Home and belongings: contents cover and liability, as one decision

For an expat renting a flat, contents insurance and personal liability insurance are really one decision. One protects what you own, the other protects you from what you might accidentally do to others — including your landlord.

What these two policies actually are

Personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflichtversicherung) pays when you accidentally cause damage to another person or their property: a flooded flat below yours, a cyclist you knock over, a borrowed laptop you drop. It also defends you against claims that are unjustified.

Contents insurance (Hausratversicherung) covers everything you own inside your home — furniture, electronics, clothes, kitchen equipment — against fire, burst pipes, storm, hail and burglary. It pays the replacement value, meaning what it costs to buy the items new today.

They belong together on one page because, as a tenant, you usually need both at the same moment: when you sign the rental contract.

Why they matter so much in Germany

Under German law, anyone who causes damage is personally liable — without an upper limit. A small mistake, such as a forgotten bath or a kitchen fire, can lead to claims in the tens or hundreds of thousands of euros. That is why liability insurance is not legally required, but is treated as a basic necessity: landlords, employers and sports clubs regularly ask for proof before signing anything with you.

Contents insurance matters because your landlord's building insurance only covers the building itself — walls, pipes, fixed installations. Your belongings are your responsibility. Our guide to the must-have insurances for expats renting a flat goes through what landlords actually ask for.

What they cost

Personal liability insurance with good cover (at least €10 million) usually costs about €50–120 a year, with family tariffs only slightly more. Contents insurance for a typical rented flat is often €60–180 a year, depending on size, city and chosen extras. Together, that is often less than one dinner out per month.

What they do not cover

Liability insurance does not pay for damage you cause on purpose, damage to your own things, accidents with a car or motorbike (that is car insurance), damage caused at work, or — with some tariffs — damage by certain dogs or horses.

Contents insurance does not pay for simple wear and tear, items lost or left behind, or damage to the building. Flooding from heavy rain or rising water (Elementarschäden), bicycle theft outside the home, and valuables above a certain limit are often only covered if you add them.

What expats should watch out for

• Check “damage to rented property”. Good liability tariffs include damage to the flat you rent (Mietsachschäden), for example a cracked hob or a stained floor. Cheap tariffs sometimes exclude it — and this is exactly what landlords care about.
• Lost keys. Losing a key to a building with a central locking system can mean replacing every lock. Make sure key loss is included, with a sensible limit.
• Underinsurance. If your contents are insured for less than they are worth, the insurer may reduce payouts. Many tariffs avoid this if you insure a fixed amount per square metre (often around €650–700).
• Shared flats. In a WG, each tenant usually needs their own policies; check how your share of the flat is defined.
• Proof for your landlord. Ask for an English-language confirmation of cover — most landlords accept it immediately.
• Moving house. Contents insurance moves with you, but you must report your new address and floor space.

Get a quote for home and liability cover

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