Household Insurance

Household insurance Germany for expats usually means Hausratversicherung, the German form of home contents insurance. It protects movable belongings in your home against specified events. It is not the policy that insures the building itself, and it is not personal liability insurance for damage you cause to somebody else.

That distinction is easy to miss when English policy names are translated inconsistently. A tenant may need contents insurance for furniture, electronics and clothes, while the landlord or property owner arranges buildings insurance for the structure. Personal liability insurance addresses a different risk: justified third-party claims against you. Buying one does not automatically provide the other two.

This guide explains insured property and events, exclusions, insured sums and underinsurance, bicycles, valuables, natural hazards, moving, shared households, claims and comparison questions. It provides general information, not a recommendation or a promise that a particular loss will be paid. The schedule, product information document and Allgemeine Hausrat-Versicherungsbedingungen (VHB) of the chosen policy are decisive.

For a wider view of insurance, emergency reserves and long-term goals, read Finanz2Go’s essential guide to expat finance in Germany and its overview of financial consulting in Germany.

The short answer: what is Hausratversicherung?

Hausratversicherung insures the contents of the specified apartment or house. A practical test is to imagine turning the building upside down: items that would fall out are generally contents, while the walls, roof and permanently integrated building components are generally not. The test is only an illustration; fitted kitchens, tenant-installed fixtures, flooring and other borderline items must be checked against the definitions in the contract.

Germany’s financial supervisor, BaFin, describes home contents as movable items such as furniture, appliances, computers, clothing, books, valuables and cash. It also distinguishes contents cover from residential buildings insurance and notes that Hausratversicherung is relevant to residents, whereas buildings insurance concerns owners.[1]

Private household insurance is normally optional. Whether it is worthwhile depends less on the second-hand value of an old sofa than on the cost of replacing everything at once after a major fire or other total loss. An expat furnishing a temporary room may retain this risk more easily than a family with a complete household, home office equipment, sports gear and limited cash reserves.

Which property is normally insured?

A standard policy starts with household contents used for furnishing, use or consumption in the insured home. Depending on the wording, that commonly includes:

• furniture, rugs, curtains and lamps;
• clothing, shoes and ordinary personal effects;
• televisions, computers, phones, cameras and other electronics;
• kitchen equipment, household appliances, food and other consumables;
• books, toys, musical instruments and hobby equipment;
• bicycles within the insured location, subject to the theft rules discussed below;
• valuables such as jewellery, cash, securities, precious metals, art and certain antiques, but normally with special limits and security requirements; and
• property belonging to members of the insured household, if the contract includes those people.

The usual settlement basis is replacement value (Neuwert): the amount required to obtain an equivalent item of the same kind and quality in new condition, rather than what a used item might have fetched online immediately before the loss. Both BaFin and the German consumer centres describe replacement at new value as a core feature, although residual values, repair rules, deductibles and category limits can affect the actual payment.[1][2]

Cover may also include necessary claim-related expenses. Examples are debris removal, moving and protective costs, storage, guard services, lock replacement and limited hotel costs when an insured event makes the home uninhabitable. These benefits are not unlimited. Compare the duration, monetary cap, qualifying conditions and whether additional living costs beyond a hotel room are included.

Contents versus the building

A burst pipe can damage both a landlord’s wall and a tenant’s desk. The damaged desk may be a contents claim; the pipe, plaster or structural floor may fall under buildings insurance. Tenant-installed flooring, a fitted kitchen or fixtures can create grey areas. Do not assume that either insurer will automatically treat every item the way you do. Photograph installations, retain purchase documents and ask how the proposed wording classifies expensive fixtures.

Hausratversicherung also does not replace a landlord’s duty to repair defects or a tenant’s liability for causing damage. Several policies can become involved in one incident, each with a separate insured interest.

Which events are normally covered?

German household insurance is based on named perils, not a blanket promise to pay whenever property is lost or broken. A conventional core often covers:

Fire and related events

Fire cover commonly includes fire, direct lightning, explosion and implosion, with defined related events such as impact by aircraft. Smoke, soot and firefighting water can cause more damage than the flames and may be covered as consequences of the insured fire. Scorching without a qualifying fire, gradual heat exposure or damage from an internal electrical defect may be treated differently.

Escape of mains water

The relevant concept is usually Leitungswasser: water escaping contrary to its intended purpose from covered supply pipes, connected installations or specified appliances. A ruptured washing-machine hose may qualify. Rain entering an open window, groundwater, flooding or damp accumulating over months is not automatically “mains water” merely because the result is wet property. Frost damage also comes with duties to heat the home and drain systems where appropriate.

