Contents insurance (Hausratversicherung) protects the things in your home. Your household contents include, for example, furniture, clothes, dishes, books, computers and TVs. If these things are damaged or stolen because of fire, water from a broken pipe, a storm, hail or a burglary, the insurance pays. Contents insurance is voluntary in Germany. No law requires it. But it makes sense for anyone who lives in their own flat or room and whose belongings are worth a lot altogether. Important: this insurance only pays for your own things. Damage you cause to other people is covered by personal liability insurance (private Haftpflichtversicherung). These are two different types of insurance.
What you need
- The address of your flat. The insurance applies to a specific flat.
- The size of the flat in square metres. This number is usually in your rental contract (Mietvertrag).
- A list of your belongings with their approximate value. Make a note of particularly expensive items such as a laptop, jewellery or a bicycle.
- A bank account. Many insurers collect the premium by SEPA direct debit. The premium (Beitrag) is the price you pay for the insurance. SEPA direct debit (SEPA-Lastschrift) means the money is taken from your account automatically. You can read more about this under Opening a bank account.
- Your personal details such as your name, date of birth and an email address.
- Information about previous claims, if the insurer asks for it.
Step by step
- Check whether you are already insured. Insurance from your home country usually does not cover a flat in Germany. If in doubt, ask your current insurer.
- Estimate the value of your household contents. Ask yourself: how much money would you need to buy all your things new? This figure is the sum insured (Versicherungssumme). It is the maximum amount the insurer pays in the event of a claim. Contents insurance usually pays the replacement value (Neuwert). This means you get money to buy a new item of the same quality.
- Watch out for underinsurance. Underinsurance (Unterversicherung) means your sum insured is too low. In that case, the insurer often pays only part of the damage. Many insurers offer a waiver of underinsurance (Unterversicherungsverzicht). This means the insurer does not check the sum if you insure a certain amount per square metre. Ask about it.
- Choose the risks. Fire, tap water (from pipes), burglary, robbery, storm and hail are almost always covered. Things that are often only covered for an extra charge include natural hazards (Elementarschäden) (damage caused by nature, such as floods or heavy rain), bicycle theft and damage caused by gross negligence (grobe Fahrlässigkeit). Gross negligence means you were very careless, for example you left a candle burning and went out of the flat.
- Decide on the excess. The excess (Selbstbeteiligung) is the part of the damage you pay yourself. With an excess, the premium is usually lower.
- Compare several offers. Look not only at the price but also at what is covered. Read the insurance terms and conditions (Versicherungsbedingungen). These are the rules of your contract.
- Sign the contract. You can do this online, by post or in an office. Afterwards you receive the insurance certificate (Versicherungsschein), also called the policy (Police). This is the document that confirms your contract. Keep it in a safe place.
- Take photos of your belongings. Also keep your receipts. This will help you prove a loss later.
Costs and deadlines
Costs: The premium depends on several things, for example where you live, the size of the flat, the sum insured, the excess and any extra cover. In cities with many burglaries the premium is often higher. There are no fixed prices.
Right of withdrawal: After signing, you have a right of withdrawal (Widerrufsrecht). This means you can cancel the contract without giving a reason. The deadline is 14 days. It usually starts when you have received all the contract documents.
Contract term and cancellation: Many contracts run for one year and then renew automatically. The notice period (Kündigungsfrist) is how long before the end of the contract you have to cancel. It is stated in your contract. Read this part carefully.
Reporting a claim: Report any damage to the insurer immediately. In the case of a burglary, call the police first. The insurer usually asks for a list of the stolen items, which you also give to the police. Duties like these are called obligations (Obliegenheiten). If you do not fulfil them, the insurer may pay less or nothing at all.
Common problems for newcomers
No Schufa record yet: Schufa collects data on whether people pay their bills. For contents insurance, a long Schufa history is usually not necessary. However, some insurers still check. If your application is rejected, try another insurer. You can find more information under Understanding and building your Schufa.
No registered address yet: The insurer needs the address of the flat to be insured. You can often sign the contract as soon as you have your rental contract. Still, register your address at the citizens' office (Bürgeramt) soon. You can find out how under Registering your address.
Little German: The contract documents are usually in German. Ask the insurer whether explanations are available in other languages. Bring someone who speaks good German to any meeting. Do not sign anything you do not understand. You can get independent advice from the consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale) in your federal state. This advice often costs something.
Shared flat or furnished room: In a shared flat (Wohngemeinschaft, WG), several people who are not family live together. Here it is often unclear whose belongings are insured. Clarify this with the insurer. Furniture that belongs to the landlord is not part of your household contents.
Short stay: If you are only staying in Germany for a limited time, ask about the contract term and cancellation. You can find information about your stay under Clarifying your residence permit.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to have contents insurance?
No. Contents insurance is voluntary. Whether it is worth it for you depends on the value of your belongings.
Does contents insurance pay if water leaks into the flat below me?
For your own things, yes, if the water comes from a pipe. Contents insurance does not pay for damage to your neighbours' flat. That is covered by liability insurance if you caused the damage.
Is my bicycle insured?
A bicycle inside your locked flat is usually insured. Theft on the street is often only covered with an add-on. Ask about this before you sign.
What happens if I move?
Tell your insurer about the move before you move. The insurance usually moves with you to the new flat. The premium may change because the flat is bigger or in a different location.
Are my belongings also insured outside the flat?
Many contracts also protect your things when they are somewhere else for a short time, for example on a trip. This usually only applies for a limited time and up to a limited amount. The details are in your insurance terms and conditions.