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Home insurance in Lisbon
For apartments, townhouses and villas in Lisbon and the surrounding area: the cover that matters in the capital, independently compared and explained in English.
✅ For properties in and around Lisbon: office in Almancil, Algarve
✅ Independent broker: several insurers compared
✅ Advice in English: also in German and Portuguese
Free and with no obligation · reply usually within 24 hours (working days)
We compare offers from these insurers
What is different about home insurance in Lisbon
Most homes in Lisbon are apartments, often in buildings with many units and frequently in older buildings. There are also townhouses in the historic districts, new-build apartments, for example in Parque das Nações and villas in the surrounding area towards Sintra and Oeiras.
The risk with the most serious potential consequences in the region is an earthquake. According to the civil protection authority ANEPC, Lisbon and the Algarve are among the regions of Portugal where earthquakes are most likely to occur. The earthquake of 1 November 1755 destroyed large parts of the city. Heavy rain is a further risk: on 7 and 8 December 2022, streets and ground floors in Alcântara and the Baixa were flooded, and the city is building two large drainage tunnels.
For your policy this means that earthquake is a separate section of Portuguese home insurance, which you have to add explicitly. How the multirisk policy (combined buildings and contents cover) works in general is explained on our page House insurance in Portugal. This page covers what Lisbon adds to it.
Home insurance in Lisbon: the cover you need
The basis is a multirisk policy. In Lisbon, these four sections matter most:
Apartment or house at rebuild value
For a house the walls, roof and fixed installations; for an apartment your share of the building and your own fittings such as kitchen, bathrooms and floors. What counts is the cost of rebuilding, not the purchase price, which in Lisbon mainly reflects the location. For high-value villas and apartments we arrange all-risks policies with suitable limits.
Contents, art and valuables
Furniture, electronics and personal belongings against fire and water damage, and on request burglary and theft. Jewellery, art and collections have their own limits; valuable items can be listed individually or covered by a separate art insurance policy.
Earthquake
Earthquake cover (fenómenos sísmicos) has to be added explicitly and usually has a higher excess. Fire caused by an earthquake is normally excluded from the fire cover and is only insured under the earthquake section. More in our guide Earthquakes in Portugal.
Escape of water
In buildings with many apartments, water often comes from above, from the flat upstairs or an old pipe. What matters is water damage to your apartment, liability for damage that starts in your apartment and the cost of tracing the leak.
Depending on the apartment or house, glass breakage, legal expenses and assistance services can be added, as can flood cover in low-lying streets (see Storm damage in Portugal). We build the policy around your property rather than selling a standard package.
Does your policy cover earthquakes?
We review it and obtain comparison quotes.
Main home, second home, holiday let or condominium
In Lisbon we mainly see four situations, and each needs slightly different cover:
Main home
Living in Lisbon all year
Buildings or your share of the building, contents and liability in one policy. If the property is financed, the bank will usually require buildings cover. For your health: Health insurance in Lisbon.
Second home
Empty for part of the year
Many policies restrict cover when a home is unoccupied for longer, for example for burglary or escape of water. Time limits and conditions differ by insurer. More in our guide Holiday home insurance in Portugal.
Holiday letting
Alojamento Local (AL)
If you let to holiday guests, you need an Alojamento Local (AL) registration and liability insurance of at least 75,000 euros per claim; if the apartment is in a shared building, fire insurance for the unit is also required. Lisbon City Council restricts new registrations in districts with many holiday lets (containment areas), so check this before you buy. More on insurance for holiday letting.
Condomínio
Apartment in a shared building
For property in a condominium, the law requires fire insurance covering the individual units and the common areas, often arranged as a block policy through the building administrator. Check what it covers; your own policy adds contents, liability and the fittings of your apartment. More on condominium insurance.
We work out with you which situation applies to your property and explain the Portuguese policy terms in English before you sign.
Local risks: earthquake, water and older buildings
A rough guide to the risks for apartments and houses in Lisbon:
| Risk | What it means for your property | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | According to ANEPC, the region is among the most earthquake-prone in Portugal; the earthquake of 1755 destroyed large parts of the city. | Earthquake cover, sum insured and excess. See Earthquakes in Portugal. |
| Heavy rain and flooding | In low-lying districts such as Alcântara and the Baixa, streets and ground floors flooded on 7 and 8 December 2022. | Include flood cover for ground floors, basements or garages. |
| Escape of water in older buildings | Old pipes and water from the flat upstairs. | Water damage, leak tracing and liability for damage that starts in your apartment. |
| Fire | Densely built districts with many households under one roof. | Check the condominium fire cover; your own policy for fittings and contents. |
| Burglary | Ground-floor apartments and homes that stand empty for part of the year. | Burglary and theft cover, conditions for empty homes. |
This is a general guide and does not replace a review of your property.
