Does building insurance in Germany pay for vandalism and graffiti?
In short
Basic building insurance in Germany does not pay for vandalism and graffiti, because the model conditions only list fire, mains water, storm, hail and natural hazards. You need a clause for malicious damage. Graffiti often has its own cap: one published policy pays up to EUR 7,500 with a EUR 250 excess. Cleaning costs about EUR 40 to 100 per square metre.
Published repair costs after vandalism in Germany and caps from one set of conditions.
Example
Typical range
Removing graffiti from a facade
about EUR 40 to 100 per square metre
Replacing a garden fence, wood to natural stone
about EUR 40 to 200 per metre
Letterbox including fitting
about EUR 200 to 400
Forced window including fitting
about EUR 500 to 1,000
Graffiti cap in a sample policy
EUR 7,500 per claim, EUR 15,000 a year
Costs from an insurer's guide and caps from published special conditions, as of October 2026.
The area in the worked example is a guide value from our quoting practice.
Worked example
Detached house, graffiti on the garage wall
Overnight, unknown people spray twelve square metres of rendered wall. The owner reports it to the police the next morning.
Area
12 m²
Cleaning (12 × EUR 40 to 100)
EUR 480 to 1,200
Excess in the sample policy
EUR 250
Payout with graffiti clause
EUR 230 to 950
Payout under basic cover
EUR 0
With the clause, the owner only bears the excess. Without it, the owner pays the full cleaning bill and can only turn to the culprit if found.
Why basic cover does not pay for vandalism
German building insurance (Wohngebäudeversicherung) only pays for the perils named in the policy. Under A 1 of the model conditions VGB 2022 these are fire, lightning, explosion and related events, mains water, storm and hail and, if agreed, further natural hazards. Vandalism and graffiti are not on the list.
A kicked in fence, a scratched garage door or a sprayed facade is therefore not a claim without an extension. The model conditions even exclude damage from civil unrest in A 2.2. Arson is different: fire is insured, whoever started it.
The malicious damage clause
Many insurers offer vandalism as an add on or in higher tiers, often called malicious damage. It means any intentional, direct damage to or destruction of insured property by other people.
Graffiti is often dealt with separately. In one published set of conditions, graffiti is covered as paint or lacquer applied by unauthorised third parties to the outside of the building, capped at EUR 7,500 per claim and EUR 15,000 a year, with a EUR 250 excess. Other policies require the culprit to have broken in first. A sprayed outside wall is then not covered.
Damage
Basic cover
With vandalism clause
Graffiti on the facade
no
yes, often with its own cap
Destroyed fence or letterbox
no
yes, if fixed to the property
Window pane smashed by a stone
no, unless glass add on
yes, or via glass insurance
Arson
yes, as fire
yes
Furniture wrecked after a break in
no
no, that is contents
What contents insurance covers
If someone breaks into your home and destroys things there, A 4.3 of the model contents conditions VHB 2022 calls this vandalism after a break in. Contents insurance then replaces furniture, electronics and clothing.
Damage to the building inside the home caused by vandalism after a break in also counts as repair costs under A 13.2.7 VHB 2022. Contents insurance does not pay for graffiti outside or for fence, gate or carport.
Limits to know about
Even with a clause, the insurer usually pays only up to a cap and deducts an excess. For a small tag of two square metres, little is left after the excess. For a large sprayed facade that needs scaffolding, a low cap is reached quickly.
Loose items such as garden furniture are not part of the building and are not covered even with a clause. Outbuildings such as a garage or shed may have their own rules. In a block of flats the facade is usually common property, so the owners' association's building policy is the one to check.
Police report and the culprit
Graffiti is a crime in Germany: under section 303 (2) of the Criminal Code it is criminal damage to change the appearance of someone else's property significantly and not just temporarily without permission. Report it, even against persons unknown. Many clauses require this, and without a report the insurer can reduce or refuse payment.
If your insurer pays, your claim against the culprit passes to the insurer under section 86 of the Insurance Contract Act (VVG), to the extent it has paid. You can still claim the rest, such as the excess, from the culprit yourself.
Step by step
Photograph the damage with the date and something for scale.
Report it to the police, even against persons unknown, and note the reference number.
Look in your policy for vandalism, malicious damage and graffiti.
Tell your insurer without delay and send the photos.
Get a quote from a specialist firm and agree the cleaning with the insurer.
Have the graffiti removed quickly: fresh paint comes off more easily and attracts fewer copycats.
Checklist
Malicious damage clause in the policy
Graffiti on outside walls expressly included
No break in required for vandalism outside
Cap matches the size of your facade
Graffiti excess known
Fence, gate, carport and outbuildings covered
Common mistakes
Attacking graffiti with solvent before the insurer has seen it
Not reporting it because the culprit is unknown anyway
Assuming every building policy includes vandalism
Checking for the clause but missing the low graffiti cap
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Is graffiti on my house insured?
Only with a clause that expressly includes graffiti.
It is not covered under the model conditions' basic cover.
Does contents insurance pay for graffiti on the facade?
No.
Contents insurance pays for vandalism inside the home after a break in, not for the outside wall.
Do I have to report vandalism to the police?
Yes.
Most clauses require a report without delay, otherwise the insurer can reduce or refuse payment.
Who pays for graffiti on a block of flats?
The facade is usually common property.
The owners' association's building insurance pays if it includes vandalism.
Is it worth claiming for small damage?
If the damage is below the excess, the insurer pays nothing.
Still file the police report.
Can I deduct the cost from tax?
Landlords can claim the removal against rental income.
For a home you live in yourself, this is not possible.
Does an anti graffiti coating help?
Yes, on treated surfaces paint can often be washed off with water.
For walls that are sprayed again and again it is often worth it.
