Storms Ciaran and Domingos caused great damage in their path, such as in Charente Maritime for example, where 175 houses were declared uninhabitable. How to relocate when reconstruction can take months? Franceinfo Conseil takes stock.
After storms Ciaran and Domingos, more than 150,000 homes were still without electricity on Sunday, November 5, but the problem is more serious for those who saw their homes declared uninhabitable. In an exceptional situation, an exceptional response.
Insurance companies and emergency accommodation
The insurance companies have agreed to extend the maximum time limit for sending a claim declaration to 30 days instead of 5 days.
After observing and photographing the damage, contact your home insurer to benefit from Emergency Accommodation Assistance. It allows you to be relocated within a few hours, in a hotel for example, for five consecutive days from the date of the disaster. Without having to pay any costs, you can benefit from compensation of at least 80 euros per day and per occupant.
If after these five days, you still cannot return to your home, your insurer will extend the duration of your coverage, after an expert’s estimate. This support may then last up to six months or more depending on the insurance you have chosen. Some even cover the costs related to moving, transporting children, or even looking after pets.
Compensation for tenants and owners
Owners can count on compensation identical to the rental value of their property or the maturity of their loan.
For tenants, two solutions are available to them: they can be compensated up to the amount of their rent including charges, or request a reduction in the price of their rent. In the absence of a compromise with the lessor, or in the event of total destruction of their home, they are also authorized to terminate their rental contract. The owner will then have to pay him the rent paid in advance, but is not obliged to rehouse him.
Solidarity accommodation solutions
Other more supportive accommodation solutions exist, do not hesitate to contact the communities, they may also have accommodation to offer you.
In the event of making a property available free of charge, when you benefit from the help of a relative, a friend or an acquaintance, be sure to sign a loan contract. You could include a clause to finance water and electricity.
>> Storm Ciaran: damage estimated at nearly 400 million euros, according to models
Finally, if you are asked for financial compensation, you will only have to sign a rental contract if you have canceled the old one and you do not intend to return to your old accommodation after the work.