# Buildings insurance Source: https://contracko.com/glossary/buildings-insurance # Buildings insurance Cover for physical damage to a building from risks such as fire, storm and water. ## Definition Buildings insurance covers physical damage to immovable property and its fixtures from insured perils such as fire, storm, water and vandalism. In the Netherlands it is arranged on a reinstatement-value basis. Property owners, landlords and mortgage lenders rely on it, and commercial leases commonly specify which party must arrange and pay for buildings cover as opposed to contents cover. ## Example > After a storm tears off part of a warehouse roof, the buildings insurer pays the reinstatement cost of the structure. ## Why this is a business risk Under-insurance is a material risk: if the insured sum is set below the actual reinstatement value, the insurer applies a proportional reduction to every claim. Businesses that occupy premises under a commercial lease need to understand precisely which party the contract places the insurance obligation on, as a gap in cover between landlord and tenant can leave both parties exposed after a fire or flood. Accumulated improvements and fit-out works by tenants are frequently not covered by a landlord's policy unless expressly stated. ## How to manage it - Obtain a professional reinstatement-value survey periodically, particularly after major works or rising construction costs, to avoid under-insurance. - Read your commercial lease carefully to confirm which party is obligated to arrange buildings cover and what the minimum policy terms must be. - As a tenant, check whether improvements and fit-out works you have made are covered by the landlord's policy or whether you need separate tenant's improvements insurance. - Ensure that a mortgage lender's interest is noted on the policy, as most commercial mortgages require this as a condition of the facility. ### How Contracko helps Contracko stores commercial lease agreements and other property contracts in a searchable repository, with obligation tracking that highlights which party bears the insurance duty and when renewals are due. Expiry reminders prevent the situation where a buildings policy lapses unnoticed between landlord and tenant. ## Legal references - [BW 7:925 Dutch Civil Code: insurance contract Dutch law](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005290) Unless marked otherwise, references are to Dutch law (Burgerlijk Wetboek, the Dutch Civil Code); EU instruments such as the GDPR apply across the EU. This is general information, not legal advice. Other jurisdictions treat these concepts differently. Verify the current text and your situation with a qualified lawyer. ## Relevant for [Commercial Real Estate](https://contracko.com/industries/commercial-real-estate)[Property Management](https://contracko.com/industries/property-management)[Construction](https://contracko.com/industries/construction-industry)[Logistics & Distribution](https://contracko.com/industries/logistics) ## Related clauses - [Insurance Obligation Clause](https://contracko.com/clause-library/insurance-obligation) ## Related terms - [Commercial lease](https://contracko.com/glossary/commercial-lease) - [Public/general liability insurance](https://contracko.com/glossary/public-liability-insurance) - [Motor vehicle insurance](https://contracko.com/glossary/motor-vehicle-insurance) ### Never miss a contract deadline again - AI finds renewal and notice dates - Risks and obligations are surfaced automatically - Reminders help you act before dates slip Drop a contract to start PDF, DOCX, PNG, or JPG [Start 7-day trial](https://app.contracko.com/register?appLanguage=en&utm_source=glossary_sidebar&utm_medium=lead_magnet&utm_campaign=glossary_sidebar_contract_upload&content_slug=buildings-insurance&content_title=Buildings+insurance&cta_placement=glossary_sidebar_cta&source_tool=glossary_sidebar_buildings-insurance) GDPR compliant. Encrypted. Never used for AI training. ## Frequently asked questions Common questions about this term. - **Q:** Who is responsible for buildings insurance in a commercial lease: landlord or tenant? **A:** In most Dutch commercial leases based on the ROZ model, the landlord arranges buildings insurance and the tenant pays a proportion via the service costs. However, the lease terms govern: always check which party bears the obligation and whether the tenant's improvements are covered. - **Q:** What is reinstatement value and why does it differ from market value? **A:** Reinstatement value is the cost of rebuilding the structure to the same specification as if new, using current labour and material costs. It is often higher than market value (which reflects location and demand) and lower than a premium valuation. Buildings insurance must be based on reinstatement value to avoid under-insurance. - **Q:** Does a buildings policy cover loss of rent after a fire? **A:** Not as standard, but loss-of-rent cover is frequently available as a standard extension. For landlords with commercial tenants, it protects against the rental income lost while a building is unoccupied due to an insured event. - **Q:** What happens if the insured sum is too low? **A:** If the property is under-insured, the insurer applies the "proportional rule" (evenredigheidsbeginsel): the claim is reduced in the same proportion as the under-insurance. For example, if a building is insured for 80 percent of its true reinstatement value, only 80 percent of any claim is paid. - **Q:** Does buildings insurance cover contents such as machinery or stock? **A:** No. Buildings insurance covers the structure and permanently attached fixtures. Contents such as machinery, equipment, furniture and stock are covered by a separate business contents (inventaris) insurance. In a commercial lease, the tenant typically arranges contents cover for their own assets. ## See these terms in your own contracts Upload a contract and Contracko pulls out the key terms, dates and obligations, then reminds you before each one matters. [Start 7-day free trial](https://app.contracko.com/register?appLanguage=en) Book demo