CATNAT Drought Procedure — Steps to Obtain Compensation

The CATNAT (natural disaster) procedure allows you to obtain compensation for damage caused by drought and soil rehydration. In the Alpes-Maritimes and Var departments, many municipalities are regularly recognised as being in a state of natural disaster.

The steps

1. CATNAT order: Your municipality must be recognised by ministerial order. Check the georisques.gouv.fr website.
2. Notifying your insurer: Since 2023, you have 30 days (recent claim) or 18 months (order issued after 1 January 2023).
3. Expert assessment: The insurer appoints an expert to assess the damage. It is strongly recommended to be assisted by your own independent expert.
4. Compensation offer: The insurer makes an offer. The statutory deductible is €1,520 for CATNAT drought claims.
5. Counter-expertise: If the offer is insufficient or refused, Cassini Expertise carries out an independent counter-expertise.

Our support

Cassini Expertise supports you from building the case file through to compensation: crack-monitoring surveys, soil analysis, expert reports, and drafting expert opinions for legal disputes.

A closer look at the deductible and how it has changed

The statutory CATNAT drought deductible stands at €1,520 for a primary or secondary residential property, compared with €380 for other natural disasters — a deliberately higher amount given the generally significant cost of foundation repair works. When successive CATNAT orders are issued for the same municipality for the same drought event, in principle only the deductible from the first recognition applies.

Why the first expert (appointed by the insurer) sometimes underestimates the damage

The insurance expert is paid by the insurance company and instructed to assess a claim, not necessarily to maximise the policyholder’s compensation. They may conclude that it is simply a maintenance defect, that the cracks are « cosmetic » with no link to soil shrink-swell, or propose a repair estimate lower than the actual cost of the works. This is precisely where an independent counter-expertise proves its worth, before accepting an insufficient offer.

Deadlines to respect

It is essential to act quickly after the CATNAT order: beyond the notification deadline, the claim may be considered time-barred. At the same time, the compensation claim before the courts (if necessary) is subject to a two-year limitation period from the date the order is published, in accordance with the French insurance code.

FAQ

What if my municipality is not recognised under CATNAT? A reasoned appeal can be filed with the town hall to support a new recognition request, backed by a technical report documenting the link between the drought and the damage.

Can the insurer refuse to pay out even after a CATNAT order? Yes, if it considers that the causal link between the drought and the damage is not established, or that the damage pre-existed — hence the value of crack monitoring carried out before the order, whenever possible.

Cassini Expertise — CATNAT assistance in the Alpes-Maritimes (06) & Var (83). Request assistance →

📅 Updated on 28/07/2026 — By Cassini Expertise, independent building expert for the Alpes-Maritimes & Var. Free quote: 04 22 46 06 04.

Frequently asked questions about the CATNAT procedure

How do I put together a CATNAT drought case file?

Check that the municipality has been classified as being in a state of natural disaster (interministerial order published in the Official Journal), then notify the insurer within 30 days of the order’s publication.

House drought compensation: how does it work?

The insurer appoints an expert who assesses the damage. Compensation covers direct material damage, after deduction of the statutory excess.

What should I do after a drought classified as a natural disaster?

Notify the insurer promptly, document the cracks (dated photos, plans) and have an independent expert produce a diagnosis if there is disagreement over the compensation.

Natural disaster and cracks: what is the link?

A drought recognised as a natural disaster can be the cause of cracks linked to clay shrink-swell, which then entitles you to compensation under the CATNAT guarantee.

📅 Mis à jour le 25/09/2026 — Cassini Expertise, expert bâtiment indépendant (06·83·13·40).