Landlord insurance in France: PNO, GLI and Visale
Updated 10 October 2026 · By the Loyski team
A landlord in France faces three risks: liability if damage starts in the property, unpaid rent, and an uninsured tenant. Each has its answer: PNO insurance, then a guarantee against arrears, a guarantor (caution), Visale or GLI insurance, which can't all be combined. Here's what is compulsory, what each one covers and how to choose.
The guarantees in one table
| Guarantee | What it covers | Cost to the landlord | Compulsory? |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNO insurance | Your liability, damage to the property whether empty or let | Yearly premium | Yes in a copropriété |
| Guarantor (caution) | Rent, charges and repairs the tenant doesn't pay | Free | No |
| Visale | Up to 36 monthly payments of arrears, damage up to 2 months | Free | No |
| Rent guarantee insurance (GLI) | Arrears, often damage and legal costs | About 2 to 4% of the rent | No |
| Tenant's home insurance | Rental risks: fire, explosion, water damage | Paid by the tenant | Yes, for the tenant |
Non-occupant owner insurance (PNO)
PNO (propriétaire non occupant) covers your liability as owner (a leak starting in your flat, a maintenance defect) and damage to the property when the tenant's insurance doesn't apply: an empty property between two tenants, an under-insured tenant, damage the tenant isn't responsible for.
It has been compulsory in co-owned buildings since the Alur law, at least for liability. The premium is deductible from rental income under the réel regime.
The guarantor: simple and free
Someone close to the tenant undertakes in writing to pay in their place. The guarantee deed (acte de cautionnement) must state the rent and how it is reviewed, and the nature and extent of the commitment. A joint and several guarantor (caution solidaire) can be asked to pay from the first missed payment, without pursuing the tenant first. Tell the guarantor as soon as rent is missed: it matters for the rest of the procedure (see unpaid rent).
Action Logement's Visale guarantee
Visale is a free guarantee granted by Action Logement. According to service-public.fr (page checked in January 2026):
- Eligible tenants: people aged 18 to 30, whatever their situation, and private-sector employees over 30 under certain conditions; the tenant must not be a relative of the landlord.
- Maximum rent, charges included: €1,940 in Île-de-France, €1,575 or €1,365 elsewhere depending on the town; for a student with no proof of income, €1,000 in Île-de-France and €840 elsewhere.
- Cover in the private sector: up to 36 monthly payments of unpaid rent and charges, and damage found at move-out up to 2 months' rent and charges.
The tenant applies for a visa on visale.fr before signing the lease; you then accept the guarantee contract in your landlord account. If rent goes unpaid, you report it online and Action Logement pays you, then recovers the money from the tenant.
Rent guarantee insurance (GLI)
GLI (garantie loyers impayés) is an insurance policy you take out yourself. It reimburses unpaid rent after a waiting period and, depending on the policy, damage and legal costs. The insurer sets conditions on the tenant: usually stable employment and income of about three times the rent. You must check these documents before signing the lease, or the claim may be refused, and report arrears within the time set in the policy.
What you can't combine
If you've taken out rent guarantee insurance, you can't also require a guarantor, unless the tenant is a student or apprentice (article 22-1 of the 1989 law). So you choose between GLI on one side and a guarantor or Visale on the other. PNO can be combined with anything.
How to choose
- Tenant eligible for Visale (under 30 in particular): it's free and the cover is broad. Often the best choice.
- Tenant with a solid guarantor: a joint and several guarantor is enough and costs nothing. Note that a guarantor living outside France is harder to pursue.
- No guarantor and no Visale, or you'd rather hand over the risk: GLI, following the insurer's conditions to the letter.
The tenant's home insurance
The tenant must insure against rental risks and give you a certificate when they get the keys, then every year. If they don't, send a formal notice: after one month, you can invoke the termination clause, or take out insurance on their behalf and pass on the cost, plus up to 10%.
In Loyski, you record the lease's guarantee (guarantor, Visale or GLI) and the end date of the tenant's certificate. Loyski warns you before it expires, reminds the tenant, who can upload the new certificate in their online space, and reminds you of the reporting deadlines if rent goes unpaid.
Rent tracked, receipts sent, IRL rent increases and charges at the right time. Free for one property.
Frequently asked questions
Is non-occupant owner insurance (PNO) compulsory in France?
Yes if the property is in a co-owned building (copropriété): every co-owner, living there or not, must have liability insurance (article 9-1 of the law of 10 July 1965). For a detached house it isn't compulsory but is strongly recommended.
Can I have both rent guarantee insurance and a guarantor?
No, unless the tenant is a student or an apprentice (article 22-1 of the law of 6 July 1989). A landlord who has taken out rent guarantee insurance can't also ask for a guarantor, and the Visale guarantee counts as a guarantor.
Does the Visale guarantee cost anything?
No. Visale is free for both tenant and landlord. It is granted by Action Logement and covers up to 36 monthly payments of unpaid rent in the private sector, plus damage up to two months' rent and charges.
How much does rent guarantee insurance (GLI) cost?
Usually between 2 and 4% of the rent including charges, depending on the policy and cover (damage, legal protection). Under the réel regime, the premium is deductible from French rental income.
What if the tenant has no home insurance?
Send a formal notice asking for the certificate. With no answer after one month, you can either invoke the termination clause in the lease, or take out insurance on the tenant's behalf and pass on the cost, plus up to 10%, in twelve monthly instalments.
Sources
- Service-public.fr: the Visale guarantee
- Service-public.fr: tenant's guarantor in private housing
- Service-public.fr: tenant's home insurance (rental risks)
- French law no. 89-462 of 6 July 1989, articles 7 and 22-1 (Légifrance)
This guide gives general information about French law, accurate on its publication date. It doesn't replace personal legal or tax advice: if in doubt, the ADIL of the département where the property is located advises landlords and tenants for free.