Welcome to your German apartment! As a renter, you know your landlord is responsible for the building—the walls, the windows, and the pipes.
But what protects your personal belongings? Your laptop, your furniture, your clothes, and all the valuables you brought to Germany?
The answer is Household Contents Insurance (Hausratversicherung). While not mandatory by law, it is considered essential for financial protection, and for many expats, it covers the most unexpected, high-cost risks of German apartment life.
Here is your complete guide to Hausratversicherung, explaining what it covers, what it doesn’t, and how to find the perfect policy.
I. What is Hausratversicherung? The Basics
Simply put, Hausratversicherung is insurance for everything you would take with you if you moved out.
It protects the movable contents of your home against financial loss or damage due to:
Fire (Brand)
Tap Water Damage (Leitungswasser)—e.g., burst pipes, leaking washing machine.
Storm and Hail (Sturm und Hagel)
Burglary (Einbruchdiebstahl) and Vandalism (after a break-in)
Theft (including robbery outside the home, depending on the policy)
The Golden Rule: New-for-Old Replacement
Unlike some liability policies, a good Hausratversicherung pays out the new replacement value (Neuwert) of the item. This means if your five-year-old laptop is stolen, the insurance gives you the money needed to buy a brand-new, equivalent laptop today, not just the depreciated used value.
II. The Critical Expat Benefits You Must Look For
For expats and renters, the real value of Hausratversicherung lies in its highly customizable add-ons and specific coverage for common German-tenant risks.
1. The Key Loss Confusion (Schlüsselverlust)
A common myth is that Private Liability Insurance (Haftpflicht) covers the cost of a locksmith when you lock yourself out. It does not.
Locked Yourself Out? If you simply leave your keys inside, Household Contents Insurance often covers the cost of calling a locksmith (Schlüsseldienst) to open your door. This coverage is a crucial feature to check for when comparing policies.
Lost the Master Key? If you lose the main building key, your Private Liability Insurance is what covers the catastrophic cost of replacing the entire master key system for the building (which can run into the thousands).
The Takeaway: You need a strong Private Liability policy (to cover the master key replacement) and a Hausrat policy that includes locksmith services (to cover accidental lock-outs).
2. Coverage for “Accidental Breaking” (Grober Fahrlässigkeit)
Expats often make innocent mistakes. Look for a policy that includes coverage for gross negligence (grober Fahrlässigkeit).
Example: You leave a window slightly ajar and a massive storm comes through, soaking your electronic devices. A basic policy might deny the claim. A comprehensive Hausrat policy that includes grober Fahrlässigkeit will cover the damage.
3. Bicycle Theft (Fahrraddiebstahl)
While not standard, most comparison tools will offer Bicycle Theft as an inexpensive add-on. This is highly recommended, especially in major cities.
Inside the Home: Your bike is covered by the basic policy if it’s stolen from your apartment or secured cellar.
Outside the Home: The add-on covers your bike when it’s locked and stolen from the street or outside a shop.
III. How to Calculate Your Coverage (Avoiding Underinsurance)
To ensure your insurer pays the full cost of a claim, you must avoid underinsurance (Unterversicherung). This means the total insured sum must accurately reflect the replacement cost of your belongings.
The simplest method used by most insurers is the Per-Square-Meter Flat Rate:
Example: For a 60 m² apartment, the recommended insured sum is 60 x €650 = €39,000.
By selecting this flat rate in the comparison tool, you generally receive a Waiver of Underinsurance (Unterversicherungsverzicht), meaning the insurer cannot reduce your payout based on claiming your sum was too low.
IV. Choosing the Best Hausratversicherung: A Checklist
Check Payout: Ensure the policy guarantees New Replacement Value (Neuwert).
Check Core Coverage: Confirm it covers the big four: Fire, Water, Storm/Hail, and Burglary.
Check Key Add-Ons: Look specifically for Locksmith services for lock-outs and Gross Negligence coverage.
Check Price: Policies for a standard apartment typically start from €4 to €7 per month.
ACTION STEP: Compare and Find Your Policy in 2 Minutes
The complexity of German tariffs is why a tool like Check24 is essential. You can filter hundreds of offers for the exact coverage you need (like gross negligence and locksmith services) at the best price.
