Insurance for homeowners in Switzerland: what you need

The short answer

When you buy a house or a flat in Switzerland, building insurance is usually the first policy anyone mentions. In 19 of the 26 cantons it is arranged with the cantonal building insurer, and there it is compulsory. But building insurance protects only the building itself, mainly against fire and natural hazards. Your furniture, the damage your house causes to other people, a burst pipe in the wall and the mortgage if you die are all separate questions.

Building insurance: cantonal or private

Switzerland has two systems side by side. In 18 cantons, a public cantonal building insurer automatically insures every building owner against fire and natural hazards; according to their association, these insurers cover 1.9 million buildings, 70% of all building values in Switzerland (VKG, 2026). Bern has its own cantonal insurer outside that association, and there too all buildings must be insured with it against fire and natural hazards (Bern building insurance act, Art. 4 and 8). In the remaining seven cantons, Geneva, Uri, Schwyz, Ticino, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Valais and Obwalden, buildings are insured with private insurers (VKG map, 2026).

With a cantonal insurer

You do not choose the insurer, and you do not take out a policy in the usual sense: the building is insured by law. The cantonal law sets what is covered and the deductible. The canton of Zurich is a good example of what such cover includes (GVZ FAQ):

• Every building worth CHF 5,000 or more is insured with the GVZ.
• Insured is the building with its shell, structure, installations and interior fittings, including fixtures such as the kitchen, tiled stoves, built-in wardrobes and solar installations.
• The GVZ pays to restore parts damaged by fire, natural hazards or earthquakes, including demolition, clearing and disposal costs.

The cantonal insurers mostly insure buildings at replacement value, so a damaged house can be rebuilt without a loss (VKG).

With a private insurer

In the seven cantons without a cantonal building insurer, you choose the insurer and the policy. Federal law then sets the floor for natural hazards: an insurer that covers a building in Switzerland against fire must also cover it against natural hazards, at full value (Art. 171 AVO). For a building used only for living, the deductible for natural hazard damage is 10% of the compensation, at least CHF 1,000 and at most CHF 10,000 per event (Art. 175 AVO).

If you buy a house that is already privately insured, the building policy passes to you with the property. You can refuse the transfer in writing within 30 days of the change of ownership; the insurer, in turn, can cancel within 14 days of learning who the new owner is (Art. 54 VVG). Compare offers before those 30 days run out.

Natural hazards: what counts, and what does not

Under federal law, natural hazards are flood, inundation, storm (wind of at least 75 km/h that topples trees or unroofs buildings near the insured property), hail, avalanches, snow pressure, rockfall, falling stones and landslides (Art. 173 AVO). The same article lists what does not count, among other things:

• damage from subsidence, poor building ground, faulty construction or poor maintenance,
• groundwater, and backflow from the sewer system,
• earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Snow pressure damage that only hits roof tiles, chimneys, gutters or downpipes is excluded too (Art. 174 AVO). These rules apply to private insurers; cantonal insurers follow their own cantonal law, so check your canton’s definitions.

What building insurance does not cover

Water from pipes, sewers and groundwater

In the canton of Zurich, for example, the GVZ does not pay for damage caused by burst pipes, backflow from waste water pipes, groundwater or leaking floor, wall and roof constructions (GVZ FAQ). For water damage to the building itself you need separate building water cover from a private insurer. Ask your insurer whether it includes backflow from the sewer system and groundwater, since these are excluded from the natural hazard cover by law (Art. 173 AVO).

Earthquakes

Earthquakes are not part of the statutory natural hazard cover (Art. 173 AVO). The association of cantonal building insurers calls the missing nationwide earthquake insurance a significant gap: their earthquake pool pays at most CHF 100,000 per building, as a voluntary payment without a legal claim, which is not enough to rebuild (VKG, 2026). Some cantonal insurers go further: the GVZ in Zurich insures earthquake damage from intensity VII, with a deductible of 10% of the sum insured, at least CHF 50,000 (GVZ). Ask your cantonal insurer what applies to your building, and whether you want additional earthquake cover.

Your belongings

Building insurance does not cover furniture, clothes, electronics or anything else you would take with you when you move. That is what household contents insurance is for (see below).

