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Letting a holiday home in Germany: insuring liability, contents and guest damage

Letting a flat or house to a changing stream of guests carries risks that an owner living there does not face. Guests can get hurt, furniture breaks, and a burst pipe wipes out bookings. Standard German personal policies often exclude letting. This page shows which pieces fit together.

The question almost everyone asks first

Do my personal liability and home contents policies cover my holiday let?

Usually not. German personal liability (Privathaftpflicht) normally excludes letting to holiday guests, and home contents insurance (Hausrat) covers your own household, not the furnishings of a let property. You need liability cover that includes your role as a landlord and contents cover written for holiday properties. Tell your buildings insurer that you let the property, too.

What you are liable for as a host

Under German law a holiday let is usually a short term tenancy. You must hand over the flat in a safe condition: secure railings, working appliances, no trip hazards. If a guest is injured because you neglected this duty of care, you are liable under Section 823 of the German Civil Code (BGB), and Section 536a BGB adds liability for defects in the rented property.

Courts look closely at what a landlord could have spotted. The Higher Regional Court of Oldenburg dealt with a guest scalded by a faulty coffee pot and rejected liability in that case. Do not count on it: even defending a claim costs lawyers and experts, and liability insurance pays for that defence.

Three gaps hosts miss most often

First, liability: many personal liability policies exclude or tightly limit letting to changing guests. A property owner liability policy or a landlord add on closes the gap, provided it names holiday letting explicitly.

Second, contents: the furniture, kitchen, TV and linen are yours, but home contents insurance covers your own household. A let flat needs contents cover for holiday properties, and some insurers ask for an inventory list. Third, guest damage: if a guest breaks something, only the guest's own liability policy pays, and only if it covers damage to rented property. Otherwise the cost often stays with you.

What platform cover does and does not do

Airbnb's AirCover for hosts offers damage protection of up to 3 million US dollars and liability cover of up to 1 million US dollars. It applies only to stays booked through Airbnb and has its own exclusions and reporting deadlines. Bookings through other portals or direct bookings are not included.

The German consumer organisation Stiftung Warentest therefore advises having your own liability cover regardless of platform protection. A sensible policy applies to every booking, whichever way the guest found you.

Loss of rent after damage

After a fire or water damage the flat can be unlettable for weeks, and in high season that means lost income. German buildings insurance usually pays loss of rent on let property for a limited period. Whether that includes holiday letting, and how lost rent is calculated, depends on the wording and is worth settling before you sign.

What is covered

  • Injury and property damage to guests and third parties for which you are liable as landlord
  • Defence against unjustified claims by guests, including in court
  • Contents of the holiday let against fire, escape of water, storm and burglary, with contents cover for holiday properties
  • Loss of rent after an insured building loss, depending on policy and period
  • Damage to the building itself through buildings insurance, once the letting has been declared
  • Natural hazards such as flood and heavy rain, if specifically agreed
  • Malicious damage by guests, as an add on with some policies

What is not covered

  • Normal wear and tear on furniture, linen and appliances
  • Cancelled bookings where no insured damage occurred
  • Cash and valuables kept in the flat, usually only within tight limits
  • Losses from letting that was never declared to the insurer
  • Guests' own belongings, which fall under their own contents insurance
  • Fines for missing permits or registration of the letting

Who needs it

  • Owners of a holiday flat or house in Germany let to changing guests
  • Hosts who let through Airbnb, Booking.com or other portals and also directly
  • Owners who use the property themselves part of the year and let it the rest
  • People letting individual rooms or a granny flat to holidaymakers
  • Heirs of a holiday property who continue to let it

Who does not need it

  • Owners who use the holiday home only themselves and never let it
  • Owners letting through an agency whose contract demonstrably covers them

Wheel of misfortune

Spin the wheel of bad luck

Six things that really happen. The wheel picks yours and shows who pays.

See all six cases
  1. Guest falls on a loose stair, five figures, more with lasting harm. Budget policy: pays, Strong policy: pays. A classic duty of care case. Liability cover pays justified claims and defends unjustified ones, if it includes letting.
  2. Guest scalded by faulty pot, three to five figures. Budget policy: pays, Strong policy: pays. Whether you are liable depends on whether you could have spotted the defect. Liability cover pays for the defence.
  3. Dishwasher floods the flat, four to five figures. Budget policy: pays in part, Strong policy: pays. Buildings insurance pays for the building, only holiday contents cover pays for the furnishings. Loss of rent only if agreed.
  4. Guests wreck the living room, four to five figures. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays in part. The guest's liability policy does not pay for deliberate damage. Some strong policies include damage by guests, often capped.
  5. Burglary in the off season, four figures. Budget policy: pays in part, Strong policy: pays. Burglary is not always part of basic contents cover. Strong policies include it.
  6. Guests cancel because of rain, three to four figures, by season. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: does not pay. No landlord policy pays for cancellations without damage to the flat. Only cancellation terms in your rental agreement help.

