Earthquake risk in Georgia
Hazard, building code and the questions to ask a developer.
Insuring the apartment. Read the exclusions before you compare prices.
In short
You insure an apartment in Georgia with a Georgian insurer licensed by the state insurance supervisor. Many policies cover the fabric and contents against fire and water, with liability cover for damage to neighbours. Earthquake is included, available for an extra premium or excluded, depending on the policy. If you buy with a mortgage, banks such as ProCredit Bank Georgia require a policy in their favour.
The three types of coverA building manager's policy insures the common property. Only its wording shows whether it also covers the inside of your flat and your liability to neighbours.
What to watch forCover
What you can insure.
Names vary between insurers. What matters is which perils the policy wording lists and which it excludes.
Apartment
Walls, floors, fittings.
- Fire
- fire, lightning, explosion, often in the basic cover
- Water
- escape of water and burst pipes, often with an excess
- Earthquake
- included, optional or excluded, depending on the policy
- Check
- whether your fit-out or only the shell is insured
Liability
Damage to others.
- Typical case
- water from your flat damaging the one below
- Common parts
- damage to corridors, facade or lifts
- Tenants
- whether damage caused by guests or tenants is covered
- Check
- limit of indemnity and excess
Contents
Furniture and appliances.
- Perils
- fire, water, burglary, depending on the wording
- Letting
- damage and theft by tenants often excluded
- Unoccupancy
- periods after which cover is suspended
- Check
- photographed inventory and receipts
We name no products and quote no premiums. The price depends on the insurer, the building, the location and the cover.
What matters
Six points before you buy cover.
A policy is only as good as its wording. Ask for the terms in writing before you sign, in English or translated.
Required or optional
Banks such as ProCredit Bank Georgia require a mortgaged flat to be insured in their favour as collateral and set minimum requirements for the policy. Without a loan, that condition falls away. Whether the purchase contract or house rules still require cover is something to check there.
The building's own policy
Some managers insure the common property: facade, roof, lifts and shared services. Ask for a copy of the policy and check which parts of the building and which kinds of damage it names.
Check home-country policies
Home insurance in the UK, Germany, Austria or Switzerland is tied to the address in the contract. Only your insurer can confirm whether a flat in Georgia falls under it. Ask in writing before relying on it.
Check the insurer
Insurers in Georgia need a licence from the Insurance State Supervision Service. The supervisor publishes the list of licensed insurers at insurance.gov.ge. Match the name on the policy against that list and the business register.
Read the exclusions
Look for exclusions covering earthquake, gradual damp and mould, damage by tenants, unoccupancy beyond a set period and unapproved alterations. Check too whether claims are settled at replacement or depreciated value, and how large the excess is.
When something happens
Policy terms set deadlines for notifying a claim. Photograph the damage, tell the manager and neighbours, and notify the insurer in writing. If you live abroad, give your property manager the authority to report claims in their power of attorney.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about insurance.
Obligations, earthquake, letting, home-country policies and choosing an insurer.
Do I have to insure my apartment in Georgia?
With a mortgage, expect it: ProCredit Bank Georgia, for example, requires the mortgaged property to be insured in its favour. Without a loan, that condition falls away. Whether the purchase contract or house rules require cover is something to check there, with your lawyer if in doubt.
Is earthquake included in Georgian home insurance?
It depends on the policy. Some include earthquake, others offer it for an extra premium or exclude it. Read the wording and look at the excess and the limit for this risk.
Does my UK home insurance cover a flat in Batumi?
Do not assume so. UK and other European home policies are tied to the address named in the contract. Only your insurer can confirm in writing whether a flat in Batumi is covered.
Is damage by tenants or holiday guests covered?
Often only partly. Many policies exclude damage by tenants or commercial letting. If you let the flat, tell the insurer before you buy cover and have it recorded in the policy.
How can I tell whether an insurer is licensed?
The Insurance State Supervision Service of Georgia publishes licensed insurers at insurance.gov.ge. Compare the name on the quote and policy exactly with that list.
Last reviewed on 2 November 2026. Sources: Insurance State Supervision Service of Georgia (insurance.gov.ge): list of licensed insurers, ProCredit Bank Georgia (procreditbank.ge): insurance of real estate pledged as loan collateral, minimum policy requirements, Law of Georgia on Homeowners' Associations No. 5277, Art. 5 (common property) (matsne.gov.ge). This guide is not legal or tax advice.
Read next
More on risks and obligations.
What is known about earthquakes in Georgia, what banks require for a mortgage and what holiday letting involves.
Get the wording, mark the exclusions.
Before buying, ask the manager which building policy exists. Then you know which gap your own policy has to fill.