Imagine coming home after a long day and finding your apartment flooded. Or worse: you open the door and immediately notice that strangers have rifled through your most private things. Household Insurance is more than just a contract, it's the safety net for everything you've built up over the years. From your sofa and kitchen appliances to your expensive E-bike.
Key Facts at a Glance
| What is covered | Your furniture and personal belongings in case of fire, water damage, burglary, storm and hail, and depending on the tariff also natural hazards and bicycle theft. |
|---|---|
| What is not covered | Damage to the building itself, simple theft without a break-in, intentional damage and underinsurance. Details |
| Who needs it | For anyone with their own flat, especially with valuable furniture, electronics or bicycles. |
| What does it cost | For a 70 m² flat usually around €60 to €120 per year, depending on postcode and benefits. Non-binding guide value (as of 2026); your premium depends on your situation. You can calculate your exact premium in the comparison calculator on this page. |
| What to look out for | A sufficient sum insured with a waiver of underinsurance, a waiver of the gross negligence defence and cover for natural hazards. |
Sabine's Story: A Burst Hose and its Consequences
Fictional example for illustration; all persons and events are invented.
Let me tell you Sabine's story. Sabine lives in a cozy apartment in Germany. She loves her interior design and has invested a lot of time and money in modern furniture and technology. One Tuesday morning, while she was at work, it happened: the inlet hose of her washing machine burst.
Water ran unchecked into her apartment for hours. When she came home, the water was inches deep in the hallway and living room. Expensive rugs, the custom-made leather sofa, solid wood furniture, and the home cinema electronics on the floor were beyond saving. On top of that came hotel and storage costs. The total damage amounted to over 15,000 euros.
Sabine was desperate. "How am I going to pay for all this?" she wondered. Fortunately, she had taken out a modern Household Insurance policy with me. It is often the perfect complement to Private Liability. The insurance covered the hotel and storage costs and paid Sabine the replacement value for all destroyed items. She was able to buy her furniture and equipment new one-for-one. Today Sabine says: "I used to think you only need household insurance if you have a villa. Today I know: even in a normal rented apartment, this protection is worth its weight in gold."
What Exactly Does Household Insurance Cover for Expats in Germany?
Put simply: imagine you take your house or apartment, turn it upside down, and shake it hard. Everything that falls out belongs to the household goods. The insurance protects this inventory against the following risks:
- Fire: Fire, lightning, explosion.
- Burglary: Including vandalism after a break-in.
- Tap Water: Damage from burst pipes or hoses.
- Storm and Hail: For example, if a window is blown in and rain destroys your furniture.
Important Extras: Bicycle Protection and Natural Hazards Cover
In Germany, many people rely on high-quality bikes. A modern E-bike can easily cost 3,000 euros or more. In many old contracts, bicycle theft is not insured at all or only for very small sums. In a modern household insurance policy, we can fully protect your bike 24/7 via the bicycle theft add-on, even outside the home, provided it is locked.
Another topic that is becoming increasingly important is natural hazards cover (Elementarschadenversicherung). It is important to know that this is not a standalone insurance policy. Instead, it is an optional extension (module) integrated directly into your household and residential building insurance. Heavy rain events are increasing in Germany, and if the basement is flooded after a heavy downpour (backwater), standard household insurance will not cover it without this module. I strongly recommend adding this protection.
The New Value Advantage: Why Quality Matters
A key point with household insurance is New Value Replacement. This means: if your 5-year-old TV is stolen, the insurance does not pay what the old device would still be worth today, but the amount you would have to pay in the shop today for a comparable new device. This ensures that you can really start from scratch after a loss.
Inventory Value Estimator: What is your household content worth?
Estimate the replacement value of your household contents here. Compare the result with the m² flat rate (€650/m²) to ensure you are fully covered via the underinsurance waiver.
Apartment & Rooms
Detailed Estimate (€)
Couch, shelves, carpets, curtains, pictures, lamps, books
Dishes, cutlery, pots, small appliances, supplies, fitted kitchen
Bed, wardrobe, mattresses, bedding, dressers
TV, laptop, mobile phone, console, soundbar, camera, smart home
Jackets, shoes, bags, sports and everyday clothing
Jewelry, expensive watches, cash, art, collections, certificates
Bicycle, tools, suitcase, cellar contents, balcony furniture
Your individual estimate is above the flat rate. Choose an insurance sum of at least €67,000 to be fully covered.
Requirements for Expats
- Valid German Address (Anmeldung)
- German Bank Account (IBAN)
What Is Not Covered
Household contents insurance protects everything you would take with you when moving. These points are typically not covered:
- The building: Damage to walls, roof or fixed installations is covered by residential building insurance.
- Simple theft: If something is stolen without a break-in, for example from an open cellar or while out, many tariffs do not pay or only with an add-on.
- Underinsurance: If the sum insured is too low, the insurer reduces the compensation proportionally. A waiver of underinsurance protects you.
- Natural hazards: Flooding from heavy rain or high water is only covered with natural hazard cover.
- Intentional damage: Damage caused on purpose is not covered.
How I Help You in the Event of a Claim
As your broker, I am legally on your side, not the insurer's, and that matters most when something happens. This is how we proceed:
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1. Report it quickly
Let me know as soon as possible, by WhatsApp, phone, email or directly in the simplr app. Many policy conditions require prompt notification.
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2. Document everything
Keep photos, invoices, reports and the names of everyone involved. Good documentation speeds up processing considerably. How to write the claim report.
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3. After a burglary: police
Report a burglary to the police immediately and draw up a list of stolen or damaged items. Receipts and photos help with the compensation.
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4. I take care of the rest
I submit the case to the insurer, follow up and check the settlement. If the insurer refuses or cuts benefits, we look at the reasons together.
Compare Rates Yourself
Use our comparison tool to calculate premiums and find the best rates for your situation. You can sign up directly online.
Tip: Tick Best-Leistungs-Garantie in the calculator. Also make sure when comparing tariffs that they include: Besitzstandsgarantie, flooding from heavy rain or other natural hazards and, for an e-bike or expensive bike, 24-hour bicycle theft cover. Unbenannte Gefahren is a useful but more expensive add-on. I am happy to check the tariffs with you.
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Please note: this calculator is provided by a German platform and is only available in German. If you need help filling it in, I am happy to go through it with you in English.