What it costs

There is rarely a single price for holiday letting, because liability, contents and the building may sit in separate policies. Some insurers bundle everything in a holiday home policy, others add a letting module to existing cover.

What drives the premium

  • Number of units and beds
  • Value of the contents
  • Location, especially flood and heavy rain exposure
  • Number of letting days per year
  • Liability limit and excess
  • Extras such as loss of rent, malicious damage by guests, natural hazards

We do not give guide prices because we found no reliable independent comparison of holiday let policies in Germany. Your premium is fixed only in the quote.

The policy levels on the market

01

Basic

Letting included in liability, contents against fire, escape of water and storm. Barely enough for a small flat with few bookings.

02

Standard

High liability limit for every booking, contents also against burglary, loss of rent after an insured loss. Right for most hosts.

03

Premium

Adds malicious damage by guests, natural hazards, a longer loss of rent period and several properties in one policy. For well equipped holiday homes with high occupancy.

How to recognise a good policy

CriterionMinimum standardStrong policyWhy it matters
Holiday letting named occasional letting only letting to changing guests with no limit on days Without this clause the insurer can refuse to pay.
Liability limit under EUR 10 million combined at least EUR 10 million combined A fall with lasting injury can cost millions.
Every booking covered certain portals only whatever the booking channel Platform cover ends at the platform.
Contents fire and escape of water plus storm, burglary and glass A furnished holiday let holds a lot of value.
Damage by guests not included including malicious damage The guest's own policy is often missing or does not pay.
Loss of rent long term rent only holiday rent based on actual bookings, several months Damage in high season costs a year's income.
Natural hazards not included included Holiday homes are often near water.
Own use letting only letting and your own stays Many owners use the property themselves too.

Insurers on the German market

Many German property insurers cover holiday lets, some with a dedicated host policy, others through modules in property owner liability and contents cover. The list shows the market and is not a ranking.

InsurerBackground
Haftpflichtkassemutual focused on liability, sold through brokers
VHVbroker insurer based in Hanover
Die Bayerischebrokers and own sales
InterRiskpart of the Vienna Insurance Group, mainly brokers
Allianzagents and brokers
AXAagents and brokers
Gothaeragents and brokers
HelvetiaGerman company of the Swiss Helvetia group
R+Vinsurer of the cooperative banks

Compare the wordings of all tariffs Holiday letting 5 tariffs from 4 providers, as of 24 October 2026

From the BaFin register

163

163 insurers supervised by BaFin, the German regulator, are licensed for this class of insurance.

(Allgemeine Haftpflicht, Hagel-, Frost- und sonstige Sachschäden)

