Home Insurance and Home Security in Phuket

Which policy fits you

• Condo owner: the building usually has its own policy covering common areas and structure, so you generally need cover for your unit's interior and contents.
• House or villa owner: you insure the structure at rebuild cost plus the contents, and the structure is usually the larger part of the price.
• Tenant: your landlord's policy, if any, covers the building, not your belongings. A contents policy covers what you own.

Foreigners can buy home and condo insurance in Thailand, and policies are available in English from Thai insurers and brokers. Check what the landlord's or building's insurance already covers so that you do not pay twice.

What is usually covered, and what is not

• Usually included: fire, lightning, explosion, theft and burglary including damage to doors and windows, storm damage, and water damage from burst pipes.
• Often optional or excluded: flood. Flood cover is commonly sold as an add-on, and some policies exclude it unless you buy it.
• Items with limits: jewellery, cash and electronics may have per-item limits, and some require receipts or photos.
• Not usually covered: wear and tear, mould, gradual damage, and losses while the home is empty beyond a set number of days. Read the conditions for empty homes.

Our heavy rain and floods guide and the electricity and mould guide explain the risks that insurers focus on. Keep an inventory with photos and receipts, because claims need evidence.

What it costs

Guides quote entry-level condo or contents policies from roughly 3,000 to 6,000 baht a year, with larger contents or house policies higher, and flood add-ons from a few hundred to a couple of thousand baht a year. These are indicative, and the price depends on the sum insured, the location and the insurer.

Compare at least two quotes, check the excess, and ask how a claim is made, how long it takes and whether repairs use approved contractors.

Practical security

• Gated condos and estates provide baseline security with guards and CCTV in common areas, but still lock the door and the balcony.
• For a villa, guides recommend good deadbolts, visible CCTV, outdoor lighting and a good relationship with neighbours. A basic four-camera system is quoted at roughly 8,000 to 18,000 baht, and monitored alarms at about 600 to 1,200 baht a month.
• Do not leave valuables in view, and use a safe for your passport and spare cash.
• If you travel, ask a neighbour, caretaker or the household help to check the property, and see the household help guide.
• Keep keys and access cards under control, and change codes when staff or tenants change.

Opportunistic theft is reported as more common than violent break-ins. Visible deterrents and not advertising that a home is empty matter most.

If you have a loss

• Make the scene safe and do not throw away damaged items, because the insurer may want to see them.
• Report a theft to the police and get a written report. The legal help guide explains how to report a problem.
• Photograph everything, then contact the insurer straight away and ask what documents they need.
• Tell your landlord or the juristic person if the building is affected.

For fire or medical emergencies, use the numbers in the emergencies guide. If you are renting, the renting guide explains who is responsible for repairs.