Burglary, robbery and vandalism after burglary

Burglary (Einbruchdiebstahl) normally requires the contractual signs of forced or otherwise defined unlawful entry. Robbery involves force or threat against a person. Vandalism following an insured break-in may also be covered. In contrast, simple theft—an unattended phone disappearing from a café table, for example—is generally not the same as burglary. Trick theft and unexplained disappearance may likewise fall outside basic cover. The consumer centres specifically distinguish insured burglary from ordinary theft.[2]

Storm and hail

Core cover normally includes storm and hail, but definitions matter. German terms commonly use a threshold for a storm; the consumer centre describes storm losses as those caused from wind force 8, while hail does not depend on the same wind threshold.[2] The causal chain still matters: a storm opening the roof and rain then damaging contents is different from heavy rain entering at ground level.

Optional extensions

Policies may add glass breakage, cyber assistance, appliance protection, simple theft from a garden, theft from a car, aquarium leakage, freezer contents or emergency home services. These features can be useful, but they should not distract from catastrophic exposures, adequate limits and clear core wording. Compare what activates the benefit, not just the label in a sales table.

Common exclusions and reasons a claim can be reduced

Typical exclusions or limitations can include:

• intentional damage caused by the policyholder;
• ordinary wear and tear, deterioration, corrosion, mould, pests or gradual moisture;
• simple theft, loss or mysterious disappearance without an insured event;
• construction defects and poor maintenance rather than resulting damage from an insured peril;
• groundwater, storm surge, flooding, sewer back-up, earthquake, subsidence, landslide, snow pressure or avalanche unless natural-hazards cover applies;
• war, civil unrest and nuclear risks under the contract’s definitions;
• business stock, professional equipment or property held for clients beyond small contractual allowances;
• vehicles or other specifically excluded property classes;
• data, licences, sentimental value and the cost of recreating digital files; and
• losses above sublimits for valuables, property outside the home, bicycles or claim expenses.

Exclusion lists vary. Read definitions together: an event may not be excluded expressly because it never enters the initial grant of cover.

Gross negligence (grobe Fahrlässigkeit) deserves special attention. Under section 81 of the German Insurance Contract Act, an insurer may reduce its payment proportionately to the severity of fault if the policyholder causes the insured event through gross negligence.[4] A tariff may waive this right fully or up to a stated amount, but the wording can retain exceptions. Check the limit and scope of any Verzicht auf den Einwand der groben Fahrlässigkeit. Leaving a candle unattended or a balcony door wide open can create a very different claim discussion from a loss despite ordinary care.

Policyholder duties matter before and after a loss. BaFin advises notifying the insurer about circumstances such as prolonged vacancy or scaffolding and taking precautions against frozen pipes.[1] The contract may also require approved locks, prompt repair of security defects, compliance with bicycle-lock rules or notification when the use of the home changes. A long trip, subletting, renovation or conversion to commercial use should prompt a wording check.

Insurance sums and underinsurance

The sum insured (Versicherungssumme) should reflect the replacement value of the whole household, not its purchase price years ago and not what the owner hopes to claim for one expensive item. Walk room by room and include cupboards, cellar storage, clothes, books, kitchenware, children’s belongings, sports equipment and small electronics. Individually modest objects can produce a surprisingly large total.

Under section 75 VVG, where the sum insured is materially below the insured value when the event occurs, the insurer is generally only obliged to pay in the same proportion.[3] In simplified terms, if contents worth €100,000 were insured for only €50,000, even a €20,000 partial loss could be reduced proportionately rather than paid in full. The exact result depends on the contract, legal requirements, deductibles and any agreed waiver of underinsurance.

There are two common approaches:

1. A detailed value calculation. You inventory the household and select a corresponding sum. It can be accurate but must be updated after major purchases, gifts, inheritance, moving or household growth.
2. A living-space model. The insurer uses a flat amount per square metre when the living area is declared correctly and may agree not to apply an underinsurance deduction. BaFin notes that insurers usually do not check underinsurance where the qualifying Wohnflächenmodell is used.[1]

A waiver is not an unlimited cheque. Maximum compensation can still be capped by the sum insured; valuables, bicycles and external cover may retain separate sublimits. Misstating the floor area or failing other requirements can jeopardise the protection. Confirm how balconies, cellars, lofts, sloping ceilings and shared rooms count toward the declared area.

