In short
Non-occupying owner insurance (propriétaire non occupant, PNO) is the landlord’s policy, separate from the tenant’s home insurance. It is compulsory only in a copropriété (building in co-ownership), and only for third-party liability (responsabilité civile): “Each co-owner must take out insurance against the third-party liability risks for which they are answerable in their capacity as either an occupying co-owner or a non-occupying co-owner” (our translation) (loi (Act) of 10 July 1965, art. 9-1, introduced by the loi ALUR (ALUR Act)). For a detached house, the landlord is under no obligation (ANIL). Under the real regime (régime réel) for property income, the premium is deductible; under the micro-foncier (simplified regime for property income), it is covered by the flat-rate 30% allowance (service-public.gouv.fr).
Who is required to take out insurance?
| Situation | Legal obligation | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord of a lot in a co-ownership building | Third-party liability as a non-occupying co-owner | 1965 Act, art. 9-1 |
| Landlord of a house outside co-ownership | None; must make sure the tenant is insured | ANIL |
| Tenant of an unfurnished or furnished home, including under a bail mobilité (mobility lease) | Insurance covering at least tenant’s risks | service-public.gouv.fr |
| Syndicat des copropriétaires (owners’ association) | Third-party liability for the building | 1965 Act, art. 9-1 |
Discrepancy to note. The service-public.gouv.fr page on insurance in a co-ownership building states that “The law also requires landlords to take out ‘non-occupying owner (PNO)’ insurance”. Article 9-1 of the 1965 Act is narrower: it targets co-owners and third-party liability only, without requiring a policy bearing that name or cover for damage to the property. This guide follows the text of the law.
In a co-ownership building, each co-owner’s insurance covers at least the damage they may cause to others, for incidents originating in their lot that affect neighbours or the common parts. If a co-owner is not insured, the syndic (building manager) can take action to make them take out cover and hold them liable for the damage caused (service-public.gouv.fr). The collective policy taken out by the syndic does not cover incidents originating in a private lot, even if they have damaged the common parts or other homes: it is then the insurer of the lot concerned that pays out. See also the role of the syndic de copropriété (building manager).
What PNO covers
The content depends on the policy. ANIL describes non-occupying owner insurance as “a home insurance policy that includes third-party liability cover”, which can protect the landlord in the event of property damage or injuries suffered by a tenant or a third party in the let home. It can also cover damage to the structure of the building caused by fire, flood or storm.
According to service-public.gouv.fr, PNO “supplements the protection of the private lot when there is no tenant or when the home insurance is lacking”. It therefore takes over in two typical situations:
- the home is vacant between two lets;
- the tenant’s home insurance is missing.
Before signing, compare the limits of cover, the excesses and the list of insured events: these, not the policy’s name, are what set two policies apart.
How it fits with the tenant’s insurance
The tenant must be insured at least against tenant’s risks (risques locatifs): fire, explosion, water damage in the let home. This cover protects neither the neighbours against damage nor the tenant’s own belongings. The tenant hands over the certificate when receiving the keys, then once a year at the landlord’s request (service-public.gouv.fr; see assurance habitation (home insurance)).
If the tenant does not provide it, the landlord can either terminate the lease or take out insurance on the tenant’s behalf. In the second case, the landlord warns the tenant by registered letter; after 1 month without a certificate, the landlord takes out the policy and recharges the premium, increased by 10% at most, in twelfths with the rent. Official example: €200 premium × 1.10 = €220, i.e. €18.33 a month. This choice means the landlord loses the option of terminating the lease for lack of insurance (service-public.gouv.fr).
In a co-ownership building, water damage or a fire affecting several lots is settled between insurers under the convention IRSI (inter-insurer agreement on water damage and fire in buildings) where the damage does not exceed €5,000 excl. VAT; below €1,600 excl. VAT, the managing insurer pays out without recourse against the others (service-public.gouv.fr). The details are in our guide dégât des eaux et convention IRSI (water damage and the IRSI agreement).
