Home ownership

Understanding natural water damage.

What is water damage caused by natural events and what insurance covers it?

Sven Gueissaz, Expert Product Manager Non Life

Sven Gueissaz

Sven is in charge of our non-life insurance products, such as household insurance and travel insurance. His tasks include undertaking market observation, analysing the competition and defining and implementing product adaptations and innovations. Sven already has 20 years of experience in the insurance industry.

01.06.2025,
reading time 7 minutes

Water damage often happens suddenly – due to a burst pipe, heavy rain, flooding or a storm. Which insurance policy covers what damage, and what exactly counts as damage caused by natural events? Find out how to protect yourself from financial loss.

Which insurance policies cover water damage?

Which insurance policies pay for water damage depends on the specific claim and what exactly is affected. It’s important to check your contracts, as water damage is often considered to be caused by a natural event and therefore only covered with supplementary insurance.

household contents insurance cover water damage?

Household contents insurance covers damage to movable property in your home – for example furniture, clothing or electronics – if these items are damaged or destroyed by water damage.

Here, a distinction is made between normal water damage and damage caused by natural events.

Normal water damage

Normal water damage is caused, for example, by a burst pipe, a broken washing machine or water from an aquarium. As a general rule, this damage is covered by household contents insurance – provided that the damage was sudden and not due to pipes or devices being too old or poorly maintained.

Examples:

A burst pipe in the kitchen damages your furniture and electrical appliances
A leaky washing machine causes water damage in your cellar

Natural water damage

Natural water damage is caused by natural events such as flooding. It is only covered by your insurance if your household contents insurance explicitly includes coverage for damage caused by natural events.

Example:

Heavy summer rain floods your cellar and damages furniture and electronics

Important: If you leave the windows open and rain gets in and causes damage, this does not count as an insured event. This type of damage is considered avoidable, and is therefore not covered.

When is water damage considered damage caused by natural events?

A pipe bursting in the kitchen is not considered damage caused by natural events. But if heavy rain floods your cellar, it’s a different story. The term “damage caused by natural events” refers to damage that is a direct result of an event in nature. This includes:

Floods
High water
Storms
Pressure caused by snow
Earthquakes
Landslides

Damages resulting from natural events are part of basic cover in household contents insurance. Water damage caused by a leaky pipe, on the other hand, is not damage caused by natural events. In this case, the classic building and/or household contents insurance covers the damages.

This water and storm damage is considered damage caused by natural events

Not all damage caused by water or storms is automatically considered damage caused by natural events. The following scenarios are typically considered damage caused by natural events.

Flooding caused by heavy rain

Heavy rains do not necessarily cause damage covered by insurance. Heavy rain is only considered damage caused by natural events if it causes flooding that has a direct effect on the building. For example, the large amounts of water may overwhelm the sewage system. If this causes the water to reach surface level and flood a building, the damages are caused by natural events. If, on the other hand, rain comes in through an open window and causes damage, your insurance will not cover the claim.

Flooding from a river or lake

If the water in a river or a lake rises above the normal levels and causes water damage to a building, it is a clear-cut case of damage caused by natural hazards.

Storm damage to your garden

Damage to patio furniture, awnings or summer houses are not always insured. Bad weather is considered a storm by insurers if wind speeds reach at least 75 km/h. Damage caused by weaker winds are not considered damage caused by natural events. As a general rule, household contents insurance is responsible for damage to movable property after a storm.

Damage from hail or pressure caused by snow

A damaged roof from bad weather that includes hail or a collapsed patio from pressure caused by snow are classic cases for buildings insurance with cover for damage caused by natural events.

What does the insurance not cover?

Not covered as damage caused by natural events:

Damage from standing groundwater
Slow and steady water damage leading to mould, for example caused by a leaky roof
Damage caused by gross negligence, for example open windows

Here, the damage is not considered to be damage caused by natural events, because it was not caused by an unusual and sudden natural event. These damages take place slowly over time, are predictable or could have been prevented using simple measures. As such, neither the household contents nor buildings insurance will cover the costs – unless you have explicitly taken out additional cover.

Which insurance covers which type of water damage?

