Insurance for crime scene and trauma cleaning in Germany
A flat after an unattended death, a hoarder's home, a room after a violent crime: crime scene and trauma cleaning starts where ordinary cleaning firms say no. The risks are chemicals, germs, other people's homes and a lot of responsibility. Here is what is compulsory in Germany, which insurance carries the typical losses and what it costs.
Does my liability insurance pay if ozone treatment damages furniture or electronics?
Only if damage to worked items is expressly included. You are treating exactly those items, and basic policies exclude that. Agree in writing with the client what will be removed, treated or disposed of, and photograph the condition beforehand.
What goes wrong in this trade
01
Damage from treatment
Ozone, disinfectants and strip out attack surfaces, electronics and building fabric that should have stayed intact.
02
Infection on the job
A needle stick, a splash, damaged protective gear: an employee falls ill after the job.
03
Thrown away by mistake
An heirloom or important papers end up in the waste, and the relatives claim compensation.
04
Neighbours affected
Odour, pests or fluids reach the flat next door, and its owner demands repairs.
05
Lost keys
The property manager's master key is lost and the locking system has to be replaced.
06
Mental strain
The work takes its toll. If you cannot carry on, you earn nothing.
For your store, protective gear and equipment against fire, burglary and water.
What it costs: example prices
Insurers rarely publish rates for trauma cleaning. The premium depends on turnover, staff, limit of indemnity and inclusions, above all worked items and keys.
Insurance
Example
Typical range
Business liability
Sole trader, €3 million limit, worked items and keys included
about €400 to €800 a year
Business liability
Firm with five staff, strip out and odour removal, €5 million limit
about €1,000 to €2,400 a year
Car insurance
Converted van up to 3.5 tonnes, third party and partial cover
about €900 to €1,800 a year
Accident insurance
Owner, €100,000 disability sum with progression, infections included
about €200 to €400 a year
Machinery breakdown
Ozone and fogging equipment worth €20,000
about €300 to €700 a year
For comparison: Public liability for a small trauma cleaning firm costs about as much a year as half a day on a heavily contaminated job.
All premiums are guide values from our quoting work, excluding German insurance premium tax,
as of October 2026.
The motor liability minimums are set in the Compulsory Insurance Act,
the risk assessment duty in § 4 of the Biological Agents Ordinance.
Six things trauma cleaners really go through, all on one day. Tap through and see who pays.
Damage so far€22,100
Unloading equipment, the van rolls into a parked car.
€2,400 · Paid by: Car insurance
Ozone treatment damages a TV and a leather sofa that were meant to stay.
€3,800 · Paid by: Business liability
While removing flooring, fluid seeps into the ceiling of the flat below.
€6,900 · Paid by: Business liability
An employee is injured by a syringe hidden in rubbish.
€3,500 · Paid by: Accident insurance
The heirs claim an envelope of cash was thrown away and threaten to sue.
€2,600 · Paid by: Business legal expenses
The ozone generator fails after an operating error.
€2,900 · Paid by: Machinery breakdown
Which package would you have had?
Paid by insurance: €0
Out of your own pocket: €22,100
Illustrative amounts before any excess.
What is paid depends on the policy terms.
Practical tips from your broker
Have worked items and lost keys expressly included in your liability policy.
Photograph every room before you start and record in writing what may be disposed of.
Complete the risk assessment under the Biological Agents Ordinance before your first job and review it regularly.
Check that your accident policy includes infections.
Keep found items such as cash, jewellery and documents separate and have the handover signed.
Describe your actual work precisely to the insurer, not just as building cleaning.
Why NAMMERT for your business
We read the small print
For trauma cleaners, worked items and the exact business description decide. As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert compares the wording of several insurers for you.
Business and personal cover together
Van, liability, accident and income protection all run through one contact.
Broker since 1989
A family business, not tied to any insurer. Our service is free for you; the insurer pays our commission. We advise in English.
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
What insurance is compulsory for trauma cleaners in Germany?
Motor liability for every vehicle.
Public liability is not required by law, but property managers and clients often ask for it.
What does public liability cost?
For sole traders about €400 to €800 a year with worked items and keys,
for firms with staff about €1,000 to €2,400, as guide values from our quoting work.
Is a cleaning company policy enough?
Often not.
Strip out, ozone treatment and disposal must be in the business description,
or cover may be missing when a claim comes.
Which health and safety rules apply?
For work with biological agents,
§ 4 of the Biological Agents Ordinance requires a competent risk assessment before work starts,
reviewed at least every two years.
Am I covered if I catch an infection?
Employees are covered by statutory accident insurance.
As the owner, a private accident policy that expressly includes infections helps.
NAMMERT insurance broker
Request quotes for Trauma cleaning
The recommended covers are ticked.
Change what does not fit; we compare quotes, in English.
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