How contents insurance works in Germany

In Germany, a home burglary is reported roughly every six minutes. The average claim — laptops, cameras, jewellery, bikes — is the highest it has been in 20 years. And that is before you count water damage, which quietly costs German insurers more than burglary every single year.

Contents insurance (Hausratversicherung) is the policy that pays out in all of those scenarios. It is not legally required, but around three-quarters of German households carry it because the alternative is replacing your entire flat out of pocket.

This guide is written for expats in Germany: renters, homeowners, freelancers, students, and anyone who has tried to decode Unterversicherungsverzicht on a policy document written in 14-point legalese.

In this guide, you'll learn:

• The 2024 burglary and claims numbers in Germany — from official sources
• What contents insurance actually covers (and the four categories of exclusions that catch expats off guard)
• The €650/m² rule and why ignoring it can cut your payout in half
• Why the gross-negligence (grobe Fahrlässigkeit) waiver is non-negotiable
• Whether you also need personal liability insurance (Haftpflicht) — with a 7-scenario comparison table
• How to file a burglary claim the right way, including the one document expats most often miss
• How to keep your coverage when you move apartments, and how to cancel when you leave Germany

Contents insurance is one of the most common types of insurance in Germany, alongside personal liability and health. Here is everything you need to know in 2026.

Burglary in Germany: the 2024 numbers

Before diving into policy mechanics, it is worth understanding the risk these policies are built to cover. Germany's insurance association (GDV) publishes annual claims data based on what insurers actually paid out:

• ~90,000 insured home burglaries were reported in 2024 — roughly one every six minutes.
• €350 million was paid out for burglaries in 2024, up €20 million on the previous year.
• The average burglary claim hit €3,800 — the highest figure in 20 years, up from €3,600 in 2023.
• Smartphones, cameras and laptops are what thieves take most often, according to the GDV.

The Federal Criminal Police Office's Polizeiliche Kriminalstatistik 2024 tells a similar story on the enforcement side: burglary remains one of the most-reported property crimes in Germany, with clearance rates well below 20%.

Water damage (Leitungswasser) is the quieter risk. It is the single largest claim category in Hausrat year on year — burst pipes, leaking washing machines and overflowing bathtubs. You will rarely see water damage in headlines, but statistically you are more likely to file a water claim than a burglary claim.

This is the baseline that contents insurance is priced around.

What is contents insurance?

Contents insurance (Hausratversicherung) is a policy that protects the movable items inside your home — furniture, electronics, clothing, jewellery, kitchenware, appliances, bicycles — against a defined list of risks: fire, water damage, theft and burglary, storm, hail, and vandalism.

Two distinctions matter from day one:

1. Contents insurance ≠ building insurance. Contents insurance covers everything you would take with you if you moved. Building insurance (Wohngebäudeversicherung) covers the structure itself — walls, roof, permanently installed kitchens, built-in bathrooms. If you rent, you do not need building insurance; your landlord has it. If you own, you need both.
2. Contents insurance ≠ personal liability insurance. Hausrat covers your stuff when something happens to it. Haftpflicht covers other people's stuff (or people) when something happens because of you. We cover the difference in depth below — it's the single most-confused point in German insurance.

If you're completely new to the concept, our shorter overview of what household contents insurance is is the best starting point.

Who needs contents insurance in Germany?

Contents insurance is not legally mandatory in Germany — no one will stop you renting or buying a home without it. But it is strongly recommended for:

• Renters. Your landlord's building insurance does not cover a single item that belongs to you. If the flat burns down, the walls get rebuilt; your laptop, furniture and wardrobe are on you.
• Homeowners. Building insurance covers the structure; everything inside is on you unless you add contents cover.
• Freelancers and self-employed people working from home. Your work laptop, monitor, camera, instruments and tools are typically considered private contents — not business equipment. They belong on your Hausrat policy (with agreed sublimits).
• Families and people with high-value belongings. The higher the replacement cost of everything you own, the bigger the financial gap if something goes wrong.
• Expats in shared flats (WG). Your items are covered, not your flatmates'. Each person needs their own policy unless you are in a registered partnership or marriage at the same address.

For the full cost-benefit breakdown — including how payouts compare to annual premiums across thousands of real claims — see our deep dive on whether contents insurance is actually worth it.

