Insurers refuse to cover properties in ‘flood risk’ Brittany town

Guipry-Messac in central Brittany has been unable to find insurance for properties owned by the council, after many companies refused to cover them.

The town, which is on the banks of the Vilaine river in the Ille-et-Vilaine department, has been flooded several times in recent years and already in January 2024.

The previous insurance company covering buildings owned by the commune (social housing, schools, etc) stopped working in the area, forcing officials to search for a deal with another company.

“No insurance company wants to take us on,” said the town’s mayor Thierry Beaujouan.

It means that, since January 1 of this year, all buildings owned by the commune have been without any insurance.

“We're angry because it's a shame that no insurer wants to play its part today,” added the mayor.

Commune must ‘insure itself’

Until a suitable insurer can be found for the commune’s buildings, they are left without cover, causing concern for the mayor and other local officials.

The mayor says that the commune is currently “insuring itself,” meaning that in the event of an accident it will have to pay out of its own pocket.

This has left the town questioning if it is financially viable to continue offering services in municipal buildings that are not insured by an official insurer.

“What will local authorities do if a disaster such as a fire destroys one of their buildings?” asked the mayor, who has sent a letter to the local departmental prefect asking for help with the issue.

“It's disgusting, because if there's too much damage, it could fall on the residents, and it's ordinary people who will have to pay,” said one unnamed resident to media outlet TF1.

Read more: 99 extra French communes declared drought disaster zones for 2022

Nearby commune saw 250% rise in insurance costs

The nearby commune of Guignen, in the same department, faced a similar issue.

They managed to find an insurer willing to cover municipal-owned buildings.

However, the cost of the cover increased from €13,000 per year to €43,000 – a 230% rise.

The insurance excess payable following a claim has also increased from €750 to €25,000.

“For the church, [the excess] is €1 million , and even then, there are capping conditions," said deputy mayor of the commune Pascal Monnier.

“We know full well that we're insuring our buildings for a year, but that we won't be able to operate if there's any damage,” he added.

France Assurers, a collection of France’s major insurance companies, predicts that insurance claims due to weather events could reach €143billion between 2020 and 2050.

This is an increase of 93% (or €69billion more) compared to the period 1989-2019.

Related articles

Ten tips on insurance claims for storm damage in France

Water leaks, blocked pipes: what does home insurance cover in France?