Contents, interior and liability cover for your flat — alongside the community policy.
Apartments are how a huge proportion of expats own property in Spain — from city flats in Madrid and Barcelona to beachfront apartments on the costas. The big question for every flat owner is the same: if the community of owners already insures the building, do I need my own policy? Almost always, yes — and this guide explains exactly what the community policy covers, what it leaves to you, and why water damage and liability make your own apartment cover so important.
If you own a flat in Spain, the comunidad de propietarios (community of owners) holds a single policy, paid through your community fees, that covers the building's structure and common areas — the roof, façade, stairwells, lifts, communal pool and gardens. That's genuinely useful cover, and it's why some owners assume they're already protected. But the community policy stops at your front door.
The community policy typically does not cover your belongings, the interior of your flat (your fitted kitchen, flooring, decoration and improvements), or your personal liability — including the classic case of a leak from your apartment damaging the flat below. Those gaps are exactly what your own apartment policy fills. We set out the split in full in community insurance vs home insurance; the table below shows how the cover types compare:
| Typical cover | Contents | Buildings | Buildings & Contents | Holiday home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buildings / structure (continente) | ||||
| Contents / belongings (contenido) | ||||
| Public liability (responsabilidad civil) | ||||
| Water damage (daños por agua) | ||||
| Fire, theft & storm + Consorcio | ||||
| Home emergency assistance (24h) | option | option | ||
| Accidental damage / pool / solar | option | option | option | option |
Indicative only — cover, limits and exclusions vary by insurer and policy.
Because flats are stacked, water travels, and a single failed joint can involve three households. That's why we always make sure an apartment policy has solid water-damage cover and a generous public-liability limit.
If your flat is a holiday apartment used part of the year, or one you let out, the cover needs adjusting for empty periods or tenant and guest risks. Tell us how often it's used and whether it's let, and we'll match the policy to reality.
General guidance only — not personal insurance advice. Cover, limits and exclusions vary by insurer and policy, so always check your policy terms. Last updated: May 2026.
It covers the building's structure and common areas, not your contents, the interior of your flat, or your personal liability. Most owners still need their own policy. Cover varies by insurer and policy, so always check your policy terms.
It's not always legally compulsory, but strongly advisable for contents and liability — especially given how common and costly water-damage claims between flats are.
Water damage between neighbouring flats. Your own liability cover is what protects you if a leak from your flat reaches a neighbour — the community policy won't.
Yes — tell us how often it's used and whether it's let, and we'll match the cover, including unoccupied-period or landlord arrangements.
Many flat owners take contents and liability and rely on the community policy for the structure; some add their own buildings cover for extra protection. We'll advise based on your community's policy.
Tell us about your property and we'll recommend the right cover — in plain English, with no pressure.