What does contents insurance cover?

Standard German Hausrat policies cover a defined list of perils, plus a standard list of item categories, plus a set of sublimits for higher-value categories. Understanding all three is how you avoid an underpaid claim.

Perils covered (the events that trigger a payout)

• Fire, lightning, explosion, and implosion — including smoke damage and short-circuit damage in some tariffs.
• Water damage (Leitungswasser) — burst pipes, leaking supply lines, washing machine overflows, bathtub floods. See our water damage guide for how claims are processed.
• Theft and burglary (Einbruchdiebstahl) — items stolen after someone forces entry into your home.
• Robbery (Raub) — items taken from you with force or threat of force.
• Storm, hail, and heavy rain — damage caused by wind force 8 or above.
• Vandalism in connection with a burglary — damage deliberately caused by the intruder.

Optional (paid) add-ons usually available:

• Elemental damage (flood, earthquake, landslide, snow pressure)
• Bike theft outdoors (Fahrraddiebstahl)
• Glass breakage (Glasbruch)
• Gross negligence (grobe Fahrlässigkeit) — covered in its own section below

What's in the box: the item categories

German insurers define "contents" (Hausrat) as essentially everything movable inside the four walls of your home. This includes:

• Furniture and furnishings
• Electronics, appliances, and entertainment equipment
• Clothing and personal effects
• Kitchenware, cookware, and crockery
• Art, books, and collectibles
• Musical instruments and sporting goods
• Jewellery, watches, cash, and valuables (with sublimits — see below)
• Bicycles (with a separate sublimit; outdoor theft usually needs an add-on)
• Tools and garden equipment
• Food and consumables

The Wertsachen (valuables) 20–25% sublimit

This is the first place most expats' mental model of "it's all covered" breaks down.

German policies cap payouts for "valuables" — Wertsachen — at a percentage of the total sum insured, typically 20–25%. Inside that cap, there are usually stricter sub-caps for specific categories.

Standard Wertsachen treatment:

Worked example: If your sum insured is €50,000 and Wertsachen are capped at 20%, the maximum your insurer will pay for jewellery, cash and similar items combined is €10,000 — even if the stolen items were worth more. If you own more than that in valuables, either increase your sum insured or add a Wertsachen upgrade. The Verbraucherzentrale has a plain-language explainer of how sublimits work.

Außenversicherung: coverage outside your home

Contents insurance does not stop at your front door. Außenversicherung (outside insurance) extends your cover to items you take with you — laptop, camera, suitcase, jewellery — typically up to 10–15% of your total sum insured (some tariffs push this to 25% for extended trips).

There are two nuances:

• Duration limit. Items are usually covered for up to 3 months outside the home, after which the insurer may consider your "centre of life" to have moved.
• Mode of loss matters. Theft from a locked car or hotel room is usually covered; items simply lost or left unattended are not.

Three scenarios:

1. Laptop stolen from a café in Berlin. Covered under Außenversicherung, up to your 10–15% cap. Most thefts in public require a police report for the insurer to pay.
2. Phone pickpocketed on the U-Bahn. Classic Außenversicherung claim. The key is proving the theft — which usually means a police report filed within 24 hours.
3. Luggage stolen during a Lisbon holiday. Covered, within the duration and percentage caps, provided the stay is temporary and your primary residence is still in Germany.

Rebuilding and moving costs

Most comprehensive tariffs also cover:

• Temporary accommodation if your flat is uninhabitable after an insured event (typically capped at 6–12 months of rent).
• Removal of debris and rebuilding of kitchen units, wardrobes and parquet fitted by you.
• Moving expenses up to a fixed amount (e.g. €5,000 on Feather policies) if you have to relocate after an insured event.

What's excluded

Standard German contents insurance policies contain four categories of exclusion. Understanding them is how you avoid the frustrating "but I thought that was covered" conversation with your claims adjuster.

1. Wear, tear, and mechanical breakdown

If your washing machine simply dies after eight years of use, that is a maintenance issue — not an insurable event. Contents insurance pays for sudden, accidental damage, not gradual deterioration or end-of-life appliance failure.

