France sees surge in home‑insurance premiums and risk for 12 million houses

In 2026 French home‑insurance premiums rose 13 % to an average of €310 per dwelling, up from €274 a year earlier. The price increase is uneven across the country; the South remains the most expensive region, with Corsica averaging €361, followed by Occitanie (€346) and the PACA area (€331).

Climate‑related losses are a key driver. Natural‑hazard events cost insurers billions each year (e.g., €6.5 billion in 2023, about €5 billion in 2024‑25), with hail alone accounting for €2.2 billion. At the same time, construction and repair costs have risen due to inflation in building materials and energy.

A separate study highlighted that more than 12 million French homes – roughly 62 % of the housing stock – are exposed to the shrink‑swell risk of clay soils (RGA). The phenomenon, intensified by hotter summers and heavy rains, threatens foundations and could generate claims worth up to €500 billion over coming decades. The government has updated the natural‑disaster regime in a 2023 ordinance to streamline compensation for affected owners.