Home contents insurance

Household contents insurance (Hausratversicherung) protects your movable belongings in your home against damage from burglary, fire, water, storm and vandalism.

What is insured?

• Furniture: sofa, bed, wardrobe, table
• Electronics: TV, laptop, smartphone, games console
• Clothing: your entire wardrobe
• Kitchen appliances: fridge, washing machine, cooker
• Valuables: jewellery, cash (limited), documents

Costs:

• Average premium: €100–200 per year (depending on living space and postcode)
• Recommended sum insured: €650 per square metre of living space
• For 80 m²: approx. €52,000 sum insured

The most common mistake: underinsurance

• Many estimate the value of their contents at €15,000–20,000
• Actual value (replacement cost): often €40,000–80,000
• If underinsured, the insurer only pays proportionally (agree a waiver of underinsurance!)

Is household contents insurance worth it?

• Yes, if you rent and own valuable belongings
• No, if you own hardly any valuables and could bear the loss yourself
• Approx. 75% of German households have household contents insurance