Insurers we compare
We compare offers from several insurers in Portugal, including for earthquake cover. Which of them insure your apartment or house in Lisbon on suitable terms is part of the comparison. C1 Broker is not tied to any insurer.
Allianz
International
An international insurance group with a brand familiar to expats.
Hiscox
SPECIALIST INSURER
A specialist insurer with an international profile.
Innovarisk
INSURANCE SOLUTIONS FOR EXPATS
Insurance solutions for international clients and property owners in Portugal.
Zurich
International
A well-established international insurer.
Victoria
ESTABLISHED IN PORTUGAL
A long-standing insurer with a strong presence in the Portuguese market.
Generali
LEADING EUROPEAN INSURER
One of Europe’s largest insurance groups.
This overview is neutral and not a ranking. We identify the most suitable insurer and policy by comparing your property, its location and how it is used.
Compare insurers with independent advice
We obtain suitable quotations and explain the differences in clear English.
Your English-speaking Insurance Broker in Portugal
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Personal advice from the Algarve
C1 Broker · Almancil office, Algarve
“We support homeowners in Lisbon from choosing the right policy to settling a claim, personally and in your language. You deal with the same people at our office in Almancil.”
- Phone: +351 289 392 452
- Email: [email protected]
- Office: Av. Duarte Pacheco 13 R/C, 8135-104 Almancil (Quinta do Lago), Algarve
- Languages: English, German and Portuguese
Related insurance & guides
House insurance in Portugal
How a multirisk policy works and which insurers are available.
Cascais and Estoril
Home insurance for villas and apartments on the coast west of Lisbon.
Earthquakes in Portugal
What your home policy pays after an earthquake and how to prepare.
Frequently asked questions about home insurance in Lisbon
Is home insurance compulsory in Lisbon?
Fire insurance for the building is compulsory for apartments in a condominium (condomínio), and banks usually require buildings cover for a mortgage. If you let to holiday guests, AL liability cover is also required. Beyond that there is no obligation, but a multirisk policy is strongly recommended for homeowners.
Do I need earthquake cover in Lisbon?
That is your decision; at present there is no legal requirement. According to ANEPC, Lisbon is among the regions of Portugal most prone to earthquakes. Earthquake cover (fenómenos sísmicos) has to be added explicitly and usually has a higher excess. We show you what it costs for your property.
Who pays if water comes from the flat upstairs?
That depends on where the damage starts. Your own policy normally covers the damage to your apartment and contents; if it starts in the flat upstairs, their liability cover or policy may pay, and for shared pipes the condominium policy, if it includes water damage. We help you report the claim to the right insurer.
How high should the sum insured be?
As high as the cost of rebuilding the house or restoring your apartment in the same size and quality, including your own fittings for an apartment. The purchase price and land value are not the benchmark. If the sum is too low, the insurer will normally only pay part of a claim (underinsurance).
Is my apartment covered if it stands empty for months?
Not automatically. Many policies restrict cover after a certain period without occupants or set conditions such as regular checks. Time limits differ by insurer. For second homes we make sure the terms match how you use the property.
What do I need to consider when letting to holiday guests?
You need an Alojamento Local (AL) registration and liability insurance of at least 75,000 euros per claim, and in a shared building also fire insurance for the unit. Without this insurance, the registration can be cancelled. In Lisbon, the city’s containment areas for new registrations also apply. Your home policy should cover the letting as well, and we make sure the two fit together.
Where is your office and which languages do you speak?
Our office is at Av. Duarte Pacheco 13 R/C, 8135-104 Almancil in the Algarve. We advise homeowners in Lisbon in English, German and Portuguese, by phone on +351 289 392 452 or by email at [email protected].
How much does home insurance in Lisbon cost?
The premium depends on the sum insured, construction and age of the building, location, chosen cover such as earthquake, use of the property and the excess. A reliable flat price is therefore not possible. We prepare a free comparison quote for your property.
Home insurance in Lisbon: request your free quote
Advice in English · independent comparison of several insurers · reply usually within 24 hours (working days)