Whether you own or rent a house, water damage can affect anyone. This infographic shows typical types of claims and explains which insurance applies in each case. You can see at a glance when household contents, building or natural hazards insurance comes into effect – and when there is no insurance cover.

Type of claim	Examples	Relevant insurance
1. Burst pipe, pipe damage	Broken washing machine, burst pipe	Household contents insurance for furniture, etc., buildings insurance for floors and walls
2. Flooding, inundation	Heavy rain floods cellars, rivers burst their banks	Natural hazards insurance as a supplement to household contents or buildings insurance
3. Storm damage	Covered roof, damaged garden furniture	Buildings insurance for the roof, household contents insurance for furniture and only in the event of storms with winds exceeding 75km/h
4. Hail, pressure caused by snow	Hail damage to roof, collapsed terrace	Buildings insurance with cover for damage caused by natural events
5. Water entering through an open window	Rain comes in through an open window	Not insured, as this damage is considered to be avoidable
6. Slow onset of moisture	Mould due to leaking roof	Not insured, except with special supplementary cover

A burst pipe is annoying. But if your house floods in a storm, it becomes a matter of survival. That’s exactly why we need clear rules – and insurance policies that help when the going gets tough.

Sven Gueissaz

What to do in the event of water damage

Water damage requires quick action. This will help to limit the damage and make sure that your insurance claim is processed quickly.

Stop the water: Turn off the water at the mains immediately, in order to limit the amount of water and additional damage. Close windows and doors that are letting in water.
Cut the power: If there are large amounts of water, it is best to cut the power in order to avoid any electric shocks.
Document the damage: Take photos or videos of the damage, including the cause of the damage, before starting to clean up.
Inform your insurance company: Report the damage to your insurance company as soon as possible. If you are insured with Generali, the quickest way to do this is via our online form.
Limit the damage: Use a pump or a bucket to remove any standing water. Air out affected rooms. Remove any furniture or appliances that could be damaged.
Repairs only after consultation: You can hire a professional to repair any damages, but make sure you speak to your insurer first.
Collect receipts: Keep all invoices, for example for dehumidifiers or immediate measures, such as water removal or fixing leaks.

What protective measures can you take against water damage?

Damage caused by natural events cannot be prevented, but you can minimise the impact. Preventive measures are the best way to stay protected.

Prevent flooding

To help prevent flooding, install backflow prevention devices in the cellar to stop water rising up from the sewers. Water-tight windows and doors in the basement can also offer a certain degree of protection against incoming water.

Storm protection

Secure loose objects in the event of a bad weather warning. Close any awnings, secure garden furniture or bring it inside. You should also regularly check shutters and roof tiles to ensure that they are secure. You can find more storm damage prevention tips in our blog post on storm protection.

Warning systems and weather apps

Use weather services and warning apps to get early warnings about bad weather. This will give you more time to protect your home.

Insurance questions about water damage

Yes. Report all water damage to your insurance company as soon as possible; include photos or videos if you can.

What your insurance policy will cover depends on what was damaged and how the damage took place. Your household contents insurance covers damage to furniture, clothing or devices. Buildings insurance is for floors, walls or the roof. However, if the water comes from outside – for example due to flooding – you will need insurance against damage caused by natural events.

If water damage occurs in a rental apartment, the landlord will generally be responsible for damage to the building, that is to the walls, floors or structure of the building. The tenant’s household contents insurance is responsible for any damaged inventory, such as furniture or electrical devices. However, if the damage was caused by the tenant, for example because the bath ran over, the tenant’s personal liability insurance is responsible.

If there is water damage in your owner-occupied flat, the costs will generally be covered by your household contents insurance. However, if the damage is done to jointly owned parts of the building such as the roof, the facade or the stairwell, the insurance held by the group of condominium owners is responsible. It is important to inform both your insurance company and the management company about the damage, if possible including photos and a precise description.

If your car is outside during a storm and is damaged by falling branches, the damages will be paid by your partial accidental damage cover. Water damage to the car – for example caused by flooding or heavy rain – is also usually covered by partial accidental damage cover.

Important: the insurance will only pay if the car was parked properly and the damage was not caused by negligence, for example driving through closed flooded areas.