I have rented an apartment in Paris for a week in February. Since the date is nearing I started reading and re-reading all of the fine print on the rental company's website (made the reservation quite some time ago and have been focusing my attention on other areas of the trip, such as where to meet my German friend afterward - Strasbourg! And studying French). Anyway, the website for my apartment rental advises the following:

"French law requires all parties to be covered by comprehensive Travel Insurance, including coverage for personal liability, while occupying a rental property. The client is therefore strongly recommended to arrange a comprehensive travel insurance policy (which can include cancellation coverage, such as www.travelex-insurance.com) and to have full coverage for the party’s personal belongings, public liability etc, since these are not otherwise covered."

I didn't realize the part about French law requiring me to buy insurance while occupying a rental property. In fact, my husband and a few friends and I rented a house in Antibes this past summer and although it's now somewhat of a blur, I don't believe we purchased insurance at that time to cover our personal liability.

So what's the consensus Fodorites? For those of you who rent apartments and or houses in France, do you always buy this insurance and if so, which company do you use? (I clicked on the website they referred me to but after a quick review, I don't see anything about rental liability insurance, just your average "trip getting cancelled" travel insurance, etc. Will need to dig deeper into this tonight.)

Thanks in advance for any advice or insight you can share on the subject!

LunaBella, I can't answer your question but I am almost certain someone else posted something about this same insurance situation a few months ago. I don't know if you could find that thread on the search function. I cannot remember the title of the thread.

Hopefully someone else here will know the answer or remember the thread I am referring to.

Someone else did post that exact same question and quoted the exact same company's rental contract. Was that you? It sure is coincidental.

I'm sure the other post is around to find, I quoted the relevant French law on there which didn't exactly say that, it was relevant depending on length of stay and some other things. Are you renting from a Canadian or something? There's some French/Canadian agreement on this or something.

Thanks for the quick replies! No, that wasn't me and I have tried searching a bit on this site but haven't found exactly what I'm looking for yet. Will keep searching though and hope maybe somebody has good advice in the mean time, or that I find some that's already been posted.

And no, I'm not renting from a Canadian, I'm renting the apartment from a Parisian, as I understand it.

I've rented an apartment in Paris 3 times from a French citizen that lives here in the SF Bay area. I've rented over 20 Gites in various regions in France through the government sponsored Gites de France program. I have never paid any insurance at all. Most proprietors want a "damage" deposit when you arrive (some in advance), but that's strictly descretionary and it's refundable if there is no damage. I currently have 4 places reserved & partially paid, for my '05 trips to France - still no insurance mentioned anywhere. There is some trip cancellation insurance that you can get that refunds some already paid deposits if I have to cancel my trip, but we have never signed up for it.

Stu Dudley

We are renting from parisperfect and that is what their letter to me said..Travelex.
We are using another company.

Interesting thread. I wonder what the law really is. We rented in October from Vacation in Paris.Com When they sent our contract they included a brochure for Travel Insurance. Since my husband is in his sixties and you never know, I purchased the insurance and it was rather expensive. I wonder if this is just a sham or if it really is required. I've ourchsed travel packages through expedia and France vacation.net and they did the same thing. So maybe someone gets a kick back from these travel insurance companies.

I got slammed for some of my comments on the other thread, for daring to question French law since I'm not an attorney (thank God). Basically I read what that statement says and I see a contradiction. There is a major difference between "law requires all parties be covered by comprehensive Travel insurance" and "strongly recommended to arrange a comprehensive. . ." Which is it? A law or a recommendation. Does the company ever tell you that you have to show them proof that you have this coverage? No. I think you have your answer there.

My homeowner's includes liability for my possible "negligence" in a rental. And why should the French government even care if lose my possessions or have to cancel my trip and lose my deposit?

Don't forget there are "laws" all over the US too -- like illegal to spit on a sidewalk, or no whistling on Sunday. Some laws are really best ignored. Frankly I just ignore this "law". And to be real specific -- isn't a hotel a rental property? So doesn't the law require you to have that insurance every time you stay in a hotel?

Our landlord suggested the insurance because we paid in full. We took it out in case we had to cancel the trip. Otherwise, we gave them a deposit, that was all they asked for.
American Express insures us also.

Does American Express insure you against losses of personal property and does it cover you for trip cancellation or my biggest fear is having to be airlifted due to an accidenta or injury?

Well someone else has come across this seeming irregular tidbit.
LunaBella if you have already rented from a company with an owner with the initials H.D, BE WARNED!
He cannot be trusted as after we had arranged a 4 day rental he backed out not once but twice after assuring me we had a done deal. Tread carefully!

I just topped the prior thread.

Thanks for topping the other post, clevelandbrown. It looks like the other poster - Corky - did ask the same question as I did.

And Corky, can you please elaborate on your comment above? I am interested to hear your entire story.

LunaBella, I am glad the other thread with the same questions as you have has been topped. What a strange conincidence that you both got the same instructions. I hope you get everything worked out to your satisfaction.

We rented a house in Le Bugue in May from Simply Perigord. Their website and literature had the same statement about liability/travel insurance.
I contacted them after talking to our homeowners carrier and our umbrella liability carrier, not being certain that any eventuality in France would be covered, and was told that they (the agency) highly recommend the coverage but do not require it. Seemed like they were just covering parts of their anatomy.
We did not purchase insurance and had a wonderful vacation. I should say, however, that other than medical insurance for trips, we do not buy trip insurance. What we've saved over the years will pay for any cancellation, etc.

I've rented, too, without the insurance, but I really wonder what their law is.

Many laws are not rigidly enforced until something goes wrong. If one has the misfortune of burning up an apartment, and there is such a law, one could be really inconvenienced.