Household Insurance in Germany: Protect Your Belongings
From water damage in old apartments (Altbau) to bicycle theft on the streets. Insure your furniture, electronics, and valuables against fire, burglary, and storms. Get an English-friendly quote within 24 hours.
Why Expats Need Household Insurance "Hausratversicherung"
Water Damage
Many expats live in charming but old German apartments (Altbau). If a pipe bursts and destroys your MacBook, designer sofa, or expensive rug, your landlord's insurance will NOT pay for your belongings. You need your own coverage.
Bicycle Theft
Bicycle theft is practically a sport in German cities. With our recommended 'Bicycle Add-on,' your bike is covered 24/7, anywhere in the world—even if it's stolen from the train station, not just your basement.
Burglary & Fire
If your apartment is broken into or catches fire, replacing everything from your wardrobe to your TV can easily cost €20,000+. Household insurance often pays out the replacement value (Neuwerterstattung) so you can buy everything brand new.
⚠️ The Catch: You Can't Buy It After the Basement Floods
German insurance companies are strict: You cannot buy Household Insurance (Hausratversicherung) to replace your stolen bike or water-damaged MacBook after the incident has already happened.
- The “Prior Event” Rule: If your apartment is broken into tonight, or a building pipe bursts while you are at work, you cannot buy a policy tomorrow to cover the replacement costs. The claim will be rejected.
- Zero Landlord Liability: This is a huge shock for expats: If an old building water pipe bursts and destroys your expensive furniture or electronics, your landlord’s building insurance will not pay for your personal items. You are solely responsible for your own belongings.
- The “Underinsurance” Trap (Unterversicherung): Many expats guess the value of their belongings and insure them for too little just to save €1 a month. If you are 50% underinsured, the insurance will only pay out 50% of any claim. (We use your exact square meters to legally waive this clause for you).
For just a few euros a month, you can protect tens of thousands of euros in personal property. But the policy must be active before the storm hits or the thief strikes.
Skip the Bureaucracy. Get Your Free English Quote.
Fill out the quick form below. Our independent PerFinEx brokers will compare the German market and send you the best English-friendly options tailored to your needs within 24 hours.
Zero hidden fees, no obligation, and zero stress.
Your PerFinEx financial advisory team
Your Household Insurance advice
Personal finance in Germany can be difficult – especially as an expat with limited German language skills. We make your financial planning as easy as possible. All you need is a device that is connected to the internet to secure a free online meeting with us.
FAQ About Household Insurance In Germany
Would you like to check if your query has already been answered? Our FAQ about household insurance in Germany includes all the essential questions that you may be interested in.
Is Household Insurance the same as Liability Insurance?
No, this is the most common mix-up! Liability Insurance (Privathaftpflicht) pays if you accidentally damage someone else’s property or injure them. Household Insurance (Hausratversicherung) protects your own belongings inside your apartment against specific dangers like fire, tap water leaks, storms, and burglary. You usually need both for full protection in Germany.
If my bicycle is stolen on the street, is it covered?
Under a basic standard policy, your bike is usually only covered if it’s stolen from your locked apartment or locked private basement. However, if you select the “Bicycle Theft Cover” add-on in our form, your bike is covered 24/7, even if it is stolen from a public street or train station anywhere in the world. We highly recommend this for German cities!
Does it cover my laptop if I accidentally spill water on it?
Generally, no. Household insurance covers your items against external perils like a burst building pipe, fire, or burglary. It does not cover accidental damage that you cause to your own items (like dropping your phone or spilling coffee on your own laptop).
Will I get enough money to buy new furniture after a fire or water damage?
Yes, if you select it! German household insurance pays the “Replacement Value” (Neuwert). This means they don’t just pay what your 5-year-old sofa is worth today; they pay exactly what it costs to buy a brand-new sofa of the same quality. Plus, by using your exact square meters, we legally waive the “underinsurance” clause (Unterversicherungsverzicht), ensuring you get 100% of the payout without deductions.