If there is rain, wind or flooding, does my insurance or the Consorcio pay?

Question

José Manuel Alburquerque · Accepted Answer

It depends on how severe the weather event is. If it is extraordinary, such as a flood because a river bursts its banks or because rain floods the ground, or wind with gusts of more than 120 km/h, it is paid for by the “Consorcio de Compensación de Seguros”, Spain's state insurance compensation fund, provided that you have home insurance or the owners' association's insurance in force. If it is an ordinary storm, your own policy pays, if it covers weather events and the thresholds it sets are exceeded. Rainwater that comes in through the roof or because the building's drains cannot cope is not a flood for the Consorcio, even if the storm is very heavy. For homes, the Consorcio does not deduct any excess. What the Consorcio pays for Extraordinary floods, caused by rivers bursting their banks, by rain flooding the ground or by heavy seas. Winds with gusts of more than 120 km/h, tornadoes and other atypical storms. Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and other extraordinary events, such as terrorism or riots. It covers the same property, with the same sums insured, as your policy. If your home is insured for less than it is worth, the Consorcio will also pay you proportionally less. If you only have the owners' association's insurance, the Consorcio will cover what that policy insures, which is usually the building and not your furniture. What your policy pays for Rain, wind, hail or snow that falls short of being extraordinary, if the policy covers weather events. Each policy sets its own thresholds, usually an amount of rainfall per hour and a wind speed measured at the nearest weather station. Rain that falls on the home or is collected by the roof, the terrace or the building's drains. Even if there was a major storm, the Consorcio does not pay for it. It does not usually cover water that comes in through open doors or windows or roof leaks caused by lack of maintenance. What you should know The insurance must have been taken out at least seven days before the event, unless it replaces a previous policy without a break or you previously had nothing to insure, for example because you had just bought the home. Taking it out when the storm has already been forecast is no use. Without insurance in force, the Consorcio does not pay. Whatever there is will be public aid, which is a different matter. If the wind gusts do not exceed 120 km/h, your policy only pays if they exceed the threshold it sets. Between the two figures there may be a gap that nobody pays for.