What is fire insurance in Vaud?
In the canton of Vaud, all buildings under construction, constructed buildings and all movable property are compulsorily subject to fire insurance, insurance against fire and natural elements. This insurance makes it possible to cover these goods on a fair and joint basis.
Is fire insurance in Vaud compulsory?
All residents of the canton of Vaud are obliged to insure their furniture with the ECA (Etablissement Cantonal d'Assurance) against fire and risks related to natural elements. However, new residents who have just arrived in the canton of Vaud and who are already covered by Swiss insurance can keep their contract until it expires, at the latest 5 years after the introduction of their property in the canton of Vaud. However, in other cantons, fire insurance is not an obligation for tenants.
In any case, you can make an appointment with the ECA agency when you arrive in the canton.
Depending on your status, you do not necessarily have to take out insurance yourself. For example, civil liability insurance is essential whether you are an owner or a tenant; it allows you to protect yourself against damage caused to third parties. Household insurance also concerns owners and tenants: it will cover you for fire, theft, and natural damage. As for building insurance, it concerns the owner, damage and damage to others will be covered.
Here is a summary table of the insurance to take out depending on your status:
What does fire insurance cover?
Fire insurance in Vaud covers several damages. It covers damage to movable and immovable property caused by the following phenomena:
- Fire
- Lightning and atmospheric discharges
- explosions
- Smoke
- Aircraft crash
- Carbonization of fodder.
Fire insurance also covers damage that is caused by natural elements:
- Landslide
- avalanches
- Rockslides and rockfalls
- Snow slide
- floods
- Hurricanes
- Hail
- sinkhole.
What is the ECA used for?
The ECA is the insurance institution against fire and natural elements of the canton of Vaud. The head office of the ECA is located at 56 avenue du GΓ©nΓ©ral Cuisan in Pully (1009).
On the official website of the ECA, you can find several information:
Insurance instructions
Training catalog (training and awareness sessions organized by the ECA)
Customer service hotline (for questions relating to insurance and claims)
Simulator for household furniture insurance premium
Location of ECA agencies
Report a claim online.
The fire protection authority must also set the degree of quality assurance of a building. Indeed, all buildings are classified in a fire quality assurance system which is made up of four levels: DAQ1 to 4. Then, a quality assurance manager must be appointed. Its mission is to define the necessary fire protection measures using a fire protection plan and its implementation.
How do I report a claim to the ECA?
To report a claim to the ECA, two solutions are available to you:
- Declare your claim in branch
- Report your claim online.
To report your claim to the ECA online, it's very simple: go to the official ECA website and go to the "Notify a claim" section.
You will then need several documents:
- Photos of visible damage
- Quote for repairs or replacements
- Complete inventory and figures of the goods that have been damaged (document to download from the ECA website and to complete)
If you wish, you can add other digital documents during your declaration, in addition to these 3 mandatory documents.
If you have suffered major damage to your building, apartment or property, you can reach the ECA claims department by telephone on 0800 721 721. The ECA is open Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. at 12 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For damage to real estate, only owners, managers or administrators can declare damage to the ECA.
In any case, be careful to keep the property that has been damaged until the claims department takes a position. Of course, do not keep possessions that require rapid evacuation. You can only photograph these.
How much does ECA fire insurance cost?
The price of fire insurance with the ECA varies according to several criteria:
- Number of people living in the household (1 or 2)
- Type of dwelling: house or apartment
- Number of rooms (from 1 to 6)
- Type of furniture: simple, standard, superior (you can also enter the value of your goods if you know it)
For example, for a household of two people living in a 2-room apartment with a standard type of furniture, the annual premium is estimated at 39 francs. Knowing that the estimated value of your furniture and your personal property amounts to 78,000 francs.
However, this amount does not include clearing costs, the value of collections and works of art, landscaping, and the reserve for future purchase: it is an approximate amount.
Let's take another example: you live alone in a 2-room apartment, and the value of your furniture is standard. The annual premium will then amount to 27 francs with an estimated value of your furniture at 54,000 francs.
If you live in a family home, the premium will be higher. For a family of 4 living in a 6-room house with a superior type of furniture, the premium is 130.50 francs and the estimated value of the furniture is 261,000 francs.
You can go to the ECA website to perform a simulation.
To take out fire insurance, you can also turn to a private insurance company such as Axa. Axa offers building insurance with intervention within 4 hours in the event of water damage, transformations and renovations insured up to 100,000 francs, and insurance for solar installations and heat pumps.
You can compose your insurance with the proposed modules:
- Fire and natural damage
- Water damage insurance
When to take out fire insurance in Vaud?
If you have just arrived in the canton of Vaud and you are already covered by insurance granted in Switzerland, you have the right to keep your contract until its expiry, but for a maximum of 5 years after having introduced your goods into the canton. This gives you time to change insurance and insure yourself with the ECA. However, if you have been resident in Vaud for more than 5 years, you must have taken out fire insurance.
How to take out fire insurance in Vaud?
To take out fire insurance in Vaud, you can contact the ECA agency closest to you.
Here is the list of ECA agencies present in the canton of Vaud:
How to terminate your contract with the ECA?
If you wish to terminate your contract with the ECA, it is possible, but under certain conditions!
As a member, here are the 3 cases in which you can terminate your contract:
After 12 full months of insurance (anniversary expiry) with a minimum two months' notice, then a minimum of two months' notice at each main expiry date set on January 1
If the aggravating circumstances mentioned in the contract no longer apply and the ECA refuses to reduce the amount of your premium accordingly
If you change domicile, situation, profession and your contract directly concerns the guarantee of risks directly related to your former situation and this no longer suits your new situation: you will have 3 months from your change to request a termination and provide proof.
Please note that the insurer may also decide to terminate your contract.
Is fire insurance compulsory in the other Swiss cantons?
Some cantons do not require the tenant to have fire insurance. For example, fire insurance is not compulsory in Geneva or Valais. This means that each owner of a building can choose whether or not to take out fire insurance and have their building appraised.
On the other hand, other cantons require you to have fire insurance. This is the case for fire insurance in the canton of NeuchΓ’tel where private insurance is not compulsory except for property insurance against fire and natural damage. In the canton of Bern, fire insurance is also compulsory: all buildings must be compulsorily insured against damage due to fire and natural elements.
Here is a summary table of the obligation to fire insurance in the cantons of Switzerland: