Home insurance in Switzerland – what policies are available?

1. What insurance must a homeowner have?

In Switzerland, most home insurance policies are optional. Here is an overview of those that are compulsory.

Buildings insurance

Buildings insurance covers damage caused by fire and natural hazards. This is compulsory in most cantons. Buildings insurance is voluntary in the cantons of Geneva, Ticino, Appenzell Innerrhoden (with the exception of the district of Oberegg) and Valais.

Earthquake insurance

Earthquake insurance covers damage caused to your household contents or home as a result of an earthquake. Earthquake insurance is required by law in the canton of Zurich.It assumes the costs up to a maximum of one billion francs. In all other cantons, earthquake insurance is optional.

Contents insurance

Contents insurance covers damage to movable household property. Items inside the property are covered as long as they are not fixed to the building.

In the cantons of Nidwalden, Vaud, Fribourg and Jura, some elements of home contents insurance are compulsory. These include insurance against fire and natural hazards. In other cantons, household contents insurance is optional.

Want to find out more? Comparis answers key questions about contents insurance.

2. Optional home insurance

Damage to your home can quickly run up high costs. Property owners should therefore explore optional insurance cover.

Personal liability insurance

Imagine that a tile comes off your roof and hits a parked car, or someone falls on the poorly-lit steps outside your house. As the owner, you are liable for the damage and injury. Personal liability insurance covers this risk, specifically for owners of:

• Owner-occupied single-family homes

• Owner-occupied multi-family homes (with a maximum of three apartments and no commercial space)

Personal liability insurance is optional in all cantons. Get an overview of personal liability insurance in Switzerland.

Building water damage insurance

Building water damage insurance covers damage caused by water. This may be as a result of leaking pipes or rain, snow or meltwater getting in to the building. Consequential damage caused by an accumulation of wastewater or groundwater is also covered.

Building water damage insurance is optional. The contractual conditions vary depending on the insurer. In the event of a claim you will have to determine whether your buildings insurance or building water damage insurance will pay.

Building liability insurance

Voluntary building liability insurance makes sense for landlords or owners of property containing more than three apartments or commercial premises. It provides cover against claims from third parties who have suffered loss, damage or injury on the property.

Special rules apply to co-owners and condominium owners. Depending on the insurance company, claims arising from damage or loss incurred by co-owners may also be insured. Restrictions will generally apply to insurance payouts, however. The precise rules are set out in the general conditions of insurance.

Glass breakage insurance

Glass breakage insurance is an add-on to home contents insurance or can be included in buildings insurance.

A distinction is made in principle between furniture glass (e.g. glass cabinets, glass tables) and glazing in buildings (e.g. windows). Washbasins and natural stone tiling can also be insured.

Note that, unlike a tenant, you as the property owner should insure the building glass. You can do this through your buildings insurance. If you have a lot of glass furniture, it is also worth taking out the glass breakage add-on to your home contents insurance.

Condominium owners should take out building glass insurance for shared spaces. Some insurance covers all glass and glazing in a condominium.

3. Legal protection insurance

Landlords might wish to look into legal protection insurance so that they are covered for any rent disputes.Be certain about which products or supplemental insurance cover such disagreements.

4. What insurance comes with the property?

When you buy a property, under Art. 54 Insurance Policies Act insurance contracts are automatically transferred to you as the new owner. You have 30 days after the change of ownership in which to reject the transfer. You must do this in writing.

In addition to home insurance policies it is also worth comparing mortgage deals, where there are big savings to be made.