First home
Essential insurance cover.
Moving into your very first apartment is the start of a new chapter. But while moving away from home can be freeing, it also brings with it a great deal of responsibility. What insurance do you need? Our tips for optimal insurance coverage for your new home.
Whether or not there is compulsory insurance that you have to take out for your new apartment depends on your canton of residence. Some cantons require that tenants have household contents insurance. In Nidwalden and Vaud, for example, fire and natural hazards insurance is compulsory and is provided by the cantonal fire insurance. In Fribourg and Jura, tenants are also required to have fire and natural hazards insurance but can choose the insurance provider themselves.
While it’s true that, apart from the exceptions named above, you do not need to purchase any compulsory insurance for your apartment, it is still worth having. Damage to the apartment can happen in the blink of an eye, or the apartment might be broken into or your new e-bike stolen from the front of the building. The costs for damages are often high and can really affect your budget. To ensure that you are protected in these cases, we recommend that you take out household insurance. This insurance includes two must-have policies for tenants: household contents insurance and personal liability insurance.
Household contents insurance covers damage to your household contents. This includes personal items such as furniture, clothing or electronics damaged by fire or water, or taken in a burglary. You can also add bicycle insurance to this policy. Plus, thanks to the household contents accidental damage insurance, we will also cover damage to your mobile phone. Your cat or dog is moving in with you? Then pet insurance is a very useful thing to have as it will cover veterinary treatment in the event of an accident or illness.
The cost of household contents insurance depends largely on the size of your apartment, the value of your household contents and the insured amount you have selected. On average, this insurance costs between 150 and 300 francs each year.
The deductible is the amount that you need to pay yourself in the event of a claim. Just like yearly premium costs, the deductible amount depends on the insurance coverage you select. It is generally between 200 and 500 francs. For damage caused by natural events, there is a legally prescribed deductible of 500 francs in accordance with Article 175 AVO.
It is a good idea to check whether you will remain co-insured under your parents’ policies after moving out. We recommend that you ask for a consultation to ensure that you make the right decisions.
Are you moving into a shared flat, that is, will you be sharing your household with other people? In that case, you can take out household contents and third-party liability insurance together. However, it is important to check the insured sum of your household contents insurance regularly, and add new people to the policy as they move in.
Third-party liability insurance covers damage that you accidentally cause to other people or property – including damage you may accidentally cause as a tenant. Many landlords thus require you to have third-party liability insurance. This will cover anything from damage to a window or wall caused when you moved in, to permanent stains on carpets or wooden floors, and either their repair or replacement.
Costs for personal third-party liability insurance in Switzerland varies and depends on things like the insured amount, deductible and personal circumstances. A single person can take out third-party liability insurance for less than 100 francs.
In general, you can expect to pay a deductible of 200 francs for third-party liability insurance. However, it could also be more or less, or there could also be no deductible at all depending on the insurance policy you select.
Insurance for driving a borrowed car can be taken out as additional cover for your personal liability insurance, and it is very important to have! Even minor parking damage can cost you more than one hundred francs in repair costs. The additional cover only applies to occasionally using a borrowed car. If you regularly drive a borrowed car, the insurance will not cover any damage. Note: If you live in a flatshare and occasionally borrow your flatmate’s car, personal liability insurance will not cover this damage either. Our advisory team will be happy to create a suitable proposal for these cases.
Whether you are moving into your first apartment, signing an employment agreement for a job after completing your studies or apprenticeship, or purchasing a new bicycle: you are entering into a legal contract. When you are young, you might not have experience in these matters, which can make you feel insecure or harbour risks. Legal protection insurance helps you feel sure that you are on the safe side and supports you if you have any legal questions.