Law on the termination of home insurance contracts in Belgium: what’s changing

Starting October 1, 2024, there will be new rules for terminating tenant insurance contracts in Belgium. If you’d rather not dive into the details of the new law, no worries: we’ve simplified everything for you.

How to terminate an insurance contract in Belgium?

In Belgium, there are specific rules to follow when terminating a home insurance contract.

A contract is generally valid for one year and automatically renews unless you decide to terminate it within the specified notice periods ⏳

Before October 1, 2024, the notice period was three months before the annual renewal date of your contract (that is, the date your contract renews).

Here are the specific notice periods for terminating a home insurance contract:

1. ⏱ Right of withdrawal: If you signed your contract online, you have 14 days to cancel it from the date of signing.
2. 🔥 After a claim: If a claim occurs, you can terminate your insurance contract. You have one month to notify your decision from the time you receive the compensation or the notification of denial. The termination will take effect three months after your request.
3. 🔄 Modification of coverage: If your insurer changes the terms of your contract, you can terminate it within a specified timeframe mentioned in your general conditions, starting from the date you become aware of the change.
4. 🏠 Change of situation (purchase or construction): If you become a homeowner, you can terminate your fire insurance for the building at any time.
5. 💰 Significant change in rates: If your insurer significantly increases the rates, you have three months to terminate your contract from the announcement of the increase. Your termination will take effect at the earliest on the date of the rate adjustment, as soon as your insurer has received your request via the app.

What are the steps to terminate an insurance contract?

Here are the termination methods:

1. • Registered letter ✉️: Send a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt to ensure your termination request is received properly.
   • Personal delivery 🤝: You can also hand over the letter directly to your insurer’s office and ask for a receipt.
   • Bailiff ⚖️: Another option is to send the letter via a bailiff.
   • Digital signature (the new one) 💻: Starting October 1, it will be possible to terminate your contract using a digital signature.

If you want to know how to write a termination letter for your home insurance, we’ll explain everything here.

Everything you need to know about the new law regarding termination in Belgium 

Starting October 1, 2024, here is what changes for terminating your home insurance 🎁

• Digital termination: No more hassle with writing letters, buying stamps, and going to the post office. You can now easily terminate your contract online with a digital signature via Itsme. If you don’t have Itsme, simply download and print a registered letter directly from your mobile app, sign it, and send it to us.
• Shorter notice period during the first year: Goodbye to the three-month notice period! From now on, you’ll only have two months to terminate your contract before its expiration during the first year of your contract.
• Termination at any time after the first year: After being insured for a year, you can terminate your contract at any time. In this case, the contract will end after a notice period of two months, counting from the day after you sign the document electronically in the Flora app or the day you send the signed document by registered mail. You no longer need to wait for the expiration date.
• New rules for new contracts: Insurance contracts signed or renewed starting October 1, 2024, will be subject to the new rules. After the first year, you can terminate them whenever you wish, as long as you respect the two-month notice period.

With the new law on the termination of insurance contracts in Belgium coming into effect on October 1, 2024, things are becoming easier for policyholders. The notice period will be reduced to two months, you can terminate at any time after one year, and online termination makes everything simpler. Great news for policyholders! This reform makes managing insurance contracts more flexible and practical. And we love that! 🤘