2. Events usually handled by a different policy

• Damage you cause to someone else's property or person is covered by personal liability insurance, not Hausrat.
• Damage to the building structure itself is covered by the landlord's or owner's building insurance.
• Motor vehicles, motorbikes and caravans are covered by specialist vehicle policies.
• Business equipment used primarily for work may need commercial cover; check with your insurer if you're a freelancer storing valuable professional equipment.

3. Gross negligence (without a waiver)

If you leave your front door unlocked, leave a candle burning unattended, or leave your window wide open during a thunderstorm, the insurer can reduce the payout — in some cases down to zero — on the grounds of grobe Fahrlässigkeit. The waiver for this is covered in its own section below; it is the single most important policy feature to look for.

4. Specific situations that void coverage

• Unoccupied home over 30 days. Most insurers treat a home unoccupied for 30+ consecutive days as "leerstehend". If you're leaving for longer — for an extended trip, a secondment or a family emergency — you must notify the insurer in writing. Failing to do so can void the claim.
• Intentional acts by the policyholder or anyone in their household.
• Damage from war, civil unrest, or nuclear events — standard across all property insurance.
• Pet damage — your cat scratching the sofa is not an insurable event.

How payouts work: Neuwert vs Zeitwert

This is the single biggest policy-shopping decision in German Hausrat, and it changes what you actually receive after a claim.

Neuwert (new-for-old / replacement cost)

The insurer pays what it costs today to buy an equivalent new item. A five-year-old €2,000 laptop that is now sold for €1,400 as a current model? You get €1,400.

• Standard in most mid- and premium-tier tariffs
• Essential for most expats — electronics and appliances depreciate quickly
• Slightly higher premium

Zeitwert (current/indemnity value)

The insurer pays what the item was worth just before the loss — replacement cost minus depreciation. A five-year-old laptop might be paid out at €400 even if replacing it costs €1,400.

• Usually only cheaper tariffs or specific item categories (e.g. very old fashion items)
• Typically only triggered when an item's Zeitwert has fallen below 40% of Neuwert (the "40% rule")
• Makes low-depreciation items (furniture, some jewellery) a better proposition than high-depreciation ones (electronics)

Practical recommendation: Default to Neuwert. The premium difference is small; the claim difference can be hundreds or thousands of euros per item.

The deductible (Selbstbeteiligung)

Most contents policies let you choose a deductible — usually €150, €250, €500, or none — which reduces your monthly premium in exchange for paying the first portion of any claim out of pocket. €150 is a common default.

The €650/m² rule: avoiding underinsurance

This is the most important concept in German Hausrat and the single most common reason expat claims get reduced. It's also the concept that English-language expat guides tend to gloss over.

The rule

German insurers use a standard benchmark to calculate how much your contents are worth: €650 per square metre of living space. Some premium tariffs use €700–€750/m². Multiply by your apartment's size to get the recommended sum insured.

The calculator

Why it matters: Unterversicherung

If your sum insured is below the €650/m² benchmark, the insurer considers you underinsured (unterversichert). When you file a claim, they apply a simple ratio:

payout = actual damage × (sum insured ÷ correct sum insured)

Worked example. You insure a 70 m² flat for €20,000 instead of the recommended €45,500. A burglar steals €10,000 worth of electronics. At claim time, the insurer calculates: €10,000 × (€20,000 ÷ €45,500) = €4,396 payout. You eat the remaining €5,604.

The fix: Unterversicherungsverzicht

Most mid- and premium-tier tariffs (including Feather's) include an Unterversicherungsverzicht — an underinsurance waiver. If your sum insured meets the €650/m² benchmark, the insurer waives the underinsurance check entirely. No more pro-rata cuts.

Finanztip has a detailed German-language explainer if you want to go deeper, but the practical advice is simple: set your sum insured at or above €650/m², and confirm that your tariff includes the Unterversicherungsverzicht in writing.

Grobe Fahrlässigkeit: why the gross-negligence waiver matters

Under the German Insurance Contract Act (VVG), your insurer is allowed to reduce the payout — proportionally to the severity of your negligence, up to 100% — if a loss results from grobe Fahrlässigkeit (gross negligence).

Stiftung Warentest, Germany's consumer-testing authority, only recommends contents tariffs that waive gross negligence in full. This is the single most important policy feature to look for.

