviate, at least a little, the distress that one may feel. Whatever the home insurance formula, it is possible to save money by making an online comparison.

What is a disaster in a dwelling?

According to Robert’s definition, a disaster is a “natural catastrophic event (fire, flood, etc.) which causes loss, damage” and refers to “damage or loss suffered by an insured”. It could also be water damage or burglary. The claim therefore brings into play the guarantees of the contract signed by the insurer and the insured.

As a tenant, you must take out home insurance, covering at least the rental risks, whether it is an empty or furnished accommodation. Thus, the risks of fire, water damage, explosion that would take place in the accommodation you rent will be covered. But this insurance does not cover your personal property, which could also be damaged in the event of a claim. To go further, most insurers have set up multi-risk home insurance, covering damage that could affect the property of the insured during a fire or water damage, freezing of pipes, ‘a natural disaster and storm…

When to report a claim in your home to your insurer?

Do not waste too much time after a loss: you must in fact declare it within the 5 days, according to article L. 113-2 of the Insurance Code. In the case of a burglary or an attempted break-in, this period is reduced to 2 days.

The countdown actually starts when the disaster is discovered. If you are on vacation and you notice the water damage on your return, include proof of your trip in your file. For a natural disaster, it is the publication in the Official Journal of an interministerial decree that gives the starting signal. The period can be extended to 10 days. You will be asked to provide an estimate of the damaged, destroyed or stolen goods.

How to report a claim to your home insurance?

You can report your claim in different ways:

• Online, on the site or on the application. Once your declaration is complete, you will receive a confirmation email with the references of your file and the contact details of your compensation advisor;
• By phone, with the help of an advisor;
• Or in an agency, if you prefer to favor human contact and the agency on which you depend can receive you quickly.

SERVICE>> Save money by changing your home insurance contract

Our advice before and after the disaster

1. Remember to keep the supporting documents (invoices, warranty certificates, etc.) for all your major purchases and give a friend a copy of these documents. You will have to prove the existence and the value of the stolen goods to claim compensation in the event of a claim.
2. In the event of water damage, downloading the joint report is often useful.
3. Do not throw away or store any damaged or destroyed property. Keep everything as is until the end of the compensation procedure. In some cases, an expert may be appointed by the insurer (generally, when the claim is valued at more than 1600 euros) and he will need to have the damaged object in view to draw up his report. Its mission will be to determine the cause of the accident and to assess all the material and immaterial damage caused.
4. To protect your home after the disaster: install temporary closures or have broken windows and forced locks replaced.
5. If means of payment have been stolen, file an opposition as soon as possible with your bank.