Hausratversicherung (home contents insurance) covers the movable things inside your home: furniture, appliances, electronics, clothing, kitchen equipment and valuables. It is not mandatory, but replacing an entire household after a fire or burst pipe runs to tens of thousands of euros.
Do not confuse it with building insurance. Wohngebäudeversicherung covers the structure and is the landlord’s responsibility. As a tenant, what you need is Hausrat.
How much cover? The €650 per m² rule
The standard German calculation is €650 per square metre of living space:
- 60 m² flat → €39,000
- 80 m² flat → €52,000
- 100 m² flat → €65,000
Insist on Unterversicherungsverzicht
Skipping this clause is the most expensive mistake in German insurance. Without Unterversicherungsverzicht (waiver of underinsurance), if your sum insured is below the true value of your contents, the insurer cuts your payout proportionally.
Example: your contents are worth €50,000 but you insured for €25,000. On a €10,000 claim the insurer pays only €5,000 — because you were 50% underinsured. With the waiver, and having used the €650/m² rule, that reduction does not apply.
Cost
| Cover | Annual cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Basic policy, small flat | €50 – 80 |
| 75 m² flat, ~€49,000 sum insured | €90 – 120 |
| Same flat + natural hazards + bicycle | ~€150 |
What a standard policy covers
- Fire, lightning, explosion, smoke
- Tap water damage (burst pipes, washing machine hoses)
- Burglary (Einbruchdiebstahl) — forced entry
- Storm and hail (wind force 8+)
- Vandalism connected to a break-in
Two things you must add separately
1. Elementarschäden (natural hazards)
Flooding, heavy rain (Starkregen) and sewage backup (Rückstau) are NOT in a standard policy. Many households learned this the hard way in the 2021 Ahr valley floods. The add-on costs €30–100 a year. If you live in a basement flat or near a river, take it.
2. Fahrraddiebstahl (bicycle theft)
A standard policy covers your bicycle only if stolen from a locked room. A bike stolen from the street, even properly locked, is not covered without the add-on.
Points newcomers often miss
- Tenants can and should take it out — your landlord’s policy does not cover your belongings.
- Jewellery and gold are typically capped at 20% of the sum insured, with a lower limit for items not kept in a safe. If you own significant jewellery, check and raise the limit.
- Cash at home carries a very low limit (often €1,000–1,500).
- Moving house: cover does not transfer automatically — notify your insurer. Both addresses are usually covered for a transitional period.
- Photograph everything. Claims require an inventory. Photos of each room and receipts for valuables make the process far easier.