Contents insurance in Germany: what it pays and how much cover you need
What household contents insurance actually pays for, how to arrive at a realistic sum insured, and when it's worth adding natural hazards cover.
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Contents (Hausrat) are, put simply, the movable things in your home. What matters is whether you could afford to replace everything yourself after a fire, water damage or a burglary.
In short: Contents insurance (Hausratversicherung) replaces furniture, clothing, electronics and other movable items at new value if they are destroyed or stolen by fire, burst pipes, storm, hail or burglary. It is worth it if you could not afford to buy all your belongings again out of your own pocket. The key points are a sufficient sum insured with a waiver of underinsurance and, depending on where you live, natural hazard cover.
What counts as contents – and what belongs to the building
| Item | Insured under |
|---|---|
| Furniture, clothing, electronics, books, household appliances | Contents |
| Cash, jewellery and other valuables | Contents – only up to special limits |
| Kitchen or flooring installed by the tenant | Contents |
| Built-in kitchen, windows, heating in your own house | Buildings insurance |
| Bicycle in a locked cellar | Contents; theft while out only with a bicycle module |
| Car and car accessories | Not under contents – under car insurance |
Which perils it covers
- Fire: fire, lightning, explosion – power surges caused by lightning usually only in extended policies.
- Burst pipes: water from burst pipes, the heating system or a washing machine hose.
- Storm and hail: usually from wind force 8.
- Burglary, robbery and vandalism after a break-in. Simple theft without a break-in, for example from an open courtyard, is usually not covered.
How to set the sum insured
The sum insured should match the new value of all your contents – the amount you would need to buy everything again. Many policies offer a flat rate per square metre of living space, often €650. If you choose at least this amount, the insurer waives the objection of underinsurance.
Without this waiver, it can get expensive: if your contents are worth €40,000 but only insured for €30,000, you are 25 % underinsured. The insurer will then only pay 75 %, even for partial damage – €4,000 of damage becomes €3,000 in compensation. If your furnishings are valuable, an inventory list with photos and receipts is worth it.
Local risk
Whether the natural hazards module (Elementarschutz) is offered, and at what price, also depends on where your home is. Our regional pages (in German) show which natural hazards matter in your district or city, for example for Bremen, Hamburg, the district of Leer and Frankfurt am Main.
What to check in the policy
- Gross negligence: If you leave a candle unattended or a window tilted open, the insurer may reduce the payout (section 81 VVG). Good policies waive this reduction.
- Cover away from home: Contents are also insured temporarily outside your home, for example in a hotel – usually limited to part of the sum insured.
- Valuables: Separate, often low limits apply to cash, jewellery and securities. Check that they match what you own.
- Bicycle theft: For theft while out and about you usually need an add-on. For expensive bikes and e-bikes, check the compensation limit.
- Moving house: When you move, cover usually applies in both homes for a transition period. Report your new address and living space in good time – more in our guide to moving house.
If you are moving into your own place for the first time, our guide to your first flat shows the right order for your insurance. Compare policies in the comparison.
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Frequently asked questions
What does household contents insurance pay for?
Household contents insurance (Hausrat) usually replaces movable furnishings, everyday items and consumables if they are destroyed, damaged or stolen as a result of an insured peril. The usual standard includes fire, escaping water from pipes, storm and hail, and burglary. It normally pays the new-for-old value, i.e. the cost of buying equivalent items.
How high should the sum insured be?
The sum should match the value of all your household contents; many policies therefore use a flat amount per square metre of living space together with a waiver of the underinsurance clause. If the sum is set too low, the insurer can reduce its payment proportionally. An inventory list with photos helps you estimate the value realistically.
Are natural hazards covered automatically?
Usually not. Damage from flooding, heavy rain, sewage backflow, landslides or snow load is generally only covered with the natural hazards add-on (Elementarschäden). Whether the add-on is offered and what it costs depends, among other things, on the risk level at your address; check the terms and the excess.
Do I need contents insurance?
It is not compulsory. It makes sense if you could not replace your belongings from your own funds after a fire, water damage or burglary. Someone with only a few inexpensive possessions can carry the risk more easily than a family with a fully furnished home.
What is the waiver of underinsurance?
If you set the sum insured using the policy's flat rate per square metre, the insurer waives its right to reduce the payout because the sum is too low. Without this waiver, even partial damage is only compensated proportionally if you are underinsured.
Is my bicycle covered by contents insurance?
In a locked cellar or in your flat it usually is, if it is stolen in a burglary. For theft while you are out, for example at the station, you normally need a bicycle module. Check the compensation limit, especially for e-bikes.