All about this insurance: Contents insurance
Do I need contents insurance as a renter in Germany?
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What is the difference between Haushaltsversicherung and Hausratversicherung?
In short
What is the difference between them? Mostly the country. Haushaltsversicherung is the Austrian term, Hausratversicherung the German one, and both pay for your belongings after fire, burst pipes, storm or burglary. In Austria personal liability cover is usually included. In Germany contents insurance does not include it, so you need a separate liability policy, from about EUR 25 a year.
What it costs
Published guide values for 2026. Figures from the two countries can only be compared roughly, because the scope of cover differs.
| Example | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Contents insurance Germany, 2 rooms, 65 square metres, basic cover | about EUR 70 to 140 a year |
| Personal liability Germany, single, strong tariff | from about EUR 25 a year |
| Personal liability Germany, family, strong tariff | from about EUR 37 a year |
| Haushaltsversicherung Austria, 70 square metres in Vienna, with liability | about EUR 72 to 180 a year |
Guide values, as of October 2026, from published model calculations.
Your premium depends on where you live, the sum insured and add-ons; we obtain the exact quote.
Worked example
Couple, 70 square metres, moving from Vienna to Germany
In Vienna the couple had a Haushaltsversicherung with liability. In Germany they need two contracts for the same protection.
| Before in Vienna: Haushaltsversicherung with liability | about EUR 72 to 180 |
| New in Germany: contents insurance, about 65 to 70 m² | about EUR 70 to 140 |
| New in Germany: personal liability for the couple | from about EUR 37 |
In Germany together from about EUR 107 to 177 a year, split over two contracts. Taking out only contents insurance leaves them without liability cover.
Two words, two countries
If someone in Germany says Haushaltsversicherung, they almost always mean Hausratversicherung, usually translated as contents insurance. It pays for everything you would take with you when moving: furniture, clothes, kitchen, electronics, books, food. It covers fire, Leitungswasser, storm and hail, burglary, robbery and vandalism after a break in.
In Austria the matching product is called Haushaltsversicherung. According to the Austrian Chamber of Labour it usually covers fire, storm, Leitungswasser, burglary and glass breakage, and personal liability for damage you cause to others is mostly included.
| Item | Hausratversicherung (Germany) | Haushaltsversicherung (Austria) |
|---|---|---|
| Belongings against fire, water, storm, burglary | yes | yes |
| Personal liability | no, separate contract | usually included |
| Glass | add-on | usually included |
| Flood, backflow, heavy rain | add-on for natural hazards (Elementar) | limited, depending on the policy |
| The building | Wohngebäudeversicherung | Eigenheimversicherung |
The key difference: liability
Contents insurance pays for your own things. Damage you cause to other people is covered in Germany by personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht). These are two separate contracts, and liability is the more important one, because an injury claim can quickly reach six figures.
If you move to Germany from Austria and only take out contents insurance, you often end up without liability cover without noticing. Strong liability tariffs in Germany start at about EUR 25 a year for singles and about EUR 37 for families.
What you need in Germany
Living in Germany, you need liability insurance in almost every case. Contents insurance is worth it if you could not easily replace your furniture and belongings from savings after a fire or burglary. If you rent furnished and own little, you can skip contents cover sooner than liability.
In Germany you usually do not need glass insurance, consumer advice centres take the same view. Natural hazards such as flooding, backflow and heavy rain, on the other hand, are missing from many contents policies. If you live on the ground floor, in a basement flat or near water, check this add-on.
Step by step
- Check which country you live in: that decides which product you get.
- In Germany take out personal liability insurance first or check an existing one.
- Estimate the value of your belongings, as a rough guide EUR 650 per square metre.
- Take out contents insurance with that sum and with gross negligence included.
- Choose the natural hazards add-on depending on where the flat is, usually leave out glass.
Checklist
- Personal liability exists as a separate contract
- Sum insured for contents at least EUR 650 per square metre
- Gross negligence included
- Natural hazards for a ground floor flat or a home near water
- No gap between old and new cover after moving from Austria
Common mistakes
- Believing German contents insurance includes liability as in Austria
- Insuring only the contents when moving to Germany
- Buying glass insurance and saving on the sum insured instead
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Is there a Haushaltsversicherung in Germany?
Not as its own type of contract.
People almost always mean Hausratversicherung.
Liability insurance is taken out separately.
Is liability included in German contents insurance?
No.
You need personal liability insurance, strong tariffs start at about EUR 25 a year.
Is a Haushaltsversicherung more expensive than a Hausratversicherung?
At first glance often yes, because liability is included.
If you add contents and liability together in Germany, both end up in similar ranges.
What is the difference to building insurance?
Contents insurance pays for your movable belongings,
building insurance (Wohngebäudeversicherung) for the house itself.
In Austria it is usually called Eigenheimversicherung.
As a tenant, do I need both?
Liability almost always.
Contents insurance if you could not replace your belongings yourself after a loss.
Sources
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