The essentials — whether you need cover, what it costs and how it works.
The essentials — whether you need cover, what it costs and how it works.
If you're new to owning property in Spain, the basics of home insurance (seguro de hogar) work a little differently from the UK or Ireland. A Spanish policy is usually a single bundled package — buildings, contents, public liability and 24-hour home assistance in one — and you set the sums insured yourself. It isn't generally compulsory for owner-occupiers, but a mortgage lender will require buildings cover, and apartment owners need their own contents and liability cover even when the community insures the building.
The questions below cover the essentials expats ask first: whether you legally need cover, what drives the cost, what documents you need for a quote, how to pay, and the all-important difference between buildings (continente) and contents (contenido).
If you take only two things from this page, make them these. First, set your sums insured accurately: insure the building at its rebuild cost (not the price you paid) and contents at replacement value, because Spain's average clause can cut a claim if you under-declare. Second, make sure you have proper liability cover: in a country where a leak between flats is the most common claim, the cover that pays a neighbour's claim against you is often the most valuable part of the policy. Get those right and the rest is detail.
A seguro de hogar bundles several covers into one contract. Buildings (continente) protects the structure and fixed elements; contents (contenido) covers your belongings; public liability (responsabilidad civil) responds if your home harms someone else or their property; and 24-hour home assistance (asistencia hogar) sends a plumber, electrician or locksmith for emergencies. On top of those, the policy responds to water damage, fire, theft and storm, and carries the small Consorcio surcharge that funds compensation for major declared catastrophes. You then tailor it with optional extras such as accidental damage, all-risks cover for valuables, pool and garden cover or legal expenses.
The policy itself is a Spanish legal contract, but it doesn't have to be a Spanish-language experience. Through 247 Expat Insurance everything is arranged and explained in English: we take your property details, help you set realistic sums insured, present suitable options, and once you're happy the documents arrive by email. If you ever claim, we manage the insurer and the loss adjuster (perito) in English on your behalf — which for non-resident owners is often the single most useful part of the service.
There's no single price. The premium is built mainly from your buildings rebuild value and contents sum insured, then adjusted for the property type, its location and exposure to theft or flooding, how often it's occupied, the security in place, and the excess (franquicia) you choose. A small, permanently-occupied flat is inexpensive to insure; a detached villa with a pool, high-value contents and long empty periods costs more. The sensible way to save is an accurate excess and good security — not under-declaring your sums insured, which simply shifts the cost to claim time.
For the complete walkthrough, see our guide to home insurance in Spain, the glossary of Spanish insurance terms, or read do you need home insurance in Spain? The answered questions below cover the rest.
For most owner-occupiers it isn't legally compulsory. There are two big exceptions: if you have a Spanish mortgage, the lender will require buildings (continente) cover for the life of the loan; and if you own an apartment, you'll usually still want your own contents and liability cover even though the community insures the building. Even when it's optional, it's strongly advisable given how common water-damage and liability claims are — see our guide to whether you need home insurance in Spain.
There's no single price — the premium is built mainly from your buildings rebuild value and contents sum insured, then adjusted for the property type, location, occupancy (a lived-in home versus one that stands empty), security and the excess you choose. A small permanently-occupied flat is cheap to insure; a villa with a pool and high-value contents is not. We give you a tailored figure rather than a one-size-fits-all price — any numbers quoted generally are indicative only. See how much home insurance costs in Spain.
Usually very little: your name and contact details (some insurers ask for your NIE and passport, though many policies don't require residency), the property address and basic details, a sensible rebuild and contents value, and how the property is used. You don't normally need a survey or valuation for a standard home — we help you arrive at sensible sums insured from the property details.
Payment options vary by insurer and policy — many allow monthly or annual payment, though paying annually sometimes avoids a small surcharge. We'll set out what's available for your policy when we quote, and you'll provide an IBAN for the payment.
Buildings (continente) is the permanent structure — walls, roof, fixed kitchens and bathrooms, and usually pools and outbuildings. Contents (contenido) is everything movable inside. Owners of a house or villa usually take both; apartment owners focus on contents and liability over the community policy; renters need contents and liability only. See buildings and contents insurance.
Insure the building at its rebuild cost — what a builder would charge to reconstruct it — not the market or purchase price, because the land isn't at risk. On the coast the market price is often well above rebuild cost, so insuring at purchase price means over-paying. We help you arrive at a realistic figure from the property's size, type and finish.
Use the replacement (new-for-old) cost of everything you own, worked out room by room, and list high-value items like jewellery or watches separately if they exceed the single-item limit. Most people land on a higher figure than they expect — which is why under-valuing is so common. See contents insurance.
Spain applies an average clause: if you declare a sum insured below the true value, the insurer can reduce any claim — even a small one — by the same proportion you under-declared. A 50% under-declaration can halve your payout, which is why accurate buildings and contents values matter so much.
The franquicia is the amount you pay towards a claim before the insurer contributes. A higher excess lowers your premium but means more out of pocket per claim; many basic Spanish policies have a low or zero excess on core covers. We'll explain the excess on any policy we quote.
Yes — most bundled Spanish home policies include public liability (responsabilidad civil) as standard, which protects you if your property causes injury or damage to others, such as a leak that reaches a neighbour. It's one of the most valuable covers in Spain, especially in apartments — see public liability cover. Cover varies by insurer and policy, so always check your policy terms.
A 24-hour helpline included on most policies that sends a plumber, electrician or locksmith for urgent problems, usually covering the call-out and an initial repair to make the home safe. It's especially useful for non-resident and holiday-home owners — see home emergency cover.
Often the same day — there's no lengthy underwriting for a standard home. Cover can start on a date you choose, including completion day if you're buying. We just need the property details and sums insured to prepare a quote.
Yes — Spanish policies usually renew automatically unless you cancel within the notice period before renewal. You can switch to a better-value policy as long as any mortgage requirement is still met. See renewals and switching.
Yes — 247 Expat Insurance arranges and explains everything in plain English, sends your documents by email, and supports you in English at claim time, even though the policy itself is a Spanish contract.
Tell us about your property and we'll recommend the right cover — in plain English, with no pressure.