While you build or renovate

Things on a construction site are not part of the statutory fire and natural hazard cover that private insurers must provide (Art. 172 AVO). The cantons with a cantonal insurer have their own rules: in Bern, new buildings and major extensions or renovations must be insured from the start of construction work (Bern building insurance act, Art. 9). In Zurich, a construction period insurance must be applied for before work starts if the building value rises by more than CHF 50,000 or by more than 50% of the current insured value (GVZ FAQ). If you build or renovate, contact your building insurer before the first day on site.

Household contents insurance

As an owner you need household contents insurance just as a tenant does: it covers your belongings against fire, natural hazards, water damage and burglary (ch.ch). The difference is what counts as building and what counts as contents. In Zurich, for example, fixtures such as the fitted kitchen or built-in wardrobes are insured with the building (GVZ FAQ); what you would take with you when you move is contents.

• Compulsory in four cantons: in Vaud, Fribourg, Nidwalden and Jura, contents must be insured against fire and natural hazards. Everywhere else it is voluntary.
• Natural hazards included: if you insure your contents against fire, natural hazards are included by law (Art. 171 AVO), with a deductible of CHF 500 per event (Art. 175 AVO).
• Sum insured: if it is lower than the value of your belongings, the insurer may reduce the payout proportionally (Art. 51a VVG).

Details, prices and the cantonal rules are in our guide Household and liability insurance in Switzerland. For jewellery and watches above your policy’s limits, see valuables insurance.

Liability as a homeowner

Owning a building brings a liability of its own. The owner of a building must compensate damage the building causes because it was badly designed or built, or poorly maintained; the owner can then seek recourse from whoever is responsible for the defect (Art. 58 CO). Think of a loose roof tile that falls on a passer-by.

Personal liability insurance is voluntary in Switzerland (ch.ch). As an owner, check three things:

• House you live in: ask your liability insurer whether your policy covers you as owner of the house or flat you live in, and include it if not.
• Condominium (Stockwerkeigentum): ask the building management whether the owners’ association has building liability cover for the common parts, and what it covers.
• Sum insured: insurers offer cover from CHF 3 million to CHF 20 million (ch.ch). For families and owners, CHF 10 million is common.

If you rent out a flat in your house, tell your insurer and ask whether that is covered too.

Does your cover fit the house you bought?

Nicole Bohne (10 years in insurance and pensions) checks your building, contents and liability cover with you in English, German or French, finds the gaps and gets comparable quotes. 45 minutes by video, free and without obligation.

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Term life insurance for the mortgage

No law requires life insurance for a Swiss mortgage. Whether your bank asks for it is set out in your mortgage documents. It makes sense if your partner could not pay the interest and repayments alone. A sum that goes down every year matches a debt that gets smaller each year; a level sum suits everyday living costs if you have children. How much cover your family needs, you can work out on our page Life insurance in Switzerland.

If you used pension money for the purchase, check your cover for death and disability as well. A withdrawal from your pension fund reduces its benefits, and the pension fund offers or arranges supplementary insurance so that you do not lose cover for death or disability (Art. 331e para. 4 CO). Using Pillar 3a works differently; see Using Pillar 3a to buy a home.

Checklist for new homeowners

1. Building insurance: find out whether your canton has a cantonal building insurer. If not, compare private offers within 30 days of the transfer of ownership.
2. Building water damage: add it with a private insurer if your building insurance excludes it.
3. Earthquake: ask what your building insurer pays, and decide whether you want more.
4. Household contents: adjust the sum insured to what you own now.
5. Liability: make sure your policy covers you as owner, and check the condominium’s building liability policy.
6. Mortgage: check whether your family could keep paying it if you died, and whether a term life policy would close the gap.

Sources

• VKG, association of cantonal building insurers: brochure 2026 (in German; members, map of cantonal and private building insurance, earthquake pool)
• Canton of Bern: building insurance act (GVG, BSG 873.11) (in German), Art. 4, 8 and 9
• GVZ, building insurance of the canton of Zurich: FAQ on insurance (in German)
• Insurance Supervision Ordinance (AVO) (in German), Art. 171 to 175
• Insurance Contract Act (VVG), Art. 51a and 54
• Code of Obligations, Art. 58 and 331e
• ch.ch: personal liability insurance

About the author

Nicole Bohne

Pension & Relocation Advisor

Nicole Bohne has worked in insurance and pensions for 10 years, including at Basler and Zurich. She specialises in pensions (pillar 3a, risk cover, tax) and in the insurance questions that come with moving to Switzerland. FINMA-registered intermediary (F01536402); she advises in German, English and French.

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