Does buildings insurance in Germany pay for water damage from pipes?
In short
Yes. Water escaping from pipes, called Leitungswasser in German policies, is part of the basic cover of every buildings insurance. It pays for burst and frozen pipes inside the house, finding and opening up the leak, drying and repairing walls and floors. An average claim costs more than EUR 4,000. Rain, groundwater, sewage backflow and often pipes outside the house are not covered.
What pipe water damage costs in Germany, based on published industry figures and trade prices, 2026.
Example
Typical range
Average pipe water claim on a residential building
around EUR 4,300 (EUR 4.9 billion for about 1.13 million claims)
Leak detection, depending on method
about EUR 200 to 600
Building drying, small area up to 20 square metres
about EUR 400 to 800
Building drying, medium area up to 50 square metres
about EUR 1,000 to 1,500
Electricity for one drying unit
about EUR 2.80 to 16 a day
Guide values as of September 2026 from industry statistics and published trade prices.
The average is calculated from total claims cost and number of claims.
The screed and tile costs in the example are guide values from our quoting practice.
Worked example
Burst pipe in the bathroom, detached house built in 1978
A corroded hot water pipe in the wall breaks. Water runs unnoticed into the screed of the bathroom and hallway.
Leak detection with thermal imaging
about EUR 300
Open the wall, replace the pipe section, close it again
about EUR 800 to 1,200
Screed drying, about 25 square metres, three weeks
about EUR 1,000 to 1,500
New tiles and flooring
about EUR 2,000 to 3,500
Deductible, if agreed
for example EUR 500
Total damage about EUR 4,100 to 6,500. The insurer pays it minus the deductible. Replacing the other old pipes in the house is your own cost.
What counts as pipe water damage
Covered is water that escapes unintentionally from fixed installations: drinking water and waste water pipes inside the house, the heating system, taps and connected appliances such as washing machines or dishwashers. Breakage and frost damage to the pipes themselves are included too.
The insurer pays to repair the broken section, to locate and expose the leak, to dry the building and to restore screed, plaster, tiles and floors. Your furniture and belongings are not part of buildings insurance. They fall under contents insurance (Hausratversicherung).
Damage
Does buildings insurance pay?
Burst pipe inside a wall
yes, including detection, opening up and drying
Frozen pipe inside the house
yes, if you heated the house or drained the pipes
Burst washing machine hose
yes for walls and floor, usually not for the hose itself
Leaking silicone joint in the shower
usually no, it is treated as wear
Waste pipe under the garden
only if drainage pipes on the plot are included
Water from heavy rain or backflow
no, only with natural hazard cover
Water from an aquarium or waterbed
yes, in most newer policy wordings
Where cover ends
Pipes outside the building are the most common gap. Supply pipes on the plot are often included, drainage pipes in the ground only in better tariffs and sometimes only up to a fixed amount. Digging up a waste pipe under the driveway easily costs several thousand euros.
Mould after a leak is not always covered, especially if the leak dripped unnoticed for a long time. Replacing old, corroded pipes throughout the house is not an insurance benefit either. The insurer pays for the damaged spot, not a full renovation.
What is different if you come from abroad
In Germany, building, belongings and liability are three separate policies. If you rent, the landlord's buildings insurance pays for walls and floors, your contents insurance for your furniture, and your personal liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) if water from your flat damages a neighbour's flat.
If you own a house, you must heat it in winter or shut off and drain the water pipes while it stands empty. Report the damage at once, and agree drying and repair with the insurer where possible. In an emergency you may act immediately to limit the damage.
Why old pipes push up the premium
More than half of all claims costs in German buildings insurance come from pipe water. Many houses still have pipes from the 1960s and 1970s, so insurers ask about the year of construction and any renovation and charge noticeably more for old installations.
After several pipe claims an insurer may cancel or insist on a high deductible. If you buy an older house, have the pipes checked before the first leak happens.
Step by step
Turn off the main water valve and, if there is a risk, switch off power to the affected area.
Take dated photos and move wet belongings to safety.
Report the damage to the buildings insurer at once, or to your landlord if you rent.
Agree leak detection and drying with the insurer.
Keep all invoices and the moisture readings from the drying company.
After the repair, check whether other old pipes in the house should be replaced.
Checklist
Drainage pipes on the plot and under the building included
Costs for leak detection and opening up without a low limit
Water from aquariums, waterbeds and heating systems included
Gross negligence fully covered
Natural hazard cover for rain, backflow and flooding
Contents insurance for furniture and floors that belong to you as a tenant
Common mistakes
Leaving a holiday home or empty flat unheated in winter without draining the pipes
Watching a damp patch for weeks instead of reporting it straight away
Treating a leaking shower joint as pipe water damage
Dropping drainage pipes in the garden to get a cheaper tariff
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Does buildings insurance pay for leak detection?
Yes, if an insured pipe burst is behind it.
Some tariffs cap the costs for searching and opening up, so check the limit in your policy.
Who pays for water damage in a rented flat?
Walls and floors are paid by the landlord's buildings insurance,
your furniture by your contents insurance.
If you caused the damage and a neighbour's flat is affected,
your personal liability insurance pays.
Does the insurer pay the electricity for the dryers?
Usually yes, as part of the claim.
Note the meter reading before and after drying.
Is rain coming through the roof pipe water damage?
No.
Rain through a hole caused by a storm falls under storm cover.
Backflow and heavy rain are only covered with natural hazard cover.
Will the insurer replace all my old pipes?
No.
It pays for the broken section and the damage it caused, not a full renovation of old pipes.
Can my insurer cancel after water claims?
Yes, after a claim both sides may cancel.
With several pipe claims in a short time this happens,
and often a higher deductible is asked for instead.
