Home Insurance in Galicia for Foreigners: What to Cover and How Much It Costs

Types of home insurance in Spain

Before purchasing insurance for your property in Galicia, it is essential to understand the three main components offered by the Spanish insurance market. Most policies combine these coverages, but you can contract them separately depending on your specific needs. As a foreign owner, understanding the terminology and particularities of the Spanish insurance system will help you make the best decision for protecting your investment on the Costa da Morte.

Home insurance in Spain is traditionally divided into three major blocks. Each covers different aspects of your property and your responsibility as an owner. Understanding these differences will help you choose a policy that truly protects your real estate investment in Galicia's challenging Atlantic climate.

Tip: If your Costa da Morte property is a second home, always contract all three coverages. Water damage is the most frequent claim in Galicia and can cause devastating damage if not detected promptly.

Essential coverages for Galician properties

A home insurance policy in Galicia must cover at least these fundamental risks, given the Atlantic climate and the region's construction characteristics. Traditional stone houses, so common in municipalities like Cee, Corcubión, Camariñas, and Vimianzo, present particularities that require specific coverages not typically needed in other parts of Spain.

• Fire and explosion: Damage from fire, lightning, and explosion. Essential for stone houses with fireplaces. Traditional Galician chimneys, often unlined, are a frequent source of fires
• Water damage: Flooding, burst pipes, leaks, condensation dampness. Galicia receives an average of 1,500 mm of rain per year, double that of Madrid. Filtration through stone walls is extremely common
• Theft and burglary: Break-in coverage for the property and theft outside. Unoccupied second homes are prime targets for burglars, especially in rural areas
• Civil liability: Third-party damages (neighbours, pedestrians, visitors). Mandatory if you live in a community of owners. Includes legal defence against claims
• Weather damage: Wind, hail, snow, torrential rain. Crucial in exposed coastal areas like the Costa da Morte, where storms can exceed 100 km/h
• Extraordinary risks: Flood damage from rivers, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions. Automatically covered by the Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros through the mandatory surcharge included in your policy
• Automatic revaluation: Annual increase of insured sums to keep pace with inflation and construction costs

Specific risks of the Galician climate

Galicia has a humid Atlantic climate with particularities that directly affect home insurance. Understanding these risks is essential for choosing the right coverages and avoiding unpleasant surprises when you need to make a claim. The combination of abundant rainfall, coastal winds, and proximity to the sea creates an environment that is especially demanding on properties.

The Costa da Morte, with its cliffs exposed to the Atlantic Ocean, suffers the effects of winter storms with particular intensity. South-westerly winds can exceed 130 km/h during extreme episodes, causing damage to roofs, windows, and exterior structures. Autumn and winter torrential rains can cause sudden flooding in low-lying areas and infiltration in traditional masonry walls. If your property is in towns like Finisterre, Laxe, or Muxía, you need to pay special attention to these weather risks.

Important note: Saline corrosion is considered normal wear and tear and is almost never covered by insurers. If you buy within 500 metres of the sea on the Costa da Morte, budget 2-3% of the property value annually for preventive maintenance: painting, wood treatment, installation checks.

Average home insurance prices in Galicia

Home insurance prices in Galicia are slightly higher than the Spanish average due to the Atlantic climate and the higher frequency of weather-related and water damage claims. However, they remain very competitive compared to other European countries like the UK or Germany. Below we show price ranges based on actual quotes from 2024-2025 for properties in the Costa da Morte area.

Factors affecting the final price include: age of construction, building materials (limestone is more expensive to insure than brick), distance to the coast, installed security systems, value of insured contents, chosen deductible, and the claims history of the area.

Comparison of major Spanish insurers

The Spanish insurance market offers multiple options for protecting your home in Galicia. We have analysed the five most relevant companies for foreign property owners, evaluating their coverages, prices, customer service, and ease of managing policies from abroad. This comparison focuses specifically on their suitability for non-resident owners with properties on the Costa da Morte.

Recommendation: For foreign owners, AXA and Zurich offer the best service due to their multilingual support and experience with international clients. Mapfre is the best local option with excellent coverage for Galician weather risks.

