Every property owner in Morocco is subject to insurance obligations, even if they reside abroad. The Moroccan Insurance Code (law n°17-99) and the clauses of most co-ownership regulations make multi-risk home insurance mandatory or strongly recommended. In the event of an uninsured or unreported claim, the non-resident owner can be held personally liable for damages caused to third parties.
Costs & fees
| Annual PNO insurance premium | 800 to 2,000 MAD/year | 80-150 sqm apartment, Casablanca |
| MRH insurance with furniture | 1,200 to 3,500 MAD/year | Depending on declared furniture value |
| Water damage deductible | 500 to 1,500 MAD | Per claim |
| Theft deductible | 1,000 to 3,000 MAD | Per claim |
| Natural disaster deductible (FSEC) | 10% of claim (min. 2,000 MAD) | Solidarity Fund Against Catastrophic Events |
Timeline
Legal insurance obligations for a property in Morocco
Law n°17-99 (Moroccan Insurance Code) does not make home insurance mandatory for owner-occupiers. However, most co-ownership regulations (law 18-00) require collective or individual multi-risk building insurance. For a vacant property (secondary residence or unrented), non-occupant owner insurance (PNO) is indispensable.
💡 Tip — Check your building's co-ownership regulations: if they require individual insurance, you must take it out or face sanctions at the general meeting.
⚠️ Warning — A vacant property without insurance exposes the owner to full civil liability in case of fire spreading to neighbors or water damage affecting adjacent units.
Covered guarantees: standard multi-risk home insurance
A standard multi-risk home insurance policy in Morocco covers: fire and explosions (mandatory core guarantee), water damage (leaks, infiltrations), theft and vandalism, owner's civil liability, natural disasters (earthquakes, floods since 2003 via the FSEC fund). Annual premiums range from 800 to 3,500 MAD per year for an 80 to 150 sqm apartment in Casablanca.
💡 Tip — Correctly declare the replacement value of furniture and equipment if the property is furnished. Under-declaration leads to a proportional reduction in compensation.
Insurance companies present in Morocco
The main insurers offering home policies in Morocco are: Wafa Assurance (Attijariwafa group), AXA Assurance Maroc, RMA (Finance.com subsidiary), Saham Assurance (Sanlam group), BMCE Assurance (Bank of Africa group), Allianz Maroc. Premiums are relatively uniform as the market is regulated by ACAPS. For a 100 sqm apartment valued at 1,000,000 MAD in Casablanca, budget 1,200 to 2,000 MAD per year.
💡 Tip — Compare at least 3 quotes checking the indemnification cap, deductible amount and specific exclusions (property vacant more than 60 days).
Managing a claim from abroad
In case of a claim, the declaration deadline is 5 business days for theft and fire, and 2 business days for natural disasters (article 20, Insurance Code). For an MRE abroad, this means appointing a local representative authorized to declare the claim, receive the insurer's expert, and sign the assessment report. Some Moroccan insurers accept claim declarations by email or via their mobile app.
💡 Tip — Keep your claims manager's contact details in a document accessible from abroad (cloud, email). Photograph the property's condition during each visit.
⚠️ Warning — Exceeding the declaration deadline can result in forfeiture of coverage according to contract terms. Read the forfeiture article in your general conditions carefully.
Deductibles, exclusions and specific clauses
Standard deductibles in Moroccan contracts: 500 to 1,500 MAD for water damage, 1,000 to 3,000 MAD for theft, 10% of the claim with a minimum of 2,000 MAD for natural disasters (FSEC). Frequent exclusions: normal wear, lack of maintenance, property unoccupied for more than 60 to 90 consecutive days (vacancy clause). For a property not regularly occupied by an MRE, this vacancy clause is a major risk: negotiate its removal or extend the period to 180 days.
💡 Tip — Expressly request the removal or extension of the vacancy clause at subscription by explaining your non-resident situation.
⚠️ Warning — The vacancy clause is the exclusion most frequently invoked by insurers against non-resident owners. Read it word for word in the general conditions.
In depth
For a non-resident MRE owner, the choice between individual insurance and collective insurance taken out by the co-ownership has important practical implications. Collective insurance covers the building but not the apartment's contents or individual civil liability. Individual supplementary insurance is therefore necessary. Claims management from abroad is simplified if you subscribe with a Moroccan subsidiary of an international group (AXA, Allianz) whose teams can communicate in French. Some property managers offer a claims management service including coordination with the insurer, reception of experts and monitoring of restoration work, for a flat fee of 500 to 1,000 MAD per managed claim.
❌ Common mistakes to avoid
- ✕Neglecting the vacancy clause and discovering the claim is not covered because the property was unoccupied for 3 months
- ✕Under-declaring the value of furniture and receiving reduced compensation due to the proportional rule
- ✕Not appointing a local representative for claim declarations and exceeding the legal deadline
🔗 Official links and resources
❓ Frequently asked questions
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