In many Portuguese houses, small day -to -day habits go unnoticed and only become visible when they have already caused damage. Apparently insignificant details accumulate over time and when an accident occurs, they can translate into considerable damage.
The problem that goes unnoticed
Among the errors that can leave expensive is the absence of adequate coverage in housing insurance, in particular protection against seismic phenomena. In Portugal, it is mandatory to have fire insurance in horizontal property buildings, but other coverage depend on voluntary hiring.
According to data from the Basef Seguro Study (Marktest), 41.6% of residents in Portugal with 15 or more years had or benefited from 2024 from housing multirrisos insurance; In 2023 this value was located close to 43.6%.
Regarding the earthquakes, the Portuguese Association of Insurers (APS) indicates that only 19% of housing have seismic risk coverage, while 34% have fire insurance or multirrisks without this coverage.
Basic coverage do not arrive
In the Portuguese market, according to Deco Proteste, multirrisks often include nature phenomena such as floods and storms, but seismic phenomena coverage is optional and may not be included by defect. Anyone who has only fire insurance is, as a rule, without protection for floods, storms and seismos. Checking the policy is essential.
According to the European Environment Agency, the intensity and impact of extreme weather events have increased in Europe, which makes it even more relevant to adapt the coverage. It should be noted, however, that earthquakes are not meteorological phenomena.
What experts recommend
According to estimates from the APS reported by Expresso, including seismic coverage in a multi -company can add about 50 euros per year (average values that vary depending on insured capital and risk zone).
Many Portuguese families assume that “multirriscos” insurance completely protects their homes, but there are exclusions and options that require confirmation. The ASF recalls that seismic coverage is optional, and Deco Proteste advises to review the conditions and limits of policies.
Keeping the policy updated is equally decisive to avoid subsecution. To define reconstruction capital, A provides the Real Estate Reconstruction Cost Simulator (Scrim); Deco also advises reviewing the stuffing capital as new goods are acquired.
Preventing is better than remedy
There is no compulsory mechanism that ensures seismic coverage to all dwellings. ASF has given proposals to the government to a national seismic risk coverage system, but the measure is still under analysis. Until then, the responsibility to hire and update the appropriate coverage is for each owner.
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