Hausratversicherung in English: home contents insurance

Updated:
05.10.2026

Hausratversicherung – home contents insurance. It protects your belongings against fire, water escaping from pipes, storm and hail, burglary and robbery; flooding and heavy rain are only covered with a separate natural hazards module. The policy pays out when furnishings, electronics, furniture, clothing or other personal belongings are damaged, destroyed or stolen.

What does the insurance cover?

Insurance covers not only what is inside your flat/house, but also what is on your property. Therefore, electric vehicle charging points (wallboxes), garden tools and equipment, etc. can also be insured.

Fires and explosions – compensation if items are damaged by fire, lightning or explosion.
Burglary – if someone has broken into the flat or basement and stolen valuables.
Water damage – for example, if a pipe bursts or the neighbours upstairs flood your flat.
Natural hazards – storm and hail.
Vandalism – if the property is damaged intentionally.

Additional options:
Bicycle insurance against theft.
Protection against pickpocketing away from home (for example, if someone discreetly takes your wallet out of your backpack on the street).
Glass insurance.
Other natural phenomena — earthquakes, floods, avalanches, landslides, etc.

Not covered:
Normal wear and tear of items. Insurance covers sudden damage, not gradual deterioration.
Theft without signs of forced entry. Simple theft (Einfacher Diebstahl) is not covered: if the thief entered through an unlocked door or an open window, it is not burglary (Einbruchdiebstahl).
Gross negligence — in part. Ordinary carelessness is covered in full. In the case of gross negligence, the insurer may reduce the payout in proportion to the degree of fault (§ 81 para. 2 VVG), in extreme cases down to nothing. Look for a clause in the policy terms where the insurer waives this right.
Natural phenomena, except storms and hail. Flood, heavy rain, backflow, landslide, earthquake, snow pressure – available only with a separate module.
War, terrorism, nuclear disasters.

Tariff comparison

The sum insured is calculated individually, based on the living area. You can adjust the tariff to your needs, for example by adding cover for natural hazards or an excess that lowers the premium. Natural wear and tear, however, is not covered. Payouts are capped at the sum insured, so estimate the value of your belongings correctly, otherwise you risk being underinsured.

We have picked two offers for you, and one of them already includes bicycle theft cover. For the bicycle cover to apply, the bike must be locked with a good-quality lock (and keep the purchase documents for the bike showing its make and frame number) – rules vary from insurer to insurer.

Tariff: Einfach Komplett

Tariff: Privat-Schutz komfort

Insured risks

Fire, burglary, robbery, vandalism, escape of water (water damage), storm and hail.

Insured risks

Fire, burglary, robbery, vandalism, escape of water (water damage), storm and hail.

Jewellery and watches

Cash (outside the safe)

Bicycle theft (including e-bikes)

Glass insurance (hobs, aquariums, terrariums, etc.)

Cover outside the home (pickpocketing)

Price

Modern 70 sq. m apartment in risk zone I-V, policyholder aged 35, sum insured €45,500, without additional options and excess

€55.98 - €154.83 a year

Price

Modern 70 sq. m apartment in risk zone I-V, policyholder aged 35, sum insured €45,500, without additional options and excess

€109.39 - €208.66 a year

Find out more about glass breakage insurance (Glasbruch) and its types in our article

More details

Sum insured: the main mistake when taking out a policy

Industry benchmark: 650 euros per square metre of living space. For an 80 m² flat, this is 52,000 euros. The figure looks rough, but it is precisely this that most insurers base their calculations on.

Why understating the amount is dangerous. If the sum insured is significantly lower than the actual value of the property, the rule of proportional indemnity (§ 75 VVG) applies: the payout is reduced in the same proportion.

Indicator	Example
Real value of the property	€100,000
Sum insured in the policy	€50,000
Damage	€10,000
Payment	€5,000 — half, because half is insured

Please note: underinsurance hits every claim, not only a total loss. This is the most frequent reason for dissatisfaction with the payout.

What protects against this. The clause Unterversicherungsverzicht (waiver of underinsurance) — the insurer’s agreement not to check for underinsurance. When calculating by square metres, this is usually included in the contract automatically. Check that it is there: without it, an error in valuing your belongings costs money with every claim.

A separate point is the basis of settlement: under § 88 VVG, the default is the current value less depreciation. Replacement on a new-for-old basis (Neuwert) must be expressly agreed in the contract. In practice, home contents insurance is almost always taken out on a new-for-old basis — but it is worth checking the policy rather than assuming.

Limits that people find out about too late

Category	Typical limit	What is important
Valuables jewellery, gold, cash, securities, furs, handmade carpets, antiques over 100 years old	usually 20 to 25 per cent of the sum insured per claim	Within this allowance, separate sub-limits apply — for cash, for example, they are noticeably lower. Keeping the items in a certified safe increases the limit
Bicycle	usually up to 2 per cent of the sum insured	Only theft from the flat or a locked basement is covered. Theft from the street only with a separate clause (Fahrradklausel). Keep the purchase documents for the bike showing its make and frame number
Things outside the flat Außenversicherung (cover away from home)	all over the world, as a rule up to 3 months	Separate limits apply, often noticeably lower than the main amount. Useful for students and business trips
Mains voltage surge	standalone module	Usually not included in the basic coverage. Relevant if you have expensive equipment.

