The questions expats ask most about home insurance in Spain — cover, costs, the Consorcio, apartments, holiday homes, claims and more, answered in plain English.
The questions expats ask most about home insurance in Spain — cover, costs, the Consorcio, apartments, holiday homes, claims and more, answered in plain English.
After years of arranging home insurance for English-speaking owners in Spain, the same questions come up again and again. We've gathered the most common ones here, grouped by theme, and answered them in plain English. It's the page to skim if you want a quick, honest answer — and to bookmark for when a new question crops up. For the full picture on any topic, follow the links through to our detailed guides.
This is general guidance to help you understand how the Spanish system works; it isn't personal insurance advice, and cover always varies by insurer and policy, so check your own policy terms. If you want a tailored answer for your property, just ask us.
Not generally for owner-occupiers. It's effectively required if you have a Spanish mortgage (the lender needs buildings cover), and apartment owners still need their own contents and liability cover even though the community insures the building. See do you need home insurance in Spain?
Typically buildings, contents, public liability and home assistance, responding to water damage, fire, theft and storm, with optional extras. It's usually sold as one bundled package — see our main guide.
It's simply the Spanish term for home insurance. More in what is seguro de hogar?
Yes — 247 Expat Insurance arranges and explains it all in English and supports you in English at claim time, even though the policy itself is a Spanish contract.
There's no single price — it depends mainly on the rebuild value, contents sum insured, property type, location and occupancy. We give a tailored quote; general figures are indicative only.
No. Insure buildings at rebuild cost (excluding land) and contents at replacement value. On the coast the market price is usually well above rebuild cost, so insuring at purchase price means over-paying.
Spain's average clause: if you under-declare the sum insured, the insurer can reduce any claim by the same proportion. A 50% under-declaration can halve a payout — which is why accurate values matter.
At replacement (new-for-old) cost, worked out room by room, listing high-value items separately if they exceed the single-item limit.
A state body that compensates extraordinary events — major floods, earthquakes, severe declared storms — funded by a small surcharge already on every policy. Ordinary storm and water damage is handled by your own insurer. See claims.
Water damage (daños por agua) is the most common Spanish claim and is typically covered, usually including finding and repairing the failed pipe. See water damage claims.
Your public liability cover responds to the neighbour's claim — the community policy won't. Without liability cover you could be liable yourself.
Ordinary storm damage is covered by your insurer; extraordinary, officially-declared floods and storms are met by the Consorcio.
Usually yes — the community policy covers the building's structure and common areas only, not your contents, interior or liability. See community vs apartment cover.
No — your fitted kitchen, flooring and fixtures are your responsibility, not the community's.
Yes — cover continues through unoccupied periods, though insurers may require water off at the mains during long absences, basic security and sometimes periodic checks. See the holiday home guide.
Yes — most holiday-home owners are non-residents. We arrange cover from abroad in English, with documents by email. See non-resident home insurance.
An unnoticed water leak — the most common and costly claim. Turning off the water at the mains when you leave is the best prevention.
Most regions require one (VUT), often with a liability-cover condition. See holiday rental insurance.
So it's in force from completion day, when you sign the escritura. With a mortgage the lender wants buildings cover in place first.
No — you can usually use an independent insurer as long as the cover meets the lender's requirement, and it's often cheaper. See bank vs broker.
The landlord insures the building, not your belongings or your liability — so renters need contents and liability cover. See tenant insurance.
Buildings, landlord contents, owner liability and tenant damage, with optional rent guarantee. See landlord insurance.
Report it promptly, prevent further damage, keep photos and receipts. We report it and manage the process — including the loss adjuster (perito) — in English.
Most often under-insurance (the regla proporcional), undeclared changes to the property or its use, unmet conditions, or late reporting. Accurate values and honest declarations avoid it.
Yes — we deal with the insurer and the perito on your behalf, in English, which matters most when you're abroad.
If your question isn't here, that's exactly what we're for. Ask us for a tailored answer or a quote — in plain English, with no pressure. You can also browse our full FAQ hub and guides.
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.
Not generally for owner-occupiers, though a mortgage lender requires buildings cover and apartment owners need their own contents and liability cover. It's strongly advisable either way.
It depends mainly on the rebuild value, contents sum insured, property type, location and occupancy. We give a tailored quote; general figures are indicative only.
A state body that compensates extraordinary events like major floods and earthquakes, funded by a small surcharge on every policy. Ordinary damage is handled by your insurer.
Usually yes — the community covers the building only, not your contents, interior or liability. Most apartment owners need their own cover. Cover varies by insurer and policy, so always check your policy terms.
Yes — we arrange cover for non-resident owners entirely from abroad in English, with documents by email, and manage any claim on your behalf.
Tell us about your property and we'll recommend the right cover — in plain English, with no pressure.
