Hi,

I have recently agreed to sublet a furnished apartment in Zurich. In case of fire/flood/theft/whatever of the tenant’s furniture, who is liable to pay?

I ask this question because I am about to get household insurance and I am not sure whether I should insure only my own possessions or my possessions + the tenant’s furniture.

Sha

If they have contents cover...their policy, unless it was damage from say you or another party. I take it you are leaving some of your possessions in there too?

On a similar note, I have also agreed to sublet an apartment and the tenant has asked me to get insurance that would cover her furniture. Is this common? I have renters insurance based in the US that covers all of my possessions both there and here plus liability, but I don't think it would cover someone else's property.

It's a great place so I'm happy to buy Swiss insurance, too, but just wanted to check in case it should be her insurance that would pay for her property, if something awful happened like, say a fire in the building. Of course if I happen to break something I'd replace it.

Contents insurance covers what you own. I rent out an unfurnished house, so I insure it only for the land and buildings. I live in a rented flat that I furnish, so I cover only my furniture and other possessions.

Where you could be liable for damage to her furniture from water, for instance, is if you actually do something that causes damage whereby a flood results. That's where 3rd party liability insurance comes in, which I think one should always have.