The claims process step by step

If you suffer damage to your Galician property, it is important to act quickly and follow the correct procedure to ensure your claim is accepted. Many claims are rejected due to errors in the notification process or inadequate documentation of the damage. Here is the complete process:

1. Act immediately: Minimise damage and protect the property. Do not throw anything away or make permanent repairs before the loss adjuster evaluates the damage
2. Document everything: Take detailed photos and videos of all damage from multiple angles. Include a reference for scale (a ruler, a newspaper with the date)
3. Notify the insurer: Call within the first 24-48 hours. Most companies have 24/7 emergency helplines. Request your claim number
4. Submit documentation: Complete the claim form. Attach photos, repair estimates, and any documents proving ownership of damaged items
5. Wait for the adjuster: The insurer will send a loss adjuster within 2-5 working days. If the damage is urgent (burst pipe), you can make emergency repairs keeping all receipts
6. Negotiate if necessary: If you disagree with the assessment, you can request a second opinion. You have the right to have damage assessed by an independent adjuster
7. Receive compensation: Usually within 15-30 days after assessment. You can choose direct repair or financial compensation

Essential tip: Always keep copies of all communications with the insurer, including emails and phone call recordings. If you do not speak fluent Spanish, request in writing to be attended in your language: AXA and Zurich guarantee this.

Essential tips for foreign property owners

Being a foreign property owner in Galicia presents additional challenges when purchasing and managing home insurance. Distance, language barriers, and unfamiliarity with the Spanish insurance system can complicate matters. These tips will help you navigate the process successfully and adequately protect your real estate investment on the Costa da Morte.

• Declare second home status: Always indicate that the property is a second home if you do not live there permanently. Concealing this can invalidate your policy. The surcharge is 20-30%, but it guarantees full coverage
• Seek policies without unoccupancy limits: Some policies exclude damage if the property has been unoccupied for more than 30 or 60 days. Look for policies covering long periods of absence, essential for foreign owners
• Install security systems: An alarm connected to a monitoring centre, smoke detectors, water leak detectors, and a video surveillance system not only protect your home but can reduce your premium by up to 20%
• Annual in-person inspection: Hire someone you trust to inspect the property after each winter. Undetected water damage is the number one cause of rejected claims
• Holiday rental: If you plan to rent your property via Airbnb or Booking.com, you need specific holiday rental insurance. Standard policies do not cover damage caused by temporary tenants
• NIF/NIE required: You need a NIF (Tax Identification Number) to purchase any insurance in Spain. If you are not a resident, apply for a NIE (Foreigner Identity Number) at the police station

Tax implications of home insurance

Home insurance premiums have favourable tax treatment in Spain that is worth knowing. If you rent out your Galician property, insurance premiums are deductible as an expense against rental income. This means you can reduce your taxable base on your Spanish tax return. If the property is your primary residence, premiums are not deductible at the state level, but some autonomous communities offer deductions for home renovation.

For non-resident foreign owners, home insurance is considered a deductible expense against rental income for Non-Resident Income Tax (IRNR) purposes. If you generate holiday rental income in Galicia, make sure to include insurance premiums in your quarterly Model 210 tax return.

Tax note: Keep all insurance premium invoices. If you sell the property, insurance costs from the last four years can be factored into calculating the capital gain for tax purposes.

Requirements for mortgage holders

If you purchased your Galician property with a mortgage from a Spanish bank, you should know that contracting building insurance (continente) is mandatory by law. The bank cannot impose a specific insurer since the 2016 Supreme Court ruling, although many still try. You have the right to freely choose your insurer and submit proof to the bank.

The insured sum for the building must cover at least the reconstruction value of the property, not the market value. This value is indicated in the deed of sale or can be calculated by multiplying the square metres by the construction cost per m² in Galicia, which in 2024 ranges between €800 and €1,200/m² depending on the type of construction. For a renovated traditional stone house of 150 m², the reconstruction value would be between €120,000 and €180,000.

Important: Never accept the bank's offered insurance without comparing. Bank-linked policies are typically 30-50% more expensive than those available on the open market. Compare at least three options before deciding.