Three scenarios where the waiver saves you

1. Window left open during a storm. Rain damages your parquet floor and your TV. Without the waiver, the insurer can classify this as grobe Fahrlässigkeit and reduce the payout significantly.
2. Pan left on a hot stove. You pop out for five minutes; the pan catches fire; the kitchen burns. Without the waiver, expect a reduced payout.
3. Front door left unlocked for a short trip. Burglar walks in. Without the waiver, the insurer may reduce your claim by 30–50% or more.

When comparing policies, confirm: does the tariff include grobe Fahrlässigkeit bis zur Versicherungssumme (waiver up to the sum insured)? If not, keep looking. The premium difference is usually €1–€2/month.

Bike theft (Fahrraddiebstahl): inside vs outside cover

Bikes are a special case in German Hausrat, and expats often misread the default coverage.

Standard coverage (included)

Your base Hausrat policy covers bike theft only when the bike is stolen from inside a locked space you control — your apartment, your Keller (basement storage unit), or a locked garage. Theft from a communal hallway without a locked door? Usually not covered.

Outdoor bike theft: the Fahrraddiebstahl add-on

Bike theft outside your home — from a bike rack at a café, outside the supermarket, at the train station — is not covered by default. You need the Fahrraddiebstahl-Zusatzbaustein add-on, typically an extra €1–€2 per month.

What the add-on usually requires

• The bike must be locked with a lock the insurer considers adequate (typically a hardened chain or U-lock, sometimes with a minimum purchase price specified).
• The bike must be locked to a fixed object.
• You must file a police report within 24–48 hours of discovering the theft.
• Outdoor theft at night (often 22:00–06:00) may be excluded unless the bike is in "ongoing use" (e.g. you stopped for dinner on a ride).
• Coverage is capped — typically at 1% of the total sum insured (so €500 on a €50,000 policy) unless you upgrade.

If cycling is core to your life, dedicated bike insurance is worth comparing. Our bike insurance Germany guide and best bike insurance providers break down the trade-offs.

Key loss: what Hausrat covers vs what Haftpflicht covers

Losing your keys in Germany can cost you anywhere from €100 to €10,000+ depending on which keys you lost and which policy is responsible. It is the classic trap.

The nuclear scenario: you lose the master key to your apartment building. In Germany, that can mean replacing every lock and issuing every tenant a new key — €10,000 or more. That cost is not an insured event under Hausrat. It is covered under your personal liability (Haftpflicht) policy, and specifically under its Schlüsselverlust (key loss) extension, which most modern Haftpflicht policies include as standard.

Practical takeaway: check that your liability policy's key-loss cover goes up to at least €50,000, and that it covers privately owned AND rented (fremde) keys.

Do I also need Haftpflicht? (Hausrat vs Haftpflicht explained)

Short answer: yes. They are different products doing different jobs, and roughly 85% of German adults have Haftpflicht for a reason — it's the single most recommended insurance in Germany.

Think of it this way: Hausrat protects your things from accidents and crime. Haftpflicht protects you from being sued when you accidentally damage someone else.

If you don't already have liability cover, start with our guide to how personal liability insurance works in Germany, check whether liability insurance is worth it, and compare providers in our best liability insurance in Germany roundup.

How much does contents insurance cost in Germany?

Contents insurance is one of the cheapest policies in the German market — but prices for the exact same coverage vary by a factor of six between providers.

The price band

Basic contents insurance for a single-person apartment typically runs €2–€12.50 per month. Feather's household insurance starts at €2.33 per month. The spread depends on your postcode, sum insured, risk factors (discussed below) and chosen add-ons.

The eye-opening data point: in its 2024 test, Stiftung Warentest compared 260 tariffs across 89 providers. For identical coverage on a reference flat, the cheapest comprehensive tariff cost around €38/year; the most expensive, around €240/year. Six times the price for the same policy. Always compare before committing.

Three-city sample: a 70 m² apartment

Approximate monthly premiums for a 70 m² apartment with a €45,500 sum insured, Unterversicherungsverzicht, gross-negligence waiver and a €150 deductible:

Rates in smaller cities and rural areas are typically lower. Digital insurers (Feather, GetSafe, Luko and similar) are usually among the lowest-priced options for comparable coverage.

