Water damage in Germany: What happens next?

You've just noticed a puddle forming under your washing machine.

Or maybe there's water dripping from the ceiling, spreading across the floor, and creeping dangerously close to your electronics.

Take a breath…

Water damage is stressful, but it's also surprisingly common in German apartments.

But there’s good news.

If you act quickly and follow the right steps, you can minimise the damage, protect your belongings, and make sure insurance covers the repair costs.

In this guide, you'll learn exactly:

What to do when water damage strikes
Which insurance policies apply to your situation
And how to navigate the claims process in Germany (even if your landlord is being difficult).

1. Check for electrical hazards

Before you start mopping up, take a moment to assess the situation. Water and electricity don't mix, so a quick safety check is worth your time.

In most cases, you can handle this yourself:

If water is near electrical outlets or appliances, switch off your apartment's electricity at the fuse box before cleaning up
Unplug any appliances in or near the affected area
Wear rubber-soled shoes if you need to walk through damp areas

When to call a professional:

If there's significant flooding and you can't safely reach your fuse box, or if water has visibly entered electrical outlets or appliances, it's worth waiting for an electrician to confirm it's safe. Keep in mind that emergency call-out fees can be high and typically aren't covered by insurance, so use your judgement: most minor leaks don't require this step.

For the majority of household leaks (a dripping pipe, an overflowing washing machine), switching off the power and unplugging nearby appliances is sufficient to proceed safely.

2. Stop the water source

The faster you stop the leak, the less damage you'll face. Every minute counts.

If you can identify the source

Turn off the water supply to that specific appliance or fixture.

For washing machines and dishwashers, there's usually a valve behind or beneath the unit.

If you can't find where the water is coming from

Shut off the main water supply to your entire apartment.

You'll find the stopcock (Hauptwasserhahn) typically near your water meter (which is often in the bathroom or kitchen).

Once the water stops flowing, you can investigate the source without the situation getting worse.

Clean vs. Contaminated water

Not all water damage is equal:

Clean water (from burst pipes or appliance leaks) is manageable. You can often handle cleanup yourself if the amount is limited.

Contaminated water (from sewage backups or flooding) is a health hazard. Don't attempt to clean this yourself. Call a professional water damage restoration service immediately.

3. Notify your landlord immediately

In Germany, you're legally required to inform your landlord (Vermieter) or property management company (Hausverwaltung) about water damage as soon as possible.

Delays can affect your rights and expose you to additional liability.

To notify your landlord, you can:

Call them immediately if the situation is urgent
Follow up in writing (email or text) with the date, time, and description of the damage (photos help too).
Request that they arrange for repairs or mitigation

Even for small leaks with unknown sources, document your notification. You'll want proof that you reported the issue promptly.

4. Document everything

Proper documentation is essential for insurance claims.

Start recording evidence as soon as it's safe to do so.

Generally, you want:

Photos and videos with visible timestamps showing the extent of water damage
The source of the leak (if identifiable)
All damaged areas (including floors, walls, ceilings, and furniture)
A detailed inventory of damaged belongings, including approximate values
Original receipts for damaged items, if you still have them

Send this documentation to your landlord and keep copies for your own records. The more thorough your evidence, the smoother your insurance claim will be.

5. Understand which insurance applies

This is where many people in Germany get confused.

Water damage claims often involve multiple insurance policies, and knowing which one applies first can save you significant money and hassle.

The three types of insurance for water damage

1. Building Insurance (Gebäudeversicherung)

This policy covers damage to the building structure itself:

Walls
Floors
Ceilings
Pipes
And fixed installations.

If water leaked from any pipe or connection attached to the mains supply (dishwasher, washing machine, shower, radiator), building insurance handles the structural damage first.

This applies whether the leak was in your apartment or damaged a neighbour's ceiling, walls pr apartments.

Why does building insurance come first?

Because it covers repairs at full replacement value, while liability insurance typically only covers current depreciated value.

Starting with building insurance protects everyone from being left out of pocket.

2. Liability Insurance (Privathaftpflichtversicherung)

If something you did caused the leak, liability insurance covers damage to other people's property:

Your landlord's fixtures
Your neighbour's furniture
Or their personal belongings.

The building insurance company may contact your liability insurer directly to share costs once they've processed the structural damage claim.

Learn more about how liability insurance works in Germany.

3. Contents Insurance (Hausratversicherung)

This policy covers damage to your personal belongings.

The general rule is that you're covered when a pipe bursts or an external pipe leaks and damages your possessions.

What counts as an external pipe? Pipes you can easily see and access: under your kitchen sink, connecting your washing machine, or feeding your radiators.

What counts as an internal pipe? Hidden plumbing within walls, under floors, or behind tiles (like bathtub and shower plumbing).

Learn more about how home contents insurance works in Germany.

6. Understand what each insurance covers

Building insurance covers:

Inspections to determine the leak source
Professional drying of affected apartments
Renovation costs (floor repair, repainting walls, replacing wallpaper)
Loss of rental income for the landlord if tenants need to move out during repairs (in some cases)

Note for tenants: If your apartment becomes uninhabitable during repairs, you may be entitled to reduced rent or not have to pay rent for that period. This isn't covered by building insurance—it's a separate tenant's right.

Check with a Mieterverein (tenants' association) to see if you qualify.

Building insurance does not cover:

Furniture and personal belongings
Non-structural items (rugs, electronics, clothing)
Damage to movable property

Liability insurance covers:

Damage to your landlord's property (fixtures, fittings) if something you did caused the leak
Damage to your neighbour's furniture and personal belongings
Third-party property damage resulting from water originating in your apartment, when at fault.

