Earthquake insurance remains optional

Thursday, 1 October 2026 06:35

Parliament has once again turned down a plan to introduce mandatory earthquake insurance for property owners in Switzerland

The Federal Council had proposed obliging homeowners to pay into a national scheme that would fund reconstruction after a major quake.

The idea has been debated in Bern for decades, and more than 25 attempts have already failed.

Switzerland remains one of the few European countries where property owners have no obligatory cover for seismic damage.

Parts of Valais and Basel sit in higher-risk zones.

Anyone worried about a possible tremor will still need to arrange private cover of their own.

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