Does my liability insurance pay if my washing machine leaks?
In short
Yes, your private liability insurance (Privathaftpflicht) does pay if your washing machine leaks and the water damages the neighbour's flat or the landlord's property, but only if you were at fault. Without fault, liability insurance defends you and the neighbour's own insurance pays. Your own furniture is covered by contents insurance. Liability cover costs from about EUR 40 a year.
What the insurance policies that respond to a washing machine leak cost in Germany.
Example
Typical range
Private liability, single, at least EUR 10 million cover
about EUR 40 to 120 a year
Private liability, family
about EUR 60 to 180 a year
Contents insurance, 75 square metres, medium tariff zone
about EUR 90 to 120 a year
Guide values from published market overviews, 2026.
The cost of water damage depends on the amount of water and the floors and is not quantified here.
Worked example
Hose replaced by the tenant, water runs into the flat below
A tenant changes the inlet hose himself, does not tighten the fitting and goes shopping.
Own rug and sofa
contents insurance
Laminate floor of the rented flat
private liability, rented property damage
Ceiling and furniture downstairs
private liability, because negligent
New hose
paid by himself
Because the hose was fitted wrongly, he was negligent: liability insurance pays the landlord and the neighbour, contents insurance pays for his own belongings.
Who pays which part of the water damage
When a washing machine leaks there are usually three kinds of damage: to your own things, to the flat or house and to the neighbour below. Each part has its own insurance, and only one of them is liability insurance.
Damaged
Responsible
Condition
Your furniture, clothes, rugs
your contents insurance (Hausrat)
mains water is insured
Floors, walls of the rented flat
your private liability
fault and rented property damage included
Neighbour's flat and belongings
your private liability
you were at fault
Neighbour's flat without your fault
the neighbour's own insurance
mains water insured there
The building, if you own it
your buildings insurance
mains water is insured
Fault decides whether liability pays
Private liability only pays if you are legally obliged to pay damages. Under section 823 of the German Civil Code (BGB) that requires intent or negligence. If a properly connected inlet hose bursts without warning, there is often no fault.
It is negligent to run the washing machine although the hose is already dripping, to connect a hose wrongly yourself or not to fix the drain hose properly. Then liability insurance pays for the damage at the neighbour's.
If liability insurance does not pay
Liability insurance checks whether you are liable and defends you against unjustified claims. That protects you: you do not pay out of your own pocket, and the neighbour turns to their own contents and buildings insurance.
So report the water damage to your liability insurer even if you feel you are not to blame. If it goes to court, under the model terms the insurer conducts the case at its own cost.
Your own belongings and the rented flat
Under the German model terms for contents insurance, water that escapes from hoses or connected appliances counts as mains water damage. Your soaked furniture and devices are therefore paid by contents insurance, but not the defect of the washing machine itself.
Damage to floors and walls of a rented flat is damage to rented property (Mietsachschaden). Private liability pays it if your policy includes it and you are liable. Under the model terms, the landlord's electrical appliances are excluded.
Step by step
Turn off the tap, switch off the machine and soak up the water.
Tell the neighbours and the landlord straight away.
Take photos and keep the faulty hose.
Report to contents and liability insurers the same day.
Do not admit fault, the liability insurer clarifies that.
Checklist
Private liability including damage to rented rooms
Contents insurance including mains water
Inlet hose with a water stop or checked regularly
Tap turned off after washing
Photos and receipts collected for the claim
Common mistakes
Promising the neighbour to pay on the spot
Throwing away the faulty hose before the insurer has seen it
Reporting only to liability insurance and forgetting your own contents cover
Running the washing machine while nobody is at home
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Does my liability insurance pay if the washing machine leaks through no fault of mine?
Then there is usually no fault.
Liability insurance rejects the claim and the neighbour uses their own insurance.
Does contents insurance pay for the broken washing machine?
Not for the defect of the machine.
It pays for belongings damaged by the escaping water.
Who pays for the parquet in my rented flat?
Your private liability through damage to rented property,
if you caused it negligently and your policy includes it.
Do I have to pay the neighbour myself?
Not if you are liable and have private liability insurance.
If you are not liable, you owe nothing.
Does a water stop device matter?
It lowers the risk.
Not having one is not negligent in itself, but ignoring a dripping hose is.