Review the amount annually and after life events. Inflation and replacement prices can make an old sum inadequate even if you buy nothing new. Look for indexation or automatic adjustment, but verify what it changes.

Bicycles and e-bikes

Basic household cover commonly protects a bicycle at the insured location against the named perils. BaFin explains that bicycles are insured when they are in the home, a locked basement or garage, while theft away from the property normally requires an additional module.[1] That distinction is crucial for commuters.

For external bicycle theft, compare:

• the maximum amount per bike and per claim;
• whether the limit is a percentage of the contents sum or a fixed euro amount;
• requirements for attaching the bike to an immovable object;
• required lock type or minimum lock value;
• any night-time restriction and its exceptions;
• geographical scope and duration of cover outside Germany;
• proof of ownership, frame number and purchase receipt requirements;
• cover for accessories, child trailers and removable batteries; and
• whether vandalism, accidental damage, wear, racing or breakdown is included.

E-bikes need classification. A pedal-assist cycle within the relevant legal category may be treated as a bicycle, while faster vehicles subject to registration or compulsory insurance may be excluded from Hausrat cover. Ask the insurer using the exact model, assistance speed and technical specification rather than relying on the shop’s casual use of “e-bike.”

A valuable bike may justify a specialist policy, but compare overlap and exclusions. Two premiums do not mean two full payouts for the same loss.

Valuables, cash and collections

Jewellery, watches, precious metals, cash, certificates, art, coins and antiques can be included in the broad definition of household contents while remaining subject to strict sublimits. The consumer centre notes that valuables compensation is often limited to a percentage of the sum insured and that certain valuables may need secure storage such as a safe.[2] The percentage, euro ceiling and safe standard are contractual—not universal.

Prepare before a claim:

• create an inventory with photographs and distinguishing marks;
• store receipts, valuations, certificates and serial numbers securely away from the home or in encrypted cloud storage;
• obtain updated professional valuations where market value changes materially;
• ask whether collections are valued item by item or as a whole;
• check limits both inside and outside an approved safe; and
• disclose unusual concentrations of value when the application asks for them.

Replacement-value language does not remove the need to prove ownership and amount. Sentimental attachment is generally not an insurable monetary value. If a category limit is too low, ask about an endorsement, higher tariff or specialist cover.

Natural hazards: Elementarschäden are usually an add-on

A standard reference to “storm cover” should not be mistaken for broad flood protection. Heavy rain, river flooding, groundwater, back-up from sewers, earthquake, subsidence, landslide, snow pressure, avalanche and volcanic eruption are commonly addressed through an optional natural-hazards extension (Elementarschadenversicherung or erweiterte Naturgefahrenversicherung).

BaFin states that natural-disaster cover is generally available as an addition to contents insurance and that premiums reflect local risk.[1] The consumer centres list flooding, back-up, earthquake, subsidence, landslide, snow pressure, avalanche and volcanic eruption as events associated with this extension and emphasise checking that heavy rain is included.[2]

Compare more than “flood: yes.” Important details include waiting periods, deductibles, risk-zone pricing, backflow-valve duties, basement-storage requirements, flood-proofing obligations and how surface water must enter the building. Cover may be valuable even away from a river because intense rainfall can overwhelm drainage locally. For property owners, remember that a contents extension protects belongings, not the building; the building needs its own corresponding review.

Moving home and external cover

A move changes the insured location, floor area, postcode risk and security profile. Notify the insurer no later than the time required by the contract and provide the new address, living area, occupancy and move dates.

BaFin says that when moving within Germany the contract transfers to the new home and that both homes are usually covered during a transitional period of about two months; the old location then drops out.[1] “Usually” is not a substitute for checking your own policy. Verify when the overlap starts, what counts as the beginning or completion of the move, whether transport damage is covered and whether the insurer recalculates the premium.

A move abroad is different. Territorial scope, the insurer’s willingness to continue the contract, cancellation rights and local insurance requirements must be checked before departure. Ordinary Außenversicherung (external cover) is generally temporary protection for contents away from the insured home under defined circumstances; it should not be assumed to cover a permanent relocation, indefinite storage or a second residence.

Couples, families and shared households

One home does not always mean one clearly insured group. A family tariff may include a spouse, registered partner or children under its definitions. Unmarried partners, adult children, subtenants, au pairs and unrelated flatmates may require closer attention.

