Romanian insurers paid EUR 33.3 million in claims during Q1 2026 for the repair of insured properties, according to official data published by the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) and quoted by UNSAR. The amount is approximately 19% higher y-o-y, reflecting both the rising costs of unforeseen events and the increasingly important role of insurance in protecting property.

Of the total claims paid, nearly EUR 8.8 million related to damage covered under voluntary home insurance policies, up 12% y-o-y. The figures highlight the significant financial impact of risks such as storms, fires, burst pipes and other unforeseen events, which can be more easily managed through voluntary home insurance.

At the same time, the level of home insurance protection continues to improve. At the end of Q1 2026, the number of voluntary home insurance policies was 9% higher than a year earlier. According to UNSAR, this means that around 160,000 additional homes are now protected by voluntary insurance compared with the first quarter of 2025 – equivalent to the entire housing stock of a medium-sized Romanian city.

"Every claim paid represents a family that was able to repair its home and return to normal after an unforeseen event. The increase in claims confirms that risks are occurring more frequently and are becoming increasingly costly, making the financial protection provided by insurance an essential element of every community's resilience," said Alexandru CIUNCAN, President & CEO of UNSAR.

Alina BARBULESCU, General Insurance Coordinator at UNSAR, added that most losses are caused not by spectacular disasters but by everyday incidents that can affect any home. "A burst pipe, a storm or a fire can turn a family's savings into unexpected expenses of tens or even hundreds of thousands of lei within just a few minutes," she said.

In Romania, voluntary home insurance can be purchased only for properties already covered by the mandatory PAD policy. Voluntary policies provide broader protection, covering the full value of the building and/or its contents against natural disasters as well as other risks, including fire, explosion, storms, falling objects, water damage caused by plumbing failures, heating system breakdowns and damage to electronic appliances.

UNSAR, the National Union of Insurance and Reinsurance Companies of Romania, represents 23 insurers accounting for more than 90% of the local insurance market. According to the association, insurers in Romania currently pay an average of EUR 7.5 million in claims every calendar day.