Show all 163 names from the register
  • ACM Versicherung AG
  • ADAC Autoversicherung AG
  • ADAC Versicherung AG
  • ADAC Zuhause Versicherung AG
  • ADLER Versicherung AG
  • AGILA Haustierversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Allcura Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Allianz Direct Versicherungs-AG
  • Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE
  • Allianz Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Alte Leipziger Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Ambra Versicherung AG
  • AMMERLÄNDER VERSICHERUNG Versicherungsverein a.G. (VVaG)
  • andsafe Aktiengesellschaft
  • ARAG Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Astra Versicherung AG
  • AXA Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • BA die Bayerische Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • Badischer Gemeinde-Versicherungs-Verband
  • Baloise Sachversicherung Aktiengesellschaft Deutschland
  • Barmenia Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • BavariaDirekt Versicherung AG
  • Bayerische Hausbesitzer-Versicherungs-Gesellschaft a.G.
  • Bayerische Landesbrandversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Bayerischer Versicherungsverband Versicherungsaktiengesellschaft
  • BD24 Berlin Direkt Versicherung AG
  • Bergische Brandversicherung Allgemeine Feuerversicherung V.a.G.
  • BGV-Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • CG Car-Garantie Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Concordia Versicherungs-Gesellschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • CONSTANTIA Versicherungen a.G.
  • Continentale Sachversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Cosmos Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • DA Deutsche Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • DARAG Deutschland AG
  • Debeka Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft Sitz Koblenz am Rhein
  • Delvag Versicherungs-AG
  • DEVK Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • DEVK Deutsche Eisenbahn Versicherung Sach- und HUK-Versicherungsverein a.G. Betriebliche…
  • DFV Deutsche Familienversicherung AG
  • Dialog Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Die Haftpflichtkasse VVaG
  • DOCURA VVaG
  • Dolleruper Freie Brandgilde
  • Domestic & General Insurance Europe AG
  • ERGO Direkt Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • ERGO Reiseversicherung AG
  • ERGO Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Euro-Aviation Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • EUROPA Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • EXTREMUS Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Fahrlehrerversicherung Verein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Feuer- und Einbruchschadenkasse der BBBank in Karlsruhe, Versicherungsverein auf…
  • Feuersozietät Berlin Brandenburg Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • GARANTA Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Gartenbau-Versicherung VVaG
  • Gebäudeversicherungsgilde für Föhr,Amrum und Halligen
  • Gemeinnützige Haftpflichtversicherungsanstalt Kassel
  • Generali Deutschland Versicherung AG
  • GGG Kraftfahrzeug-Reparaturkosten-Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Gothaer Versicherungsbank VVaG
  • Great Lakes Insurance SE
  • GRUNDEIGENTÜMER-VERSICHERUNG Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • GVO Gegenseitigkeit Versicherung Oldenburg VVaG
  • GVV Direktversicherung AG
  • GVV-Kommunalversicherung, Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Haftpflichtgemeinschaft Deutscher Nahverkehrs- und Versorgungsunternehmen Allgemein (HDNA) VVaG
  • Hagelgilde Versicherungsverein a.G., gegründet 1811
  • Hamburger Beamten-Feuer-und Einbruchskasse
  • Hamburger Feuerkasse Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Hamburger Lehrer-Feuerkasse
  • HanseMerkur Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AG
  • Harsewinkeler Versicherung VaG
  • HDI Global SE
  • HDI Global Specialty SE
  • HDI Haftpflichtverband der Deutschen Industrie Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • HDI Versicherung AG
  • Helvetia Schweizerische Versicherungsgesellschaft AG Direktion für Deutschland
  • Helvetia Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • HUK-COBURG Haftpflicht-Unterstützungs-Kasse kraftfahrender Beamter Deutschlands a.G. in Coburg
  • HUK-COBURG-Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • HUK24 AG
  • Häger Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Hübener Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • IDEAL Versicherung AG
  • INTER Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • Interlloyd Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • InterRisk Versicherungs-AG Vienna Insurance Group.
  • ISSELHORSTER Versicherung V.a.G.
  • Itzehoer Versicherung/Brandgilde von 1691 Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Janitos Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • KRAVAG-ALLGEMEINE Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • KRAVAG-LOGISTIC Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Landschaftliche Brandkasse Hannover
  • LBN Versicherungsverein a.G. (VVaG)
  • Lehrer-Feuerversicherungsverein a.G. für Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg und Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
  • Lifestyle Protection AG
  • Lippische Landesbrandversicherung AG
  • Lucura Versicherungs AG
  • LVM Landwirtschaftlicher Versicherungsverein Münster a.G.
  • Mannheimer Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Markel Insurance SE
  • Mecklenburgische Versicherungs-Gesellschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Mercedes-Benz Versicherung AG
  • MVK Versicherung VVaG
  • MÜNCHENER VEREIN Allgemeine Versicherungs-AG
  • NEH Neue Hildener Versicherung AG
  • Neodigital Versicherung AG
  • Neuendorfer Brand-Bau-Gilde
  • Newline Europe Versicherung AG
  • nexible Versicherung AG
  • Nordhemmer Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • NV-Versicherungen VVaG
  • NÜRNBERGER Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • NÜRNBERGER BEAMTEN ALLGEMEINE VERSICHERUNG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
  • OKV - Ostdeutsche Kommunalversicherung auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Ostangler Brandgilde, Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit (VVaG)
  • OSTBEVERNER Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit (VVaG)
  • Pallas Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • ProTect Versicherung AG
  • Provinzial Nord Brandkasse Aktiengesellschaft
  • Provinzial Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • PVAG Polizeiversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • R+V Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Real Garant Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • RheinLand Versicherungs Aktiengesellschaft
  • Rhion Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • S DirektVersicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • SAARLAND Feuerversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Schleswiger Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • SCHNEVERDINGER Versicherungsverein a.G.
  • SHB Allgemeine Versicherung VVaG
  • SIGNAL IDUNA Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • SIGNAL IDUNA Unfallversicherung a. G.
  • Sparkassen-Versicherung Sachsen Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Stuttgarter Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • SV SparkassenVersicherung Gebäudeversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • TRIAS Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Uelzener Allgemeine Versicherungs-Gesellschaft a.G.
  • Union Reiseversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • uniVersa Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • Vereinigte Hagelversicherung VVaG
  • Vereinigte Tierversicherung, Gesellschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Versicherer im Raum der Kirchen Sachversicherung AG
  • Versicherungskammer Bayern Versicherungsanstalt des öffentlichen Rechts
  • Versicherungsverband Deutscher Eisenbahnen-Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Verti Versicherung AG
  • VHV Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • VHV Vereinigte Hannoversche Versicherung a.G.
  • Volkswagen Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • VOLKSWOHL-BUND SACHVERSICHERUNG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
  • VPV Allgemeine Versicherungs-AG
  • Waldenburger Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • WERTGARANTIE SE
  • WGV-Versicherung AG
  • WWK Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Württembergische Gemeinde-Versicherung auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Württembergische Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Würzburger Versicherungs-AG
  • Zurich Insurance Europe AG
  • Öffentliche Feuerversicherung Sachsen-Anhalt