Liability insurance does not cover:

Your own belongings (that's what contents insurance is for)
Structural damage to the building (handled by building insurance first)
Damage where you weren't at fault

Contents insurance covers:

Damage to your personal belongings from covered leaks
Items damaged by water from heating systems, aquariums, air conditioners, water beds, or sprinkler systems

Contents insurance does not cover:

Damage from overflowing taps or bathtubs (user error)
Water splashed during normal use
Blocked drains
Damage to the building structure itself

7. Be prepared if your landlord refuses to file a claim

This happens more often than you'd expect. Landlords sometimes resist filing claims because it may increase their premiums.

Here's what you need to know:

By law, all property owners in multi-apartment buildings must have building insurance.

As a tenant, you're likely already paying for this coverage through your Nebenkosten (ancillary costs) as part of your monthly rent.

If your landlord refuses to submit a claim:

Have your liability insurance formally request that they do so
If they still refuse, contact a Mieterverein (tenants' association) for advice
Consider seeking legal assistance if the landlord continues to obstruct

If your landlord claims the building insurance denied coverage:

Ask for a copy of the denial letter in writing.

You're not obligated to pay for structural repairs without written confirmation that building insurance won't cover them.

Once you have the letter, provide it to your liability insurer.

Never pay for repairs yourself, expecting reimbursement. Work through the proper insurance channels first.

What about the floors you installed yourself?

This is a common point of confusion. The rule is straightforward:

The first habitable floor of a property is always covered by building insurance, regardless of who purchased or installed it.

For example…

You move into an apartment with vinyl flooring and install parquet on top.

If water damages your parquet, that's covered by your contents insurance. But if you installed flooring directly onto unsealed concrete, damage would be a building insurance claim.

8. Remove standing water (quickly)

The longer water sits, the worse the damage becomes. Start drying your apartment as soon as it's safe to do so.

What you can do yourself:

Use a wet/dry vacuum (Nasssauger) for efficient water extraction
Mop up standing water with towels and buckets
Open windows to increase airflow
Run dehumidifiers and fans to circulate air
Check humidity levels regularly

For severe flooding or professional drying:

Don't arrange professional water damage restoration services yourself: you'll likely be left out of pocket.

Instead, contact your landlord and ask them to arrange this.

They can claim the costs through their building insurance, which typically covers professional drying and inspections.

The same applies to checking hard-to-reach areas like behind walls, under floors, and in insulation. Your landlord should arrange for professionals to inspect these spaces, as the building insurance will cover it.

If you pay for these services yourself, you'd need to ask your landlord to submit your invoices to their building insurance for reimbursement—a process that's often complicated and not guaranteed.

This drying process can take up to a week for larger leaks. Stay in contact with your landlord throughout to ensure everything is properly addressed.

9. Check for mould

Mould can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours of water exposure. Early detection is critical.

Watch our for these signs of mould:

Black spots or discolouration on walls, ceilings, or floors
Musty or unusual odours
New stains that appeared after the leak

Check hidden areas thoroughly: under carpets, behind furniture, inside cupboards, and along baseboards.

If you find mould, report it to the landlord, and insist they call a professional immediately.

Mould remediation can cost tens of thousands of euros if left untreated, and most insurance policies don't cover mould damage caused by neglected water damage.

10. Assess (and save) your belongings

Once your apartment is dry, evaluate what's salvageable.

Generally:

Furniture, rugs, and upholstered items submerged for more than 24 hours need replacing
Hard surfaces can often be cleaned and dried
Electronics exposed to water should be professionally inspected before use
Sentimental items may be professionally restored by specialists

Keep damaged items until your insurance claim is processed. You may need to show them to an assessor.

11. File your insurance claim

With your documentation ready, it's time to file your claim.

If you’re a Feather customer, follow these steps:

Log in to your Feather account (or contact your provider directly)
Navigate to your liability or contents policy
Select "file a claim" and provide comprehensive details
Upload all photos, videos, and documentation
Respond promptly to any requests for additional information
Receive your decision (typically within 2–4 weeks for straightforward cases)

12. Prevent future water damage

Once you've recovered from this leak, take steps to prevent the next one.

Preventative measures for tenants:

Have appliances professionally installed. When setting up a washing machine, dishwasher, or other water-connected appliance, have a professional handle the installation. Faulty connections are a common cause of leaks. And if improper installation causes damage, you could be held liable.
Install water leak sensors in high-risk areas, such as near washing machines, under sinks, beside water heaters, and around toilets. Smart sensors can alert your phone the moment they detect moisture.
Ensure you have proper insurance coverage:
- Liability insurance protects you when you cause damage to others
- Contents insurance covers your belongings
- Building insurance (for homeowners) covers structural damage

Learn more about the most important types of insurance in Germany.

Conclusion

Water damage in a German apartment is stressful, but manageable if you act quickly and understand the system.

Remember these essentials:

Safety first—check for electrical hazards before entering wet areas
Stop the leak and notify your landlord immediately, following up in writing
Document everything with photos, videos, and inventories
Building insurance handles structural damage first; liability and contents insurance cover property damage
Your landlord cannot refuse to file a building insurance claim if you're contributing through Nebenkosten
Dry your apartment quickly to prevent mould growth
Call your landlord and ensure they contact professionals for contaminated water, mould, or extensive damage

Water damage is never fun, but with the right preparation and insurance coverage, you can navigate the situation without financial disaster.