In a Wohngemeinschaft (WG), establish:

• who is the policyholder and who qualifies as an insured person;
• whether all residents’ belongings are covered or only the policyholder’s;
• whether bedrooms are treated as part of one household or separate units;
• whether locked individual rooms affect the burglary definition;
• how shared spaces, cellars and bicycles are handled;
• who must report changes when a flatmate moves in or out; and
• whose conduct can affect a claim.

Do not presume a flatmate’s policy covers your laptop simply because both are in the same apartment. Obtain written confirmation or maintain separate cover where appropriate.

When partners move in together, duplicate policies can arise. BaFin explains that the newer contract can generally be terminated while the older contract is adjusted to the shared home.[1] Compare both contracts before deciding which to keep: the older policy is not necessarily the better one. Coordinate cancellation dates, insured people, sum, address and valuables limits so there is no gap.

Household structure also affects broader planning. Finanz2Go’s guide to choosing an expat financial advisor in Germany can help frame insurance decisions alongside cash flow and cross-border goals, although personalised coverage advice requires the appropriate regulated scope.

How to make a household insurance claim

Safety comes first. Call emergency services when necessary and do not enter an unsafe building. Then take reasonable steps to prevent further damage without putting anyone at risk: shut off water after a pipe burst, arrange an emergency board-up or move undamaged contents away from water. Keep evidence of emergency expenditure.

Use this practical sequence:

1. Notify the insurer promptly. Use its emergency line or claim portal and record the claim number, time and contact person.
2. Report crimes to the police. Burglary, robbery or theft generally requires a police report. Obtain the reference number and provide a complete stolen-property list within the required deadline.
3. Document the scene. Take wide and close photographs or video before cleaning. Record forced-entry marks, water paths, damaged rooms and individual items.
4. Limit further loss. Follow reasonable instructions from emergency services and the insurer. Do not make permanent repairs or discard evidence prematurely unless safety or loss mitigation demands it.
5. Prepare the inventory. List item, brand, model, serial number, purchase date, original price, estimated replacement cost and damage. Attach receipts, bank statements, photographs, manuals and valuations where available.
6. Preserve damaged property. Let the insurer inspect it or obtain permission before disposal. Keep samples where full retention is impossible.
7. Communicate accurately. Answer relevant questions completely, distinguish facts from estimates and keep copies of every submission.
8. Check the settlement. Compare accepted items, replacement basis, residual-value deductions, deductible, underinsurance calculation and sublimits with the wording.

BaFin instructs policyholders to inform the insurer immediately, provide requested information, report burglary to the police and take steps to minimise damage.[1] Failing contractual duties can reduce or defeat a claim depending on the circumstances. If settlement is disputed, ask for the decision and contractual basis in writing. Complaint processes, an insurance ombudsman, consumer advice or legal advice may be appropriate; BaFin can supervise and process complaints but does not enforce an individual claimant’s private rights.[1]

Comparison checklist for expats

Do not compare household insurance in Germany for expats by monthly premium alone. Request the product information document, schedule and full terms, then check:

People and location

• Is every relevant resident insured by name or definition?
• Is the address, floor area, cellar, garage, outbuilding and secondary accommodation handled correctly?
• What must be reported for subletting, vacancy, renovations, scaffolding or a home office?
• Is English-language service available, and are the binding terms still German?

Core cover

• Which exact events count as fire, mains water, burglary, robbery, vandalism, storm and hail?
• Does smoke, scorching, power surge or water from aquariums and waterbeds require an extension?
• What limits apply to hotel, storage, clean-up, locks and emergency measures?
• Is damage caused through gross negligence covered, and to what amount?

Sum and limits

• Is the sum based on a correct inventory or a compliant square-metre model?
• Does the insurer waive underinsurance deductions, under which conditions?
• How are inflation and increases in value addressed?
• What percentage and euro limits apply to cash, jewellery, art, documents and collections?
• Which items must be kept in a certified safe?

Mobility and special property

• Is bicycle theft away from home included, and what lock, time, location and evidence rules apply?
• How are e-bikes, work devices, musical instruments and sports gear classified?
• How broad is temporary external cover, including travel outside Germany?
• What happens during a move, at a second home or when leaving Germany permanently?

Natural hazards, price and administration

• Are flooding, heavy rain and sewer back-up included through an Elementarschäden module?
• What prevention duties, waiting period and deductible apply?
• Is the deductible per event, per item or per cause?
• How long is the contract, when does it renew and what is the cancellation deadline?
• Can premiums change after moving, indexation or claims?
• How are claims submitted and what evidence is expected?

