Your landlord's insurance doesn't cover your belongings. Here's how Hausratversicherung and Wohngebäudeversicherung work — explained in plain English.
Moving to Germany comes with plenty of administrative surprises — and insurance is one of them. Many expats assume their landlord's policy covers everything, only to discover the hard way that it doesn't. Here's why you need your own coverage:
Over 80% of Berliners rent their homes. As a tenant, you're responsible for insuring everything you bring into the apartment — your furniture, electronics, clothing, and personal belongings. If you own your property, you also need to protect the building itself.
This is the single most common misunderstanding. Your landlord's Wohngebäudeversicherung (building insurance) covers the structure — walls, roof, floors, and built-in fixtures. It does not cover any of your possessions. If a fire, burst pipe, or burglary damages your belongings, you bear the full cost of replacement without your own policy.
Germany has a strong liability culture. If a water leak from your apartment damages a neighbour's property, you could be held financially responsible for thousands of euros. While personal liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung) covers third-party damage, your contents insurance ensures your own possessions are also replaced. The two policies work together to fully protect you.
Hausratversicherung is the most important policy for renters — and it's remarkably affordable for what it covers. It protects everything inside your home that isn't permanently built into the structure.
Contents insurance is one of the most affordable policies in Germany. For a typical Berlin apartment, expect to pay between €50 and €150 per year — that's roughly €4–12 per month. The exact cost depends on the size of your apartment, the total value of your belongings, and the coverage options you choose.
Many policies also cover damage outside your home — for example, if your bicycle is stolen from a locked bike shed, or if your laptop is damaged in a hotel fire while on holiday in Germany. Check the policy details for off-premises coverage limits.
Wohngebäudeversicherung is only relevant if you own your property. Renters should skip this section — it's your landlord's responsibility, not yours.
Building insurance covers the physical structure of your property — everything that would remain if you turned the apartment upside down and shook it. This includes:
Building insurance covers three core perils — fire, water damage, and storm/hail. Unlike contents insurance, building insurance does NOT cover burglary (Einbruchdiebstahl), since the building structure itself cannot be stolen:
For property owners, building insurance is often required by your mortgage lender. It protects their collateral — and your investment.
Understanding the boundary between contents and building coverage is crucial. Here's a detailed breakdown:
The grey area: A fitted kitchen (Einbauküche) installed by the tenant is usually covered by contents insurance, not building insurance. If you're unsure about a specific item, we can help clarify — just ask during your free consultation.
Contents insurance costs depend primarily on the size of your home and the value of your belongings. Here are typical annual premiums for Berlin:
Sum insured: €25,000
€5/month · Basic cover
Sum insured: €40,000
€7.50/month · Standard cover
Sum insured: €55,000
€11/month · Comprehensive cover
A common rule of thumb: your contents are worth roughly €500–700 per square metre of living space. For a 75 m² apartment, that's €37,500–52,500. Walk through every room and add up the replacement value of everything you own — you might be surprised how quickly it adds up.
Building insurance for owners is calculated differently — based on the reconstruction value of the property, not its market value. We can help you determine the correct amount.
| Feature | Contents (Hausrat) | Building (Wohngebäude) | Landlord's Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who needs it? | Every renter & owner | Property owners only | Landlord (not your concern) |
| What's covered | Your belongings | The building structure | The building structure |
| Fire | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Water damage | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Burglary | ✓ Yes | ✗ No (structure only) | ✗ No (structure only) |
| Storm & hail | ✓ Yes (usually included) | ✓ Yes (often optional) | ✓ Yes (varies) |
| Your furniture | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Your electronics | ✓ Yes | ✗ No | ✗ No |
| Built-in kitchen (tenant-installed) | ✗ Usually no (building) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Typical cost/year | €50–150 | €200–600+ | Paid by landlord |
| Covers tenant's stuff? | ✓ Yes — that's the point | ✗ No | ✗ No |
Your insurance needs depend entirely on whether you rent or own your home. Here's a simple breakdown:
As a tenant in Germany, you need:
As a property owner in Germany, you need:
Still unsure? That's exactly what our free consultations are for. We'll look at your specific situation and tell you exactly what you need — and what you don't.
Überversicherung (over-insurance) means your sum insured is higher than the actual value of your contents. You're paying more premium than necessary — but at least you're fully covered.
Unterversicherung (under-insurance) is far more dangerous. If your sum insured is too low, the insurer will apply a proportional reduction in the event of a claim. For example: you insure €30,000 but actually own €60,000 worth of contents. A fire causes €10,000 in damage — the insurer will only pay €5,000 (50% of your claim, because you were 50% under-insured). This is one of the most common and costly mistakes expats make.
Our advice: Use our free calculator or schedule a consultation — we help you determine the right sum insured so you're neither over- nor under-insured.
Many insurers use your apartment's square metre count to set a default sum insured (typically €600–650/m²). If you declare a smaller living space than your actual apartment, you risk under-insurance. Always report the correct Wohnfläche as listed in your rental contract.
Standard contents policies have sub-limits for valuables — typically €5,000–10,000 for jewellery, watches, art, and cash combined. If you own expensive items, consider:
Bicycles are also often subject to separate limits (€500–1,000 per bike). If you own an e-bike worth €3,000, you'll want extended bike coverage.
Whether you're renting or owning, we help you find the right coverage — in English, at no cost, with no obligations.
We've helped hundreds of expats protect their homes and belongings in Germany. Your first consultation is always free for you (we are compensated by the insurer when you take out a policy), with no obligations.