The home insurance of your main residence may cover you if you are the cause of damage to your vacation rental, but this is not systematic. It is best to contact your insurer before finalizing the reservation.
Everything goes wonderfully, in the pool or in the countryside, with family or friends: you are finally on leave. But what if they cause damage to the apartment or house for which you are renting? spring breakers?
“You should look at the home insurance guarantees for your main residence, this is what will cover you if needed,” explains Donatien Levesque, director of claims at Direct Assurance.
Most insurers offer “resort liability” coverage, meaning coverage for damage to your vacation rental resulting from fire or water damage.
To be sure of being covered in case of a problem, and thus avoiding annoyance, the important thing is to anticipate. Donatien Levesque therefore advises to look at the problem before finalizing the reservation.
“Take it to your insurer”
Especially if an accident happened soon. You forgot to turn on the faucet in the bathtub, it leaked and the floors are peeling. Or the wind picks up as you light the barbecue and the embers ignite the garden furniture nearby. One careless mistake can quickly ruin your vacation.
For more peace of mind, Donatien Levesque recommends “to ask your insurer to know exactly what damages are covered, or not, according to the characteristics of the place.” If necessary, you can opt for additional guarantees.
It is also possible that the owner has taken out seasonal rental insurance. In addition to protecting in case of damage, it can also be used to cover damage caused to third parties, such as neighbors for example.
Seasonal rental platforms also offer guarantees to owners. Most of the time, this is optional coverage for bodily injury, property damage and outdoor areas.
Finally, once there, Donatien Levesque advises to always make an inventory of the places of arrival and departure. According to him, “this is the best way to avoid subsequent disputes”.