What kind of insurance do you need for your home?

Insuring your home in Luxembourg

Are you about to move to Luxembourg? Whether you own or rent, it's essential to find the right home or property insurance to protect your home and belongings.

To help you insure your new home in Luxembourg, here are the essential points to know:

  • Who needs home insurance?
  • What risks are covered by home insurance?
  • Which contract should you choose and how should you evaluate the assets to be covered?
  • Which company to contact?
  • What to do in the event of an emergency in your home?

Home insurance is essential in Luxembourg

Certain types of insurance are compulsory in Luxembourg. This is the case for home insurance, especially for homeowners. If you rent your home, we also advise you to take out an insurance policy.

By taking out a home insurance policy with an approved insurance company, you protect your home and possessions against the many claims that can arise . But home insurance also enables you to protect your loved ones. It covers your civil liability towards third parties.

By taking out a home insurance policy, you benefit from partial or total reimbursement in the event of damage. Home insurance also provides civil protection for the occupants of your home.

Who needs home insurance in Luxembourg?

Whether you're a tenant or a homeowner, we strongly advise you to take out home insurance as soon as possible. Non-occupant owners, i.e. those who rent their property to a third party, are also concerned.

Home insurance for tenants in Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, tenants or flatmates can take out insurance to cover their home, furniture and personal belongings. You'll benefit from insurance cover against fire, storm, water damage and theft.

Luxembourg law does not require tenants to take out insurance. While in some countries, such as France, tenant's liability insurance is compulsory, it is only optional in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Please note! Although it is not compulsory to take out home insurance, the tenant is nevertheless obliged to reimburse damages in the event of fire or water damage, for example. We therefore strongly recommend that you take out insurance...

Home insurance for owner-occupiers

With home insurance, homeowners are covered for damage to their property. In the event of a claim, the insurer will pay compensation to reimburse all or part of the damage.

Insurance for landlords renting out dwellings to others

The owner of a rental property can take out home insurance. This covers fire, glass breakage, theft and water damage. Some risks are the responsibility of the landlord, not the tenant.

Please note that even in the absence of insurance, the landlord must repair the damage as quickly as possible for the well-being of the tenant.

Find out more about leasing in Luxembourg.

Main claims covered by home insurance in Luxembourg

Generally speaking, home insurance policies offer a comprehensive package. This includes coverage for a range of risks incurred in the home.

Water damage insurance

In the event of flooding or water damage, you will be reimbursed for damage to the building and damaged equipment. Please note that there are two separate cases:

  • damage caused by a leak on its own installation to the detriment of third parties
  • damage to your own home caused by a poorly insured or uninsured third party

Insurance protection against theft

Even if Luxembourg appears to be a safe country, more and more people are stealing from their homes. We therefore recommend that you insure your home against theft.

In addition, be very careful about the amounts covered by this theft insurance. To be properly insured in the event of theft, you must declare the current value of your goods to the insurance company.

Take photos and save them on the cloud. Keep invoices for your most valuable possessions, such as jewelry or works of art.

These two insurance guarantees are major. Don't overlook the aspects of these two coverages. Take the time to study the insurance contracts, with their guarantees and exclusions.

Protection from third parties

Home insurance policies generally include building liability. This covers you in the event of damage to third parties. For example, if someone slips on your sidewalk because you haven't cleared it of snow .

Roof damage insurance coverage

While the risk of storms in Luxembourg is relative, it does exist. In 2019, a tornado devastated many homes in the Pétange region. Roof risk insurance generally covers material damage to your roof caused by natural causes such as hail, snow or a tree falling on the roof.

How to protect yourself against glass breakage?

Glass breakage insurance covers various risks such as glass replacement. By extension, ceramic hobs, sanitary appliances, greenhouses, solar panels and/or photovoltaic installations for private use are also covered.

Electrical installation risks

This insurance covers risks caused by electrical installations and electrical and electronic equipment. It also covers material damage to IT, multimedia and office equipment.

We also recommend that you check the electrical layout of your home with an electrician. Keep the inspection certificate proving that your installation is compliant, especially if your home is more than 20 years old.

Earthquake or sewer backup

Unlike its neighboring countries, natural disaster coverage is optional in Luxembourg. However, depending on the location of your home, we recommend that you take out this insurance. Many homes have been flooded in recent years as a result of bad weather.

In France and Belgium, such cover is compulsory. In France, insurance must cover floods, earthquakes and drought. In Belgium, home insurance must cover flooding.

Insure your home with a mandatory smoke detector

For your information, since January 1, 2023, it has been compulsory to install a smoke detector in your home. In the event of fire or heavy smoke, it will trigger a loud siren to warn occupants to evacuate as quickly as possible, before the fire department arrives.

Smoke detectors can be found in DIY stores and are fairly easy to install. Fire alarms should be installed in high-traffic areas and bedrooms. They are also strongly recommended in living areas other than kitchens and bathrooms. ou can obtain a smoke detector free of charge from your local council or from the French Ministry of the Interior, on presentation of a letter received by each household. For further information, visit rauchmelder.lu

Which home insurance policy should I take out in Luxembourg?

Home insurance offers in Luxembourg

Home insurance policies come in a range of commercial packages. These vary in comprehensiveness, depending on the insurance company. According to your needs, choose the right coverage.

However, home insurance policies always cover the basic risks: fire, water damage, theft, glass breakage, storms and civil liability.

Home insurance and e-protection

Property owners and tenants alike are encouraged to take out what is known as "modern" insurance. This type of insurance contract covers not only the risks associated with the property, but also many other aspects of our "modern" lives.