Practical conclusion: if you have jewellery, a collection or an expensive bicycle, you need to calculate the limits prior to signing, rather than after the theft.

Natural phenomena: why a storm is covered, but a downpour isn’t

This is the most common misunderstanding. The distinction is drawn as follows:

In the basic cover: storm and hail. A storm means wind of at least Force 8 on the Beaufort scale – from 62 km/h. During hail, wind speed does not matter.
Only with a separate module (Elementarschäden – natural hazards): flood, torrential rain, sewer backup, landslide, land subsidence, earthquake, snow load, avalanches, volcanic eruption.

Usually, you cannot select just one hazard from this list – the module can only be added as a whole.

Two conditions that are rarely warned about

Rückstau (sewage backflow). If there is no working non-return valve in the house, there may be no coverage even when the module is included. The valve must be installed and kept in working order, and the discharge pipes on the property kept clear.
Groundwater from below. If water has not come to the surface, but has risen up the basement masonry, this is not an insured event, even with the module. Cover only applies if water reaches the surface and enters the house from there.

Risk areas and compulsory insurance

Insurers assess the address using the ZÜRS zoning system — four classes based on the statistical frequency of floods:

Class	Meaning
4	Flooding statistically at least once every 10 years. Premiums are high, often with a large excess, and refusal is possible
3	Once every 10–100 years
2	Less frequently than once every 100 years
1	According to current data, not affected by flooding from large bodies of water

The two high-risk zones account for about 1.5 per cent of buildings in the country. According to consumer magazine surveys, the surcharge for the module varies across a huge range – from a few per cent to several times the premium, depending on the address and the insurer.

On compulsory natural disaster insurance. As of October 2026 there is no such law. The coalition agreement sets out the intention to require insurers to offer new building insurance policies only with this cover and to extend existing policies over time. On 23 September 2026, Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig announced that the key points of the reform (Eckpunkte) are ready and being agreed within the government; according to the GDV, a draft bill (Referentenentwurf) is expected in the first quarter of 2027. The industry association does not want a direct obligation; it wants the cover included automatically, with the right to actively opt out. For now this is a debate, not a binding rule: today only about 59 per cent of residential buildings are insured against natural hazards such as flooding.

Gross negligence: what really won’t be paid out

The wording “damage caused by one’s own negligence is not covered” is inaccurate and misleading. The law distinguishes between three situations:

Situation	Consequence	Legal basis
Ordinary carelessness	Payment in full	—
Gross negligence	The insurer may reduce the payout in proportion to the degree of fault, in extreme cases down to nothing	§ 81 Abs. 2 VVG
Intent	No payout	§ 81 Abs. 1 VVG

Typical examples of gross negligence: a stove left on, an unlocked balcony door while shopping, an unattended candle.

What to look for in the tariff: a clause in which the insurer waives the right to invoke gross negligence (Verzicht auf die Einrede der groben Fahrlässigkeit), valid up to the full sum insured. Some tariffs limit such a waiver to a small amount — this is a significant difference that hardly affects the premium.

Policyholder’s obligations: where payouts are lost

Report any increase in risk (§ 23 VVG). A classic example: scaffolding at the house. If you do not report it, the payout will be cut in the event of a theft via the scaffolding. Insurers typically limit scaffolding coverage to two months.
Prolonged absence. The threshold after which a dwelling is considered unattended is specified in the conditions: typically 6 weeks to 3 months. Exceeding this without notification is a change in risk.
Consequences of breach (§ 28 VVG): in case of intent, the insurer is fully released; in case of gross negligence, it reduces the payout proportionally. If the breach did not affect the occurrence of damage or the amount of the payout, the compensation remains unchanged — this is important protection.
Mitigate loss (§ 82 VVG). Reasonable costs of doing so are reimbursed, but only proportionally if you are underinsured.

What to do immediately after a break-in

Call the police immediately and notify the insurer.
Do not remove anything until inspection — break-in traces are evidence.
Prepare a list of stolen items (Stehlgutliste) and submit it to both the police and the insurer. Value is stated at replacement cost.
Attach receipts, photographs, warranty cards, serial numbers. An inventory list with photos prepared in advance saves weeks of correspondence.
Costs for cleaning, temporarily securing the premises, lock replacement and accommodation are usually covered within limits — keep receipts.