A useful policy is one whose major scenarios you can explain before buying. Translate unfamiliar terms, but retain the original German wording when asking questions so that important legal distinctions are not lost.

Frequently asked questions

Is household insurance mandatory in Germany?

No. Private Hausratversicherung is generally optional. A landlord may recommend it, but that does not make it a statutory obligation. Decide based on the replacement cost of your possessions, your emergency savings and the terms available.

Is Hausratversicherung the same as personal liability insurance?

No. Household insurance protects specified belongings against covered events. Personal liability insurance addresses covered third-party claims alleging that you caused injury or property damage. Buildings insurance protects the structure. One incident can involve several policies, but they are not substitutes.

Does household insurance cover my landlord’s furniture?

Possibly, depending on ownership, the rental arrangement and policy definition. A furnished apartment can contain the landlord’s contents, your contents and structural fixtures. Ask the insurer and landlord who insures which property, and record the inventory at handover.

Does it cover a stolen phone or laptop outside my home?

Not automatically. Basic burglary cover is not ordinary theft cover. Temporary external cover may respond only when an otherwise insured peril occurs, and separate extensions may have narrow rules. Check the theft mechanism, place, duration and sublimit.

Is my bicycle insured at the train station?

Only if the policy includes suitable external bicycle-theft cover and you meet its security requirements. Basic contents cover often protects bikes against named perils at the insured location, not simple theft at a station. Check the approved lock, anchoring requirement, time limits and payout cap.

Does standard Hausratversicherung cover flooding?

Usually not as part of the conventional core. Flooding, heavy rain and sewer back-up generally require an Elementarschäden or extended-natural-hazards module. Storm and hail wording should not be read as universal flood cover.

What happens if my insurance sum is too low?

A materially low sum can lead to a proportional reduction, including on a partial loss.[3] A qualifying square-metre calculation with an underinsurance waiver may protect against that specific deduction, but separate maximums and sublimits remain. Update the policy after moving and major purchases.

Are roommates covered under one policy?

Not necessarily. Coverage depends on the definition of insured persons and household. Unrelated flatmates should not rely on assumption; ask for written confirmation and ensure the sum includes all property that is intended to be insured.

What happens to the policy when I move?

For a move within Germany, cover commonly transfers to the new home, with temporary overlap for both addresses. Notify the insurer promptly and confirm dates, new floor area, premium and sum. International moves need a separate territorial and cancellation review.

Will the insurer always pay the new price?

Replacement value is the normal starting point for covered contents, but settlement remains subject to proof, repair provisions, residual values, deductible, the sum insured, underinsurance and category limits. Uninsured events and excluded property receive no payment merely because replacement-value language appears in the policy.

How can expats prepare before a claim?

Keep a dated photo inventory, receipts, serial numbers, valuations and policy documents in secure cloud storage. Learn the insurer’s emergency process, record the police reporting requirement and update values after major purchases. Good records cannot create cover, but they can make ownership and amount easier to demonstrate.

Final perspective

Household insurance Germany for expats is most useful when it is treated as a contract for severe, defined property losses—not as a maintenance plan or a guarantee against every mishap. Start with the true replacement cost of the household. Then test core perils, underinsurance protection, gross-negligence wording, valuables and bicycle limits, natural-hazards cover, shared-household definitions and mobility rules against your real life.

The right comparison is therefore not “Which policy is cheapest?” but “Which wording protects the losses I cannot comfortably absorb, with duties and limits I understand?” Review the answer after moving, combining households, buying an expensive bicycle, inheriting valuables or changing how the home is used.

Sources

[1] https://www.bafin.de/EN/verbraucherinnen-verbraucher/themen-finanzprodukte/versicherungen/hausratversicherung/hausratversicherung_node_en.html — BaFin: Home contents insurance [2] https://www.verbraucherzentrale.de/wissen/geld-versicherungen/weitere-versicherungen/hausratversicherung-auf-den-wert-der-einrichtung-kommts-an-13889 — Verbraucherzentrale: Hausratversicherung [3] https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/vvg_2008/__75.html — German Insurance Contract Act (VVG), section 75 [4] https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/vvg_2008/__81.html — German Insurance Contract Act (VVG), section 81

Official sources and further reading

• BaFin: Household contents insurance
• BaFin: Insurance consumer information

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