There termination of a home insurance contract is a process that many policyholders are required to undertake during their lives. Whether following a move, a change in personal situation or simply to find a more advantageous offer, it is essential to know the procedures and conditions imposed by law to carry out this process successfully.
The different reasons for terminating a home insurance contract
Several situations can lead an insured person to want to cancel their home insurance contract:
Change in personal situation
A move, a change in the composition of the household or even a change in professional situation may be valid reasons for requesting termination of the contract.
Dissatisfaction with the insurer
If you feel that your insurer does not meet your expectations in terms of guarantees, prices or quality of service, you may consider changing insurance company. It is then appropriate to terminate your current contract to take out a new commitment with another brand.
Looking for a more advantageous offer
By comparing market offers, you can identify home insurance offering better guarantees or more competitive prices. In this case, terminating your current contract will allow you to benefit from the advantages offered by this new offer.
The conditions to be respected to cancel a home insurance contract
The law strictly regulates the procedure for terminating a home insurance contract. Here are the main rules to know:
Termination at the end of the contract
You have the possibility of canceling your home insurance contract on each anniversary date of its subscription, giving two months’ notice. To do this, you must send a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt to your insurer, specifying the reasons for your request.
Termination after due date
In certain exceptional cases, it is possible to cancel your home insurance contract during the year:
– Following a move : If you change residence, you can request the termination of your contract within the month following your move. You will then need to provide proof of moving to your insurer.
– In the event of an unjustified increase in prices : If your insurer increases its rates without this being justified by a change in the guarantees or risks covered, you can terminate your contract within 15 days following notification of the increase.
– After the occurrence of a disaster : If the handling of your claim by the insurer was unsatisfactory, you can terminate your contract within the month following the closing of the file.
The Hamon law and the termination of a home insurance contract
Since the entry into force of the Hamon law in 2015, policyholders have a new option to cancel their home insurance contract:
– Cancellation at any time after one year of engagement : You can now cancel your home insurance contract at any date, as long as you have taken out this contract for more than a year. The request must be sent by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt, and termination will take effect one month after receipt of the letter by the insurer.
This measure aims to promote competition between insurance companies and encourage policyholders to regularly compare market offers in order to benefit from the best guarantees and prices.
Steps to follow to cancel a home insurance contract
Once the legal conditions have been met, here is how to cancel a home insurance contract:
1. Write a termination letter : Specify your contact details, your contract number, as well as the date on which you wish the termination to take effect. Don’t forget to mention the reasons for your request (moving, change of situation, dissatisfaction, etc.).
2. Send the letter by registered mail : Send your request to your insurer by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt. This proof of sending guarantees that the procedure is well underway and will allow any disputes to be resolved.
3. Keep a copy of the letter and acknowledgment of receipt : These documents may be useful to you in the event of a dispute or subsequent problem.
In conclusion, the termination of a home insurance contract must be done in compliance with the legal rules and the imposed deadlines. Do not hesitate to regularly compare market offers and use the competition to benefit from the best guarantees and prices.
