Best home insurances in Switzerland in 2024
- Broad coverage of risks and assets
- Insurance for valuables
- Includes damage caused by natural hazards
- Loss, misplacement and other disappearance option "Up to
- Adapts to your needs and situations
- Completely online
- Very good value for money
- Up to 100 CHFon the first premium for a combined offer
- 50 CHF on cover for specific items
- 50 CHF with the combination for ⊖ 30 year olds
- 30% for young adults for a combined offer
- Deductible waived after 3 claims-free years
- Discount for Zurich customers.
- Complete personalisation
- Insurance for valuables
- Includes damage caused by natural hazards
- Loss, misplacement and other disappearance option
Burglary, fire, water damage, accidental injury… Even at home, we're not immune to disasters. To protect yourself against these, and their financial consequences, it's essential to take out household insurance. In some Swiss cantons, home insurance is even compulsory.
So, in which cantons is household insurance compulsory? Who should you contact? Should you choose liability, theft, loss of keys or bicycle assistance cover? How much does household insurance cost, and how can you pay less? Find out about this in our comprehensive guide.
Household insurance: To remember
- Household insurance is compulsory only in Vaud and Nidwalden.
- You'll need to take out fire and natural hazards cover.
- It's possible to combine household and liability insurance.
- Home insurance covers your goods, third-party liability covers damage to third parties.
- On average, basic household insurance costs:
- CHF 225/year for a family in a T4 apartment
- CHF 175/year for a single person in a T3 apartment
- With household liability insurance, the price changes:
- More or less CHF 400/year for a family
- More or less CHF 300/year for a single person
What is household insurance?
Household insurance, or home insurance, covers everything in your home, including your furniture and personal effects. This is known as the household inventory. This inventory will be protected against a number of losses, such as:
- Fire
- Theft
- Water damage
- Glass breakage
- Natural disasters
Good to know
Not only your possessions but also those of the people living under your roof, are covered by household insurance.
Household insurance offers several levels of protection. It can cover all your possessions or just a few selected items. You can also supplement your basic home insurance with optional benefits such as bicycle assistance, online protection, valuables insurance or building insurance.
Swiss home insurance reimburses the replacement value of damaged objects. The current price of your item will be taken for reference.
Is household insurance compulsory?
In Switzerland, home insurance covering fire and natural hazards (storms, floods, etc.) is compulsory in the cantons of Vaud and Nidwalden. In Vaud, you must take out fire insurance with the cantonal fire insurance company, not with a private insurer.
In all other Swiss cantons, household insurance is not compulsory. Household liability insurance is not compulsory in Switzerland either.
Expert advice
Whether you own or rent, we strongly recommend that you take out basic home insurance. As a tenant, you'll be responsible for any material damage to the furniture, while as a homeowner, you'll be responsible for maintenance and repairs. With household insurance, these risks are covered.
Does home insurance include third-party liability?
An increasing number of insurers are now offering household liability insurance. This is classic household insurance, with additional third-party liability coverage.
In addition to covering your home contents against theft, fire, breakage, water damage or natural disasters, you'll also be covered if:
- a third party is accidentally injured in your home (your cleaning lady falls down the stairs, for example),
- you accidentally damage someone else's property.
Do you need household liability insurance?
By combining these 2 types of cover in a single policy, you avoid administrative formalities and benefit from an underwriting discount. However, depending on the insurer you choose, it may be cheaper to take out household and liability insurance separately.
What does household insurance cover in Switzerland?
Generally speaking, home insurance covers all the belongings in your home:
- Your furniture
- Your personal belongings
- Your equipment
- Your household appliances.
Your property will generally be covered against the following losses:
- Fires: lightning and explosions
- Theft: burglary, theft by break-in, sometimes outdoor theft (pickpocketing, violence…)
- Natural disasters: floods, storms, avalanches, landslides, etc.
- Water damage: caused by water pipes, certain appliances (washing machines, for example), aquariums, etc.
- Glass breakage: of windows (furniture and home), glass furniture, sanitary installations, etc.
Your basic home insurance policy can be supplemented by a wide range of options:
- Valuables are often only covered if you take out additional valuables cover;
- You can also supplement your insurance with bicycle assistance to protect yourself against bicycle theft, for instance;
- Loss of keys is covered if you take out an outdoor theft extension;
- Another frequent option is phone insurance, which protects your cell phone against damage both inside and outside the home.
What is a household inventory?
To cover your household contents and take out household insurance, you will need to draw up a household inventory, which must include every item in your home, from your kitchen utensils to your TV and bed.
This inventory will then be declared to your insurer to determine your maximum amount of coverage and be reimbursed according to the value of your possessions.
Good to know
Update your inventory regularly to declare potential new items and ensure you are properly insured in the event of a claim.
This household inventory allows you to define an insurance sum that will enable you to buy back all your home's inventory and furnishings in the event of a claim (furniture, everyday items, clothes, etc.).
2024 comparison of the best household insurances
Here are some of the best household liability insurances in Switzerland:
| Household insurance companies | Covers offered | Features and Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich household liability insurance |
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| Helvetia household liability insurance |
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| AXA household liability insurance |
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| Generali household liability insurance |
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| Mobiliar household liability insurance | 6 different insurances grouped in the household contents liability insurance:
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| Baloise household liability insurance | Baloise offers younGo household liability insurance for under-30s only, covering:
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How much does household insurance cost in 2024?
The cost of home insurance in Switzerland depends on several factors:
- size of dwelling
- items covered (quantity and value)
- location of your property (risk zone or not)
- the type of coverage taken out (including any options such as outdoor theft, bicycle assistance, online protection, etc.),
Here are some example prices for basic household insurance for a person living with a partner and 2 children in a T4 apartment:
| Home insurance companies | Home insurance yearly price | Yearly price of household liability insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Helvetia home insurance | 221.50 CHF | 313.20 CHF |
| Zurich home insurance | 239.40 CHF | 359 CHF |
| AXA home insurance | 245.10 CHF | 391 CHF |
| Generali home insurance | 246.70 CHF | 372 CHF |
| Mobilière home insurance | 252.32 CHF | 408.45 CHF |
| Baloise home insurance | 235 CHF | 355.70 CHF |
| CSS home insurance | 259.80 CHF | 446.25 CHF |
Here are some examples of prices for basic household insurance for a single person living in a T3 apartment:
| Home insurance companies | Home insurance yearly price | Yearly price of household liability insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Baloise home insurance | 142.10 CHF | 232.65 CHF |
| Zurich home insurance | 174.30 CHF | 256.80 CHF |
| Helvetia home insurance | 154.90 CHF | 223.90 CHF |
| AXA home insurance | 161.50 CHF | 265.85 CHF |
| Generali home insurance | 178.10 CHF | 285.90 CHF |
| Mobilière home insurance | 201.44 CHF | 323.03 CHF |
| CSS home insurance | 185.64 CHF | 346.29 CHF |
Expert advice
For cheap home insurance, follow these tips:
- Only take out the options you need (e.g. no bike assistance if you don't own a bike),
- Have an up-to-date household inventory to insure your belongings properly,
- Compare household insurance offers online to quickly identify the best prices.
How do I cancel my household insurance?
You can cancel your household insurance by writing a household insurance cancellation letter.
Watch out!
You will need to respect the notice period specified in your contract, which can vary from 1 to 3 months.
On your household insurance cancellation letter, you'll need to include the following information:
- Certain personal data (in particular your name and address)
- Your insurance policy number
- Your insurance cancellation date
- Your reason for cancellation (which may be brief)
- Your signature
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