What's actually covered in a Spanish home policy.
What's actually covered in a Spanish home policy.
A standard Spanish home policy combines several covers: the building (continente), your contents (contenido), public liability (responsabilidad civil), water damage (daños por agua), fire, theft, storm and 24-hour home assistance — with optional extras for accidental damage, swimming pools, gardens and solar panels. Water damage is the most common claim in Spain, and liability is the cover that protects you when a leak from your home reaches a neighbour.
The answers below explain each cover type in plain English, including how the state Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros handles extraordinary events like major floods.
It helps to split a Spanish policy into what comes as standard and what you add. Standard, on most bundled policies: buildings, contents, public liability, water damage, fire, theft, storm and 24-hour home assistance, plus the Consorcio surcharge. Optional extras you can choose: accidental damage, all-risks cover for valuables and items taken out of the home, swimming-pool and garden cover, legal expenses, and solar panels. The right mix depends on your property — a villa with a pool weights liability and pool cover, while an apartment leans on contents, liability and water damage.
Protects the permanent structure — walls, roof, floors, fixed kitchens and bathrooms — and usually pools, garden walls and outbuildings. Insured at rebuild cost, it responds to fire, storm, escape of water and impact. See buildings insurance.
Covers your movable belongings against theft, fire, water damage and storm, at replacement value. High-value items may need listing separately. See contents insurance.
Responds if your property or you cause injury or damage to others — the classic case being a leak from your home reaching a neighbour, or a guest injured at your pool. In an apartment block it's arguably the most valuable cover you hold. See public liability cover.
The most common Spanish claim, covering damage from escaping water and usually the cost of finding and repairing the failed pipe. See water damage claims.
Standard perils on a home policy: fire (incendio), theft and burglary (robo, often including damage from forced entry), and ordinary storm and weather damage (fenómenos atmosféricos).
A 24-hour line sending a plumber, electrician or locksmith for urgent problems, covering the call-out and an initial repair. Especially valuable for non-resident and holiday-home owners. See home emergency cover.
Accidental damage, all-risks cover for valuables and items taken out of the home, swimming-pool and garden cover, legal expenses, and solar panels. We add what suits your property.
Ordinary damage is handled by your insurer; extraordinary, officially-declared events — major floods, earthquakes, severe storms, volcanic events — are compensated by the state Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros, funded by the small surcharge on every policy and paid on the basis of your sums insured. Another reason to value your home accurately.
For the detail behind each, see buildings and contents insurance, public liability cover and home emergency cover. The answered questions below cover each type in turn.
A standard bundled policy combines buildings (continente), contents (contenido), public liability, water damage, fire, theft, storm and 24-hour home assistance, with the Consorcio surcharge for extraordinary events. Optional extras commonly include accidental damage, all-risks cover for valuables, swimming pools, gardens, legal expenses and solar panels. See home insurance in Spain.
Public or personal liability cover responds if your property — or you as homeowner — causes injury or damage to others, such as a leak from your flat that damages the neighbour below or a guest injured at your pool. In an apartment city it's arguably your most valuable cover. See public liability cover.
A 24-hour helpline that sends a plumber, electrician or locksmith for urgent problems, usually covering the call-out and an initial repair to make the home safe. Especially valuable for non-resident and holiday-home owners — see home emergency cover.
Yes — water damage (daños por agua) is the most common Spanish home claim and is typically covered, usually including the cost of locating and repairing the failed pipe. It's the headline risk in apartments, where leaks spread between flats. See water damage claims. Cover varies by insurer and policy, so always check your policy terms.
Yes — theft and burglary (robo) cover is part of a contents policy, paying to replace stolen belongings and often covering damage from forced entry. Empty and holiday homes may have security conditions attached. See theft cover for empty homes.
Ordinary storm, wind and rain damage is covered by your insurer. Extraordinary, officially-declared floods and storms are compensated by the state Consorcio instead. See storm and flood cover. Cover varies by insurer and policy, so always check your policy terms.
These can be covered, often as optional extras, and pools and outbuildings should also be reflected in your buildings rebuild value. Tell us what your property has and we'll make sure it's included. Cover varies by insurer and policy.
Accidental damage is usually an optional extra rather than standard — useful if you want cover for one-off mishaps like a foot through a ceiling or a spilled drink ruining electronics. We'll quote it as an add-on if you'd like it.
Contents cover usually caps the amount payable for any single item unless it's specifically listed. High-value jewellery, watches or art should be declared individually, sometimes with a valuation, so they're properly covered rather than capped. Cover varies by insurer and policy, so always check your policy terms.
Yes — legal-expenses (defensa jurídica) cover is commonly available as an add-on, helping with the cost of certain disputes. It's particularly useful for landlords; see landlord insurance.
Your own policy covers your contents, the interior fittings of your flat and your liability — the community policy covers only the building's structure and common areas. See community vs home insurance. Cover varies by insurer and policy, so always check your policy terms.
A Spanish state body that compensates extraordinary events — major floods, earthquakes, severe declared storms, volcanic events and certain terrorism — funded by a small surcharge already included in every home policy. Ordinary damage is handled by your insurer. See our full Consorcio guide.
Tell us about your property and we'll recommend the right cover — in plain English, with no pressure.
