Every Spanish home insurance term you'll meet, translated and explained in plain English.
Spanish insurance documents are full of terms that don't translate neatly, and a word you skim over can be the one that matters at claim time. This glossary explains the Spanish home insurance vocabulary expats meet most often — what each term means, and why it matters — in plain English. Use it as a reference whenever a póliza leaves you guessing.
Home insurance. The standard bundled household policy combining buildings, contents, liability and home assistance. See home insurance in Spain.
The permanent structure — walls, roof, floors, fixed kitchens and bathrooms, and usually pools, garden walls and outbuildings. Insured at rebuild cost, not market value. See buildings insurance.
Your movable belongings — furniture, electronics, clothing, valuables. Insured at replacement (new-for-old) value. See contents insurance.
The amount you've insured the buildings or contents for. The figure the average clause is measured against — getting it right is essential.
The insurance policy itself — the contract and the schedule of cover, sums insured, excess and exclusions.
The premium receipt/bill, which itemises the insurer's premium plus taxes and the Consorcio surcharge.
Cover if your property or you cause injury or damage to others — for example a leak from your flat reaching a neighbour. One of the most important covers in Spain. See public liability cover.
The most common Spanish home claim — damage from escaping water, usually including the cost of finding and repairing the failed pipe. See water damage claims.
Fire damage cover, standard on a home policy.
Cover for stolen belongings and damage from forced entry. See theft cover for empty homes.
Ordinary storm, wind and rain damage, handled by your insurer (as opposed to extraordinary events, which go to the Consorcio).
A 24-hour helpline that sends a plumber, electrician or locksmith for urgent problems. See home emergency cover.
Cover that helps restore visual consistency — for example replacing matching tiles — after a covered claim, where included.
The amount you pay towards a claim before the insurer contributes. A higher franquicia lowers the premium but means more out of pocket per claim.
Spain's under-insurance rule: if you declare a sum insured below the true value, the insurer can reduce any claim by the same proportion. A 50% under-declaration can halve your payout — which is why accurate values matter.
Being insured for less than the true value — the situation that triggers the regla proporcional.
Being insured for more than the true value — you can't claim more than the actual loss, so it just means paying too much premium.
The expert an insurer (or the Consorcio) appoints to inspect and assess a claim. We deal with the perito in English on your behalf. See making a claim.
The incident you claim for — a leak, fire, theft and so on.
What the policy does not cover. Always worth reading — see what's not covered.
The state body that compensates extraordinary events — major floods, earthquakes, severe declared storms — funded by a surcharge on every policy. See our full guide to the Consorcio.
The small compulsory amount added to every home policy that funds the Consorcio. You'll see it itemised on your recibo.
An autumn weather pattern that causes intense, localised flash flooding, especially on the Mediterranean coast. Major DANA floods are typically Consorcio events. See storm and flood cover.
The owners' association in a block or urbanisation, which holds a policy for the building's common parts — but not your flat's contents, interior or liability. See community vs home insurance.
The property administrator who manages the community and its policy — the person to ask for the community policy schedule.
Your primary home, insured differently from a holiday home. See home insurance for residents.
An additional property you own and use yourself. See second home insurance.
The licence most regions require to let a property to holidaymakers, often with a liability-cover condition. See holiday rental insurance.
Cover that protects a landlord's rental income and legal costs if a tenant stops paying. See landlord insurance.
The renter. Seguro de inquilino is tenant insurance — contents plus tenant liability. See tenant insurance.
The title deed signed at the notary on completion — the point from which your cover should be in force. See insurance when buying.
The foreigner's identification number. Some insurers ask for it, though many policies can be arranged without residency.
Spanish policies usually renew automatically unless you cancel within the notice period. See renewals and switching.
If a word on your policy isn't here, send it to us — we'll translate it and tell you whether it matters. We arrange and explain every policy in plain English, so nothing is lost in translation. Get a quote or browse our guides.
Continente is buildings (the permanent structure); contenido is contents (your movable belongings). Owners usually insure both; renters insure contents and liability only.
Spain's average clause — if you under-declare the sum insured, the insurer can reduce any claim by the same proportion. Accurate values avoid it.
The excess — the amount you pay towards a claim before the insurer contributes. A higher franquicia means a lower premium but more out of pocket per claim.
Public/personal liability — cover if your property or you cause injury or damage to others, such as a leak that reaches a neighbour.
Yes — we arrange and explain every policy in plain English, including any term on your schedule, and support you in English at claim time.
Tell us about your property and we'll recommend the right cover — in plain English, with no pressure.