What moves the price

• Postcode (Zonen). Insurers rate every postcode by historical burglary frequency. Central Berlin and Frankfurt cost more than rural Bavaria.
• Sum insured. Directly proportional — more insured value = higher premium.
• Type of home. Apartments, single-family houses, and WGs are rated differently.
• Security features. Reinforced doors, window locks, alarm systems can reduce premiums by 5–15%.
• Prior claims. Multiple recent claims raise your premium; no claims in several years can qualify you for a no-claims discount.
• Add-ons. Bike theft, elemental damage, and elevated Wertsachen caps each add to the base premium.
• Deductible. Opting for a €150 or €500 deductible reduces monthly cost.

Price-check before you buy

• Use a comparison portal (Check24, Verivox) or an independent broker to benchmark.
• Get a quote from at least one digital insurer and one traditional insurer.
• Confirm the tariff includes Unterversicherungsverzicht + grobe Fahrlässigkeit waiver — without those two, the "cheap" policy isn't really the same product.

Already know you want to buy? Our roundup of the best contents insurance providers in Germany for 2026 compares Feather, AXA, Gothaer and Ammerländer on coverage quality, price, and claims handling.

How to file a claim: step-by-step (especially burglary)

A claim that's paid quickly and in full almost always looks the same: fast action, complete documentation, and no missing paperwork. A claim that gets reduced or delayed is almost always missing one of the items below.

Step 1 — Secure the property

After a burglary, secure the home first. Call a locksmith to replace broken locks (keep the invoice — this is often reimbursable under your policy). Do not throw away damaged items yet; the insurer may want to see them.

Step 2 — File a police report within 24–48 hours

A police report (Strafanzeige) is required for every theft, burglary, or robbery claim. Without it, no insurer will process the claim.

Critical detail most expats miss: ask for and keep the full Anzeige document (Vorgangsnummer + detailed report), not just the case number. Insurers regularly ask for the complete document before releasing payment, and some police stations send it by post, which can delay claims by weeks if you don't follow up.

In most cities, you can file the report online via the state police's Online-Wache portal.

Step 3 — Make an inventory list

Write down everything that was stolen or damaged, with:

• Make, model, and serial number where applicable
• Estimated purchase date and purchase price
• Photos of the items (originals if possible, reference images if not)
• Receipts, invoices, bank statements showing the purchase where available

This is the stage where having taken a quick video tour of your flat every 12 months pays for itself — it gives you a documented "before" state the insurer can compare against.

Step 4 — Notify your insurer immediately

Most insurers require notification within 7 days of discovering the damage. Many digital insurers (including Feather) accept claims via app or web form with photo uploads. Include:

• The police report number and, as soon as available, the full Anzeige
• Your inventory list
• Photos of damage and point of entry (for burglaries)

Step 5 — Respond to documentation requests

Expect the insurer to come back with follow-up questions, often within 3–5 business days. Respond quickly. The majority of claim delays come from slow back-and-forth, not from insurers dragging their feet.

Step 6 — Payout

Straightforward, well-documented claims are typically paid within 2–4 weeks. Complex or contested claims (high-value items without receipts, disputed inventory, gross-negligence review) can stretch to several months.

Do I pay my deductible if the burglar is caught?

Yes. Your deductible is the amount you agreed to cover regardless of outcome. Even if police recover and return your items, your deductible still applies to any related costs (lock replacement, temporary accommodation, cleanup). If the burglar is criminally convicted and ordered to pay restitution, the insurer — not you — typically recovers that money, since they paid the claim.

Moving apartments: does my Hausrat follow me?

Yes — but you need to tell your insurer. Three things matter.

1. The policy follows you, not the address

Your contents insurance is tied to your household, not your postcode. When you move, your existing policy usually continues at the new address. You do not need to cancel and buy a new policy.

2. There's a grace period for double coverage during the move

Most German insurers give you up to 2 months of concurrent coverage across the old and new addresses. This means items still at the old flat AND items already at the new flat are covered during the transition. Confirm the exact window with your insurer before moving day.

3. Your premium usually changes — and you can cancel if it increases

Your new postcode has a different risk rating, and your new apartment has a different square-metre count. Both feed into your premium. If the premium goes up, most insurers are legally required to give you a Sonderkündigungsrecht (special right to cancel) — usually one month from notification of the price change. This is a good moment to recompare the market.

