In Spain, Seguro de Hogar is required to protect your property and belongings.

What types of cover are available in the country? What steps should be taken in the event of a claim? Which insurance companies should I choose? Terreta Spain's experts answer all these questions.

Definition: what is home insurance? 

A Seguro de Hogar is designed to protect your home and personal property against fire, water damage, burglary and natural disasters. 

What does home insurance cover? 

• Damage to the building itself (walls, roof, floors).
• Building contents (furniture, electronics, jewelry and other personal effects)
• Civil liability: damage you may cause to others. 

Is it compulsory to take out home insurance in Spain? 

No, in Spain it is not legally compulsory to take out an insurance policy, but it is strongly recommended, particularly in the following cases: 

• The owner has taken out a mortgage (banks require insurance to protect their investment).
• Tenants are well advised to take out home insurance to protect their possessions and cover themselves against civil liability.  
• In condominiums, common areas are often insured, but this coverage does not extend to residents' personal property. They must therefore take the necessary steps themselves. 

The different types of home insurance cover 

In Spain, home insurance policies generally offer three levels of coverage:

1. Basic coverage for damage caused by fire and certain natural disasters.
2. Intermediate coverage, which also includes theft, vandalism and certain accidental damages 
3. All-risk coverage offering the most comprehensive protection. 

What procedure should I follow in the event of a claim? 

If you have a claim, here's what to do: 

1. Immediate notification: contact your insurer as soon as possible  
2. File a complaint: in the event of a burglary, file a complaint with the authorities before contacting your insurer.
3. Collect evidence: take photos or videos of the damage and keep the police report.

The advice of Terreta Spain's experts

Our experts advise you to choose your insurance carefully. Don't be hasty. 

• Take the time to assess your needs, based on your situation and that of your home.
• Compare offers online
• Check the insurer's reputation by looking for customer reviews

Documents required to take out home insurance in Spain 

• An NIE (Numéro d'Identification des Étrangers). To find out how to obtain it, see our article on the subject.  
• If you are a homeowner, you will be asked for the cedula de habitabilidad (linkerfiche once online).
• If you are a tenant, you will need to provide a copy of the rental contract. 

Insurance companies recommended by Terreta Spain 

• Allianz, one of the world's leading insurance companies
• Mapfre, with a solid reputation in Spain
• Tuio hogar, one of the cheapest on the market 

Our tips for reducing your insurance policy 

• Consider installing an alarm. 
• Group several insurance policies (home, car, health) with the same insurer.
• Increase the deductible to reduce the monthly premium.  

Conclusion

As you can see, although it's not compulsory, home insurance is highly recommended to protect your property and your home, and to avoid major financial losses in the event of damage. 

Sources: Mapfre