68% of Internet users in Luxembourg claim to have divulged banking information on the Internet. To avoid the problems associated with divulging confidential information, some insurance companies offer an "e-protection" option . This is included in your home insurance!

E-protection" is legal protection. This option protects the policyholder against Internet-related risks: fraudulent payment, disputes when buying from an e-merchant, identity theft, but also damage to e-reputation.

Moving insurance in Luxembourg

When moving, remember to cover the contents of the removal vehicle. Moving companies generally offer specific cover.

Estimate the value of your possessions for your home insurance

Distinguishing between real estate values and tangible assets

Material goods are goods that can be moved or taken away, and have a certain value. Some items, such as doors, are not covered by the contract. However, it's important to include everything. Don't forget to include your curtains and blinds, especially if they're custom-made!

How do you assess the contents of your home?

To insure your home properly, it's important to assess the value of your contents and personal belongings. This is because the value of the contents has an impact on your home insurance and the resulting reimbursements.

Make an inventory of your possessions. This list will help you identify valuable items. The item number, date of purchase and invoice can help calculate the value of the goods. This information can also be very useful in the event of a claim.

When calculating, it's important to take into account the use price of the goods, not the purchase value. This is because, depending on the goods, their value may depreciate over time. In the event of compensation, the insurance will take into account the value at time t, and not the purchase value.

Don't forget to include the value of your kitchen when calculating the amount of your insurance. This value will be deducted from your total coverage in the event of a claim.

Moreover, if the movable capital consists of many precious objects or works of art, it is strongly advised to take out a specific policy.

Take photos of your valuables and keep receipts. In the event of a burglary, this will be invaluable when it comes to asserting your rights with your insurance company! Save these documents in a physical file, in a safe place, and directly electronically on the Internet.

Regularly revaluing the sums insured under your home insurance policy

Year after year, your personal assets evolve. What's more, since taking out your insurance policy, you've acquired new sofas or bought a new valuable object. It's important to reassess your policy regularly, so that you always benefit from an insurance policy that's adapted to your current situation.

What are the criteria for choosing the right home insurance rate?

The cost of a home insurance policy depends on many factors. These include the type of building, the value of the contents, and the cover taken out.

Here are the different components that go to make up the contract, the insurance premium being the main one but not the only one.

  • The annual premium: you can get a substantial discount when you take out your first home insurance policy.
  • Deductible: The deductible is the amount you have to pay in the event of a claim. Be sure to compare deductibles between companies. Some companies have no deductible at all.
  • Certain guarantees can be offered
  • The alarm guarantee can be a condition for obtaining very advantageous conditions. Be sure to mention this to your insurance company if you decide to install an alarm once you have taken out a policy. Don't forget that theft is one of the main causes of loss, even in Luxembourg!

Some insurance companies offer discounts if you have not previously made a claim, or if you have purchased a fire system (mandatory in residential properties), etc. Discounts vary from policy to policy and from company to company.

Which insurance company to choose?

There are many insurance companies in Luxembourg. Each has its own specific features and contracts.

It is therefore advisable to contact them directly to make an appointment with an advisor or request a quote.

Find out more about compulsory insurance and insurance companies in Luxembourg

What to do in the event of an emergency or disaster in your home?

Emergency assistance

Most insurance companies offer emergency coverage. Water damage? Slammed door? Burglary? What's the right thing to do? Contact your assistance service. They'll take care of your request and take the first essential steps.

In the event of a major loss, you may have to leave your home temporarily, and your life will be turned upside down. To help you manage these problems, personal and financial assistance will be very useful.

Insurance companies' assistance services can help you change your locks. They will also take care of your temporary accommodation (hotel), or childcare while you're at work. It's also important to know the amount of the insurance indemnity, which covers all current expenses incurred after the loss.

Before you have to deal with an emergency, check with your insurance company to obtain the number of the assistance service. Keep it close at hand.

Lost, stolen or forgotten key: what to do?

If a key is lost, stolen or forgotten, the policyholder can contact the assistance service of the insurance company with which the home insurance policy was taken out. Indeed, some companies offer specific cover. These cover all or part of the costs in the event of a problem.

Some insurance companies send out a repairman themselves and then pay him directly. So be sure to call your insurance company before contacting a locksmith!

Water damage in your home: what to do?

In the event of water damage, the first thing to do is to identify the source of the problem and deal with it as far as possible.

Find out where to turn off the water in your home. Then call your insurance company to see what measures can be taken to repair the damage.

Fire in your home: what to do?

In the event of fire, it's important to call the fire department as soon as possible and take shelter.

Once the fire has been brought under control and access has been re-established, those affected must contact their insurance company. A claim form, an inventory of damaged goods (with invoices where possible), a fire report from the fire department and photos of the property must be sent to the insurer.

Remember to keep your invoices and photos of your goods on the Internet.

You are the victim of a burglary

In the event of a burglary, the first thing to do is to notify the police as soon as possible by calling 113.

Once the police have intervened, it's important to notify your home insurance company. If necessary, they will take charge of securing your home (changing locks, doors, windows, etc.).

The inventory of stolen items, photos and invoices - where possible - should then be forwarded to the insurance company. Material damage and proof of break-in should also be provided. Keep all evidence of the break-in for the insurance appraiser 's inspection visit, until the claim has been settled.

Here are three tips to reduce the risk of burglary:

  • With new technologies, you can simulate your presence by programming the lighting in certain rooms or turning on your TV,
  • As the door is the main nerve center, it is possible to use fingerprint recognition to open the door. This reduces the need to identify lock systems,
  • Every year, the Police Grand-Ducale offers to watch over your home when you go on vacation.

To make sure you're properly insured, here's our useful advice on insurance in Luxembourg.

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