Practical checklist

• Notify your insurer in writing before you move, ideally 2–4 weeks ahead.
• Confirm the new sum insured based on €650/m² for the new apartment size.
• Ask whether the grace period for concurrent coverage needs explicit activation.
• Review your Wertsachen sublimit if you're moving in with a partner — combined household value may exceed your current sum insured.

Leaving Germany: how to cancel your Hausratversicherung

Most contents policies in Germany have a minimum contract term (Mindestlaufzeit) of 1 to 3 years, with automatic 1-year renewals after that. Your normal right to cancel is 3 months before renewal.

But expats leaving Germany have an extra right most people don't know about.

Sonderkündigungsrecht on Abmeldung

Under German insurance law (VVG §206 principles), when you deregister your residence in Germany — your Abmeldung from the Einwohnermeldeamt — you gain a Sonderkündigungsrecht (special right to cancel) your Hausratversicherung outside the normal notice window. Practically:

• Your primary residence in Germany ceases to exist.
• The subject matter of the insurance (your household at a German address) no longer exists.
• You send the insurer your cancellation in writing with a copy of your Abmeldebescheinigung (deregistration certificate).
• The insurer cancels the policy from the date of Abmeldung (or an agreed later date, e.g. when your shipping container departs).
• Any pre-paid premium for the unused period should be refunded.

Digital insurers vs traditional: why Mindestlaufzeit matters

Traditional insurers often lock you into 1–3 year terms with hefty early-exit fees. Modern digital insurers — including Feather and similar challengers — offer monthly cancellation with no Mindestlaufzeit. If you're not sure how long you'll be in Germany, monthly cancellation is worth prioritising.

The cancellation letter

Send it by email (if the insurer accepts digital cancellations) or registered post. Include:

• Your full name and policy number
• The requested cancellation date
• The reason (Abmeldung + departure from Germany)
• A copy of the Abmeldebescheinigung
• Your IBAN for any refund

Is contents insurance in Germany worth it?

For most expats — and especially for renters — yes. The rough calculation:

• Annual premium: €30–€150 for most flats
• Average burglary claim in 2024: €3,800 (GDV)
• Replacement cost of starting a flat from scratch after a fire or serious water event: easily €20,000–€50,000+

At €30 a year, you're buying insurance against a five-figure loss that statistically happens to roughly 1 in every few hundred German households every year. It is one of the few policies where the economics are genuinely hard to argue with.

For the data-heavy breakdown — including claim frequency by region and a full cost-vs-benefit comparison — see our full analysis of whether household contents insurance is worth it.

What to look for when buying contents insurance

Use this 8-item checklist when comparing any two policies. The cheap option that fails one of these is not actually cheaper.

1. Sum insured at €650/m² minimum — match the benchmark or you risk being paid out pro-rata on a claim.
2. Unterversicherungsverzicht — confirm the tariff waives the underinsurance check when the sum insured meets the benchmark.
3. Grobe Fahrlässigkeit bis zur Versicherungssumme — gross-negligence waiver up to the full sum insured. Non-negotiable.
4. Neuwert payouts — replacement cost, not depreciated value. Avoid Zeitwert-only tariffs.
5. Außenversicherung at 10–15% minimum — for laptops, cameras, and luggage outside the home.
6. Wertsachen sublimit appropriate to your valuables — standard 20–25%, with a safe upgrade if you own significant jewellery or collectibles.
7. Fahrraddiebstahl add-on if you cycle outdoors — check the cap, night-theft rules, and lock requirements.
8. Monthly cancellation / short Mindestlaufzeit — especially if you're not sure how long you'll be in Germany. English-speaking claims support is a bonus.

Get contents insurance that actually fits expat life in Germany

Feather's household insurance starts at €2.33/month and is built for people who want German insurance without German paperwork:

• Fully English policy wording, signup, and claims
• Unterversicherungsverzicht included
• Gross-negligence waiver included
• Monthly cancellation — no 3-year Mindestlaufzeit
• Covers both renters and homeowners
• Bundles cleanly with personal liability, bike insurance, and our other expat policies

Get a quote in minutes — no broker calls, no faxed forms.

Compare providers: best contents insurance for 2026

If you want a side-by-side look at the German contents market — how Feather stacks up against AXA, Gothaer, Ammerländer and other top-rated insurers on coverage quality, price, and claims handling — see our best contents insurance in Germany for 2026 roundup.