Leaks: The Silent Enemy of Homes and Residential Communities

Water damage has become the most frequent and costly issue affecting all types of properties in Spain. According to recent data from the insurance association Unespa, 2024 saw 4.6 million interventions related to water damage, making it the number one incident in homes, residential communities, commercial premises, and industrial properties.

Insurance companies paid out €5.153 billion to cover the 10.6 million claims registered that year. Along with leaks and water infiltration, other common incidents included glass breakage, fires, and theft, though with lower frequency.

Water damage: the most common and expensive incident

Water-related incidents accounted for the highest financial impact on property insurance, reaching €2.035 billion in 2024. Fires followed with €770 million, and weather-related events accounted for an additional €518 million.

The average claim cost €484, and according to Unespa, a property—whether a home, community building, shop or industrial facility—suffers an incident every two seconds in Spain. The most affected provinces are also the most populated: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, and Alicante.

Where do these incidents occur most frequently?

• Homes: 8.4 million claims, totaling €3.246 billion.
• Residential communities: more than 1.5 million incidents.
• Commercial premises: around 453,000 cases.
• Industrial properties: approximately 288,000 claims.

These figures highlight the importance of preventive maintenance, especially in older buildings or properties with a history of leaks.