Cancelling personal liability and home contents insurance
How can I cancel my personal liability and home contents insurance? Comparis takes you through the process.
08.11.2023
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1. Cancelling personal liability and home contents insurance: how to proceed
When cancelling home contents and personal liability insurance, take note of the following:
Create a cancellation letter with the necessary information.
Take note of the cancelation deadline and
send your cancellation letter by registered post. This way, you have evidence that you’ve cancelled correctly.
Check whether you need new personal liability and home contents insurance.
2. Termination period for home contents insurance and personal liability insurance
The General Insurance Conditions sets out the termination periods for personal liability insurance and home contents insurance. Your contract with the insurance company may end for the following reasons:
by notice of termination
for other reasons provided for by law and by contract
When terminating your contract, your notice of termination must arrive at the insurance company no later than three months before the end of the agreed contract period. If the insurer does not receive your cancellation notice in time, the contract is automatically renewed.
Want to make sure you’ll meet the deadline? With the cancellation reminder from Comparis, you will be reminded in good time by email.
3. When can I cancel my home contents insurance and personal liability insurance?
You can only cancel your insurance at certain times. Unless otherwise stated in your policy, you can only cancel your insurance at the end of the contract year. However, there are occasions when you or the insurance company can terminate the contract early.
| Reason for cancellation | Notice period | End of contract |
|---|---|---|
| Expiry after minimum contract period (ordinary termination) | 3 months | End of the contract year or the minimum term, at the latest after three years |
| Change in premiums or deductible by the insurance company. There may be exceptions depending on the policy. This includes, for example, the automatic sum adjustment. | Before the end of current insurance year | End of the contract year |
| Significant risk reduction (if the insurance company does not offer a reduction in premiums or the policyholder does not agree) | Within four weeks of becoming aware | Upon receipt of notice of cancellation |
| Breach of obligation to inform in accordance with Art. 3 VVG (link available in English, French, German) | Within four weeks of learning about the violation, but no later than two years after | Upon receipt of notice of cancellation |
| In case of damage and payout has been made by the insurance company | Within 14 days of being notified of the payment at the latest | 14 days after insurance company receives the cancellation |
| Reason for cancellation | Notice period | End of contract |
|---|---|---|
| Expiry after minimum contract period (ordinary termination) | 3 months | End of contract year or minimum term |
| Violation of precontractual duty of notification | Within four weeks of becoming aware of the violation | Upon receipt of notice of cancellation |
| Self-inflicted significant increase in risk | None | Immediately – the insurance company is no longer tied to the contract. |
| Violation of the duty of notification in the event of an increase in risk that is not self-inflicted | At the end of the reporting period | 14 days after receipt of notice of cancellation |
| Non self-inflicted significant increase in risk (if agreed in the policy) | None | 14 days after receipt of notice of cancellation |
| Insurance fraud | None | Upon receipt of notice of cancellation |
| In case of damage and payout has been made by the insurance company | At time of payment at the latest | 30 days after receipt of notice of cancellation |
4. Can I cancel my home contents insurance when moving house?
In Switzerland, moving house is not considered a reason for extraordinary termination. You must cancel on time at the agreed end of contract date.
Exception: you are moving in together with your partner.
If you both already have contents and personal liability insurance, you should only continue with one insurance policy. This way, you avoid paying for two insurance policies unnecessarily.
Instead, add the second person to your already-existing policy. Contact your insurance company to do this. As a general rule, you should be able to cancel one of the policies.
Cancelling home contents insurance when moving abroad
If you move abroad, you can cancel your home contents insurance early. The termination date is regarded as the date you deregister from the local authority. When cancelling, enclose your deregistration confirmation.
This article was first published on 07.11.2023
