Home Risk Assessment in France

Clay shrink–swell (CSS) events pose an under-recognised but increasingly material risk to buildings and infrastructure. These events occur when clay-rich soils contract during dry periods and expand again when moisture returns, causing ground movement that can lead to cracking and structural damage. Climate change is projected to significantly increase the frequency and severity of meteorological conditions associated with CSS events.

In France, it is estimated that 48% of the national territory is at medium or high risk of this phenomenon and around 10.4 million single-family homes are at medium or high risk. In this context, this online tool communicates to homeowners in France various information about the financial (and other) risks they face from inadequate insurance cover for property damage caused by CSS events.