What a standard Spanish home policy covers and excludes

Key rules

• Bundle: A standard policy bundles fire, water, theft, liability, assistance and legal defence, but definitions, sub-limits and exclusions differ by insurer.
• Gadgets: Laptops and phones are usually not covered outside the home unless you add an optional extension.
• Empty home: Many policies limit theft cover if the home stays empty for more than 30 to 90 consecutive days.
• Leaks: The broken pipe itself is usually excluded, and leak search is often covered only up to a limit.
• Assistance: Assistance usually covers first call-out labour up to a limit, and you pay for materials.

What a standard policy bundles

A standard home policy (seguro de hogar) usually bundles fire, water damage, theft, liability, assistance and legal defence in one package. Definitions, sub-limits and exclusions vary by insurer, so always read the wording of the specific policy before you sign.

Typical base cover:

• Fire, explosion and lightning.
• Water damage from sudden leaks or overflow.
• Weather events such as wind, rain and hail.
• Theft and robbery damage, often with limits.
• Civil liability (responsabilidad civil): pays for damage you cause to other people, for example a leak that ruins a neighbour's ceiling.
• Glass breakage and electrical damage.
• 24-hour assistance and legal defence, explained below.

Cover for extraordinary risks, handled by the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros, applies by law. Events such as floods from extraordinary causes fall under it, so your insurer will not pay for them directly.

Water damage: what counts

Covered water damage is sudden and accidental: a burst pipe, an overflowing tank, a failing appliance or heating system. Leaks coming from a neighbour's flat are often covered too.

Usually not covered:

• Slow, continuous seepage and condensation.
• Floods and groundwater.
• Damage caused by poor maintenance.
• The broken pipe or appliance itself.

Finding the leak (búsqueda de la avería) and repairing the pipe are usually covered only up to a limit, or only when the leak has damaged the building. Many policies pay to open walls and restore them, but not to replace the pipe. Check the leak-search wording before you need it.

Assistance and legal defence

Assistance usually sends an emergency plumber, electrician, locksmith or glazier. The labour of the first call-out is typically covered up to a set number of hours or a fixed amount, and you pay for materials. Some policies add temporary accommodation, a home guard and removals.

Legal defence usually pays for a lawyer and a procurator (court representative). It also covers claims for damage and defence in civil disputes arising from covered events, up to a limit per claim. It usually excludes disputes with your own insurer, tax matters and some criminal acts. Limits and hours differ, so compare them between policies.

Optional add-ons

Common extras cost more:

• Accidental damage.
• Valuables such as jewellery.
• Pets.
• Cover for belongings outside the home.

Laptops, phones and tablets are generally not covered away from home, or only up to a small sub-limit. To cover them outside the house, you need an optional extension, often called objetos fuera del domicilio or all-risk portable devices. It typically covers theft with violence or accidental damage, with an excess and age limits. To claim, you normally need proof of purchase and a police report (denuncia).

Common exclusions

Expect these to be excluded:

• Intentional acts and gross negligence.
• Wear, gradual deterioration and lack of maintenance.
• War, and events covered by the Consorcio.
• Damage while the home is unoccupied.
• Theft without forced entry.
• Valuables left in open areas.

Many policies limit theft cover if the home is empty for more than 30 to 90 consecutive days. If you plan a long trip or are between moves, ask the insurer what applies before you leave.

The questions below answer common cases, such as hidden leaks and empty homes.

Frequently asked questions

Does my home policy pay to find a hidden leak?

Often only partly: leak search and repair of the broken pipe are usually covered up to a limit, or only when the leak has damaged the building. Many policies pay to open and restore walls but not to replace the broken pipe itself. Gradual seepage and condensation are normally excluded.

Are my laptop and phone covered when I take them out of the house?

Usually not, or only up to a small limit. Cover outside the home is normally an optional extra (objetos fuera del domicilio), typically for theft with violence or accidental damage. Expect to show proof of purchase and a police report (denuncia).

Is theft still covered if the home is empty for weeks?

Often not for long: many policies limit theft cover once the home has been empty for more than 30 to 90 consecutive days. Theft without forced entry is also commonly excluded. Ask your insurer for the exact number of days before you leave.