Survey: families with children live in 26% of uninsured homes

When thinking about home safety, Latvian residents consider fires and water leaks to be the most significant risks, according to a public survey* conducted by BTA Baltic Insurance Company AAS (hereinafter – BTA). At the same time, 28% of people indicated that the house or apartment in which they currently live is not insured. In addition, 26% of households living in uninsured homes are families with children under the age of 18. Oskars Zvejnieks, Director of the Risk Underwriting Department at BTA, explains that this is a paradox – although people are aware of how devastating various accidents can be, causing enormous losses, many still live with the conviction that "nothing will happen to me," exposing themselves and their families to a significant financial blow. 

According to the survey data, in most cases (57%), residents are most concerned about the risks posed by fires. In turn, 43% of respondents are most concerned about water leaks, which can be caused, for example, by burst pipes or damaged household appliances. This is followed by storms and weather damage (23%), damage caused by neighbours (17%) and theft (13%). 

One in four uninsured homes is occupied by families with children 

At the same time, when asked about home insurance, 28% of respondents indicated that the house or apartment in which they currently live is not insured. The picture is even more alarming among families with children – 26% of households with children under the age of 18 live in uninsured homes, which means that almost one in four families with children is exposed to a significant financial shock as a result of a potential accident. Given that families with children tend to have higher daily expenses and find it more difficult to build up savings, this situation significantly increases the risk that the consequences of a fire, water leak, or other serious accident could affect not only the home, but also the family's overall well-being and security in the long term. 

"These figures actually mean that for a significant proportion of the population, including families with children, financial security in the event of an accident will depend entirely on their own savings or other sources of income. In practice, we see that even relatively minor accidents, such as water leaks or household fires, can cause losses amounting to several thousand or even tens of thousands of euros. Without insurance, this is a serious blow to the family budget, which often affects not only daily expenses, but also the ability to provide for children's needs and future plans," explains Oskars Zvejnieks, Director of the Risk Underwriting Department at BTA. 

Most uninsured properties – in Latgale and Kurzeme 

According to the results of the BTA survey, looking at the regions of Latvia, the highest proportion of uninsured properties is in Latgale, where 35.5% of homes are not insured. A similar situation can be observed in Kurzeme, where 35.3% of properties are uninsured. In Zemgale, 32.2% of homes are uninsured, while in Vidzeme the figure is 27.7%. The situation is relatively better in Riga, where 22.6% of homes are uninsured, but this still means that more than one in five residents of the capital live without financial protection. 

"The regional breakdown clearly shows that outside Riga, home insurance is still not seen as a standard safety practice. At the same time, it should be noted that private homes and rural properties are often exposed to greater risks, such as natural disasters, which can be caused by trees broken by storms, large hailstones, heavy rain, and wind. If such property is not insured, even a single serious incident can cause a financial burden that is very difficult for residents to cover from their own funds and savings," explains Oskars Zvejnieks. 

9% of people do not know whether their home is insured 

Although 63% of respondents indicated that their home is insured, the data also reveals that 9% of respondents do not know whether their house or apartment is insured. This shows that some residents still do not have a clear understanding of insurance. Such uncertainty can be crucial when an accident occurs, because without an understanding of the policy coverage, conditions, and actions to take in an emergency, insurance may not meet expectations or even be used to its full potential. 

"Uncertainty about insurance often goes hand in hand with a lack of understanding of whether and what exactly is insured, what risks are covered, and what to do after an accident. In practice, this means that insurance is often perceived as a formality rather than a clear and understandable agreement designed to help restore property and cover related costs after an accident. For example, there are still many people whose property is insured due to mortgage requirements, choosing the minimum coverage. Other residents, on the other hand, have insured their property but not their movable property, which includes, for example, household appliances, sports equipment, furniture, and other valuable items," adds Oskars Zvejnieks. 

In his opinion, insurers themselves also play an important role in educating the public, promoting the understanding that, just as with physical security, for example, by installing security systems, surveillance cameras, secure doors, and sturdy fences, it is also necessary to invest in financial security. This also includes explaining what to pay attention to in insurance terms and conditions, what is and is not included in insurance coverage, what information is needed for the insurer to prepare an appropriate policy, etc. However, it is equally important for people to participate by providing the insurer with as much information as possible about their home and asking as many questions as possible about the risks that concern them.

 *The survey was conducted in January 2026 by BTA and the research agency Norstat Latvija, with the participation of 1,000 Latvian residents aged 18 to 74.