Source: BaFin company database, 18 September 2026; EU insurers without a German office excluded.

Legal basis and sources

Products and add-ons

Holiday home policy

Bundles building, contents and liability for a let holiday property in one contract.

Landlord module in liability cover

Extends property owner or personal liability to letting to holiday guests.

Contents cover for holiday properties

For furniture, kitchen, electronics and linen in the let flat, often with an inventory list.

Loss of rent in buildings insurance

Replaces lost rent while the flat cannot be let after an insured loss.

Myth or truth

True or false?

Five things people say about this insurance. Guess first, then see the answer.

My personal liability pays if a holiday guest is injured.

This is false.

Usually false: many policies exclude letting to changing guests. A landlord module or property owner liability that includes holiday letting closes the gap.

AirCover protects me for every booking.

This is false.

False: AirCover applies only to stays booked through Airbnb. Other portals and direct bookings are not included.

The furnishings of a holiday let need their own cover.

This is true.

True: home contents insurance covers your own household. A let flat needs contents cover written for holiday properties.

Holiday let insurance is a legal requirement in Germany.

This is false.

False: there is no legal requirement. Your liability as a landlord is unlimited, though, so cover is strongly advisable.

I should tell my buildings insurer that I let to holiday guests.

This is true.

True: changing guests change the risk. Tell the insurer so your cover holds when you claim.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming your personal liability covers letting
  • Thinking the contents are covered by the home contents policy at your main home
  • Relying on booking platform cover alone
  • Not telling the buildings insurer about the letting
  • Leaving out natural hazards for a house near water
  • Having loss of rent calculated on long term rent instead of holiday bookings

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Is holiday let insurance compulsory in Germany?

No.

But as a landlord you are liable for harm to your guests,

and your contents and income are at stake, so cover is strongly advisable for every host.

Will my personal liability pay if a guest is injured?

Usually not, because many policies exclude letting to changing guests.

Check the wording or add a landlord module that names holiday letting explicitly.

Who pays if a guest breaks something?

The guest, through their own liability policy if it covers damage to rented property.

If it does not, or the damage was deliberate, only a policy that covers damage by guests helps.

Is Airbnb AirCover enough?

It gives basic protection for stays booked through Airbnb.

Guests from other portals or direct bookings are not included, and it has its own exclusions.

Your own policy covers every booking.

Do I have to tell my buildings insurer that I let the property?

Yes, tell them.

Letting to changing guests changes the risk,

and undeclared use can put your cover at risk when you claim.

Are the furnishings insured?

Only if you insure them separately.

Home contents insurance covers your own household.

A let flat needs contents cover written for holiday properties.

Will I be compensated if I cannot let after water damage?

If loss of rent is agreed and the damage was insured, yes.

What matters is how long it pays and whether holiday rent is based on actual bookings.

What if I use the property myself as well?

Then the policy should cover both uses.

Some policies insure only the letting, others your own stays too.

Why use a broker?

Because liability, contents, building and loss of rent often sit in different policies and gaps

open between them.

We check what you already have and add only what is missing.

The insurer pays our fee.

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3Details

Holiday let insurance

Furniture, kitchen, electronics, linen, rough estimate

For example waterside location, pool, sauna, high end furnishings

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