Moving and contract termination

Situation	Rule
Moving house	Cover applies to both flats, but coverage for the old one ends no later than 2 months from the start of the move. Notify the insurer of the new address and area in advance
The old flat is kept as a second home	Coverage for the new apartment does not transfer automatically — a separate policy is needed
Ordinary termination	Usually 3 months before the end of the policy year (§ 11 VVG). A contract for more than 3 years may be terminated at the end of the third and each subsequent year
After a claim	Either party may terminate — but only within one month after completion of settlement negotiations (§ 92 VVG)
When premium increases	If the premium is increased without expanded coverage — termination within a month from receipt of notice (§ 40 VVG). The insurer must point out this right
Change of rating zone during relocation	If the premium increased — declaration no later than one month after the bill with the increased premium

What else to read

Buildings insurance — for owners: covers the building itself, not contents
Private liability insurance — damage caused by you to others
Glasbruch (Glass Breakage) Insurance
Bicycle insurance — if the policy limit is insufficient
Smartphone and tablet insurance
Kaution: rental deposit

Sources

§ 75 VVG — proportional compensation in case of underinsurance: gesetze-im-internet.de
§ 88 VVG — insurance value: gesetze-im-internet.de
§ 81 VVG — intentional acts and gross negligence: gesetze-im-internet.de
§ 23 VVG – increase in risk: gesetze-im-internet.de
§ 28 VVG — consequences of breach of obligations: gesetze-im-internet.de
§ 82 VVG – duty to minimise damage: gesetze-im-internet.de
§ 11 VVG — contract term and termination: gesetze-im-internet.de
§ 40 VVG – cancellation if premiums increase: gesetze-im-internet.de
§ 92 VVG — termination after a claim: gesetze-im-internet.de
Verbraucherzentrale — home contents insurance and natural disasters: verbraucherzentrale.de
GDV — natural risks statistics and ZÜRS system: gdv.de

Frequently asked questions about Hausratversicherung

What is Hausratversicherung, in simple terms?

It covers the things in your flat: furniture, electronics, clothes, crockery and, up to set limits, jewellery and cash. A simple way to picture it: turn your flat upside down, and everything that falls out is Hausrat (household contents). The policy pays out for fire, burst pipes, storm and hail, burglary, robbery and vandalism after a break-in, usually at the cost of buying new. Walls, windows and bathroom fittings are not included; the owner of the building insures those. According to GDV (German Insurance Association) data for 2023, about 78 per cent of households in Germany have this cover.

What is Hausratversicherung in English?

Home contents insurance, or in everyday British usage simply contents insurance; the GDV (German Insurance Association) uses household contents insurance in its English texts. The confusion starts with “home insurance”: in the UK the term covers both contents and buildings insurance, while in Germany the building is insured under a separate contract, the Wohngebäudeversicherung (buildings insurance). In the US, the comparable policy for tenants is called renters insurance, but it also includes personal liability, which in Germany is a separate policy, the Privathaftpflicht (personal liability insurance). When writing to a German insurer, it is safest to use the German word Hausratversicherung.

When does Hausratversicherung pay out, and when doesn’t it?

It pays when your belongings are damaged by an insured risk: fire, water from pipes, storm from force 8 on the Beaufort scale (62 km/h), hail, burglary or robbery. It does not pay for simple theft without a break-in, for example when a thief walks in through an unlocked door. Flooding, heavy rain and sewer backflow are only covered with the Elementarschäden (natural hazards) module. Leaving home with the hob switched on counts as gross negligence, and the insurer may cut the payout (§ 81 VVG). Another common reason for a low payout is a sum insured that is too low without an Unterversicherungsverzicht (waiver of underinsurance): the loss is then only paid in proportion.

Which insurance pays if something is stolen?

That depends on how it was stolen. A break-in at your flat or locked cellar, or robbery with force or threats, is paid by the Hausratversicherung (home contents insurance), usually at the cost of buying new. Most tariffs don’t cover pickpocketing or things taken through an unlocked door: that is einfacher Diebstahl (simple theft). A bike stolen from the street is only covered with a Fahrradklausel (bicycle clause), and items taken from a car that was broken into only if your policy includes it. Report a theft to the police and the insurer straight away and send both a list of the stolen items. According to the GDV (German Insurance Association), the average insured loss per burglary in 2025 was 3,850 euros.

Do I need Hausratversicherung if I rent my flat?

No law requires it, but your landlord’s buildings insurance does not protect your belongings: it covers the walls, roof and pipes. The landlord can usually pass its premium on to you through the Nebenkosten (service charges), by the way. A tenant’s furniture, electronics and clothes are only covered by their own Hausrat (home contents insurance). If you damage the flat or the neighbours’ flat below through your own fault, the Privathaftpflicht (personal liability insurance) usually pays, and if you can only afford one policy, I would start with that one. Hausrat makes sense once your belongings are worth more than you could replace in one go.

How much does Hausratversicherung cost?

The premium depends on the sum insured, and that usually depends on your living space: 650 euros per square metre, so 39,000 euros for 60 m². After that, the price moves with your address (usually higher in big cities than in the countryside), the construction class of the building, the excess and add-ons such as Elementarschäden (natural hazards) or bicycle cover. As a market guide: in 2024 insurers took 3.7 billion euros in Hausrat (home contents) premiums from 27.3 million policies, according to the GDV (German Insurance Association), an average of about 136 euros a year before insurance tax. The price for your address comes from the calculator in the tariff comparison above.

Is Hausratversicherung compulsory?

No, this is voluntary insurance, but in many cases it is highly recommended. If you need help choosing the right policy, please send us an enquiry using the form below, and we will find the best cover for you.