Deducting the premium from rental income
| Regime | Treatment of the premium | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Unfurnished letting, micro-foncier (property income ≤ €15,000) | Not deductible: flat-rate 30% allowance | service-public.gouv.fr |
| Unfurnished letting, real regime | Deductible: “Insurance premiums (home, unpaid rent, borrower, etc.)“ | service-public.gouv.fr |
| Furnished letting, micro-BIC (simplified regime for commercial income) | Not deductible: flat-rate allowance (50% in the general case) | service-public.gouv.fr |
| Furnished letting, real regime | Deduction of expenses actually incurred in the interest of the activity | service-public.gouv.fr |
Opting for the real regime for unfurnished letting, possible below €15,000 of property income, is irrevocable for 3 years. If the property is only partly let, expenses are deductible only for the let part (service-public.gouv.fr). See revenus fonciers et micro-foncier (rental income tax).
FAQ
I let a detached house: is PNO compulsory?
No. The obligation in article 9-1 applies only to co-owners. ANIL specifies that the landlord is not obliged to take out home insurance, but must make sure their tenant has it.
My tenant is insured: do I still need PNO?
In a co-ownership building, yes for third-party liability, whatever the tenant’s insurance (art. 9-1). Elsewhere, nothing requires it, but the tenant’s cover only protects against their tenant’s risks.
The home is empty between two tenants: am I covered?
Only if you have a policy: this is precisely one of the situations PNO supplements, according to service-public.gouv.fr.
Does the PNO premium reduce my tax under the micro-foncier?
No. The 30% allowance is a flat rate and represents all expenses; only taxpayers under the real regime deduct their expenses at their actual amount (service-public.gouv.fr).
Can I also insure against unpaid rent?
Yes, through separate cover, whose premium is also among the expenses deductible under the real regime. See assurance loyers impayés (GLI) (rent default insurance).
Which professional to consult
An agent immobilier (estate agent) handling letting management requests the tenant’s insurance certificate every year and can, failing that, take out the policy on the tenant’s behalf. When buying in a co-ownership building to let, ask the notaire (notary) for the règlement de copropriété (building regulations): it may make comprehensive buildings insurance compulsory, which the syndic must then put in place (service-public.gouv.fr).
Find a professional
One professional per trade and per area, selected and scored out of 100 from public data, with a verifiable title. The trade, its official register and the professionals selected (pages in French):
The real estate agent selected in the largest cities
| City | Professional | Area | Score /100 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | Laforêt Paris 15 Vaugirard | Paris, 15e arrondissement | 89 | Selected |
| Marseille | ERA Agence de la Bastide | Marseille, 13e arrondissement | 90 | Selected |
| Toulouse | Nestenn By Solvimo | Toulouse | 84 | Selected |
| Nice | Immo Gambetta | Nice | 71 | Selected |
| Lyon | Orpi Duguesclin Transactions | Lyon, 6e arrondissement | 89 | Selected |
| Montpellier | Immo Angels | Montpellier | 80 | Selected |
| Bordeaux | Human Immobilier Bordeaux Chartrons | Bordeaux | 90 | Selected |
| Lille | Orpi Lille République Beaux-Arts | Lille | 92 | Selected |
| Rennes | Nestenn Rennes Centre | Rennes | 80 | Selected |
| Toulon | iBox Immobilier Toulon Jaurès | Toulon | 84 | Selected |
The 10 cities with the most sales (DVF 2025) where a real estate agent is selected; in a city with several areas, the best-scoring profile. "Verified": title read at the register by Payotte; "Selected": title declared, verifiable on the profile.
Related guides
Sources
- Loi n° 65-557 du 10 juillet 1965, article 9-1 – version en vigueur depuis le 27 mars 2014 (Légifrance) (checked 11 October 2026)
- Copropriété : quelle assurance pour les parties communes ou privatives ? (service-public.gouv.fr, vérifié le 22 juillet 2025) (checked 11 October 2026)
- L'assurance habitation est-elle obligatoire ? (ANIL, Parole d'expert, à jour au 1er janvier 2026) (checked 11 October 2026)
- Obligation du locataire : assurance habitation couvrant les risques locatifs (service-public.gouv.fr, vérifié le 16 avril 2025) (checked 11 October 2026)
- Impôt sur le revenu – Revenus locatifs (location non meublée) (service-public.gouv.fr, vérifié le 15 avril 2026) (checked 11 October 2026)
- Impôt sur le revenu – Revenus d'une location meublée (service-public.gouv.fr, vérifié le 15 avril 2026) (checked 11 October 2026)
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