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How do I insure a holiday home in Germany?

In short

With buildings insurance that expressly covers homes nobody lives in all year. Standard German policies usually assume you live there. For a 100 square metre holiday home in Germany you often pay EUR 250 to 600 a year. On top come contents and liability insurance and, if you let it, cover for loss of rent.

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How do I insure a holiday home in Germany?

What it costs

Published premium examples for holiday homes, without contents and liability.

Example	Typical range
Holiday home on the North Sea, 100 square metres, sum insured EUR 175,000	about EUR 284 a year
Holiday home in France, 120 square metres, sum insured EUR 210,000	about EUR 454 a year
Holiday home in Germany, 80 to 120 square metres, depending on location and cover	about EUR 250 to 600 a year
Surcharge compared with a permanently occupied house	about 20 to 50 percent

As of September 2026. The range of EUR 250 to 600 and the surcharge compared with an occupied house are guide values from our quoting practice. Natural hazard cover and letting raise the premium further. We obtain the exact quote for you.

Worked example

Holiday home on the Baltic coast, partly let

A 90 square metre house let to guests from May to September and empty in winter. The figures are rounded guide values.

Buildings insurance for a holiday home with letting	about EUR 300 to 450
Natural hazards near the coast	about EUR 80 to 200
Contents for the furnishings	about EUR 80 to 150
Property owner's liability	about EUR 50 to 100

Together about EUR 510 to 900 a year, plus a caretaker for winter checks.

Why a standard policy is not enough

German buildings insurance (Wohngebäudeversicherung) is designed for houses people live in. If a house stands empty for a long time, insurers see a higher risk. If you do not tell them, they may pay less or nothing after a loss.

With a holiday home, being empty is normal. So you need a policy that lists the house as a holiday or second home (Ferienhaus or Zweitwohnsitz). Then vacancy is priced in and no longer a point of dispute.

Which policies a holiday home needs

Buildings insurance covers the house against fire, burst pipes, storm and hail. Near the coast or a river you also need natural hazard cover (Elementarschaden), otherwise flooding is missing.

For furniture and equipment you need separate contents insurance for the holiday home; the policy for your main home usually does not cover it fully. As the owner you are also liable if, for example, a guest slips on an icy step.

Policy	When you need it	What to check
Buildings insurance for holiday homes	always, if you own the house	vacancy expressly allowed
Natural hazards	near coast, river or slope	waiting period and deductible
Contents for the holiday home	if it is furnished	burglary during long absences
Property owner's liability	if you let or others use it	sum insured at least EUR 5 million
Loss of rent	if you let	how long and how much is paid

Duties you must know

Almost every policy sets safety duties for unused buildings. In winter you must heat the house enough or shut off and drain the water pipes. The house must be checked regularly so damage does not go unnoticed for months.

If you break these duties, you often get only part of a frost claim paid. A neighbour or caretaker who looks in once a week and keeps a record is therefore worth a lot.

If you let it to guests

If you let the house to holiday guests, you must tell the insurer. Some policies exclude commercial letting, others charge a surcharge. Damage a guest causes to the building is first paid by your buildings insurance, which then claims the money back from the guest.

Loss of rent cover matters. If a fire makes the house uninhabitable for months, you would otherwise lose a whole season of income.

A holiday home outside Germany

German buildings policies usually only cover houses in Germany. For a house in Spain, France or Austria you normally need an insurer licensed there and terms under that country's law.

Also check whether the country has its own compulsory insurance or whether your mortgage bank requires specific cover.

Step by step

Work out how often the house is used and whether you let it.
Choose a policy that expressly names holiday or second homes.
Check natural hazard cover for the location, almost always on the coast or near rivers.
Add contents, liability and, if you let, loss of rent.
Organise frost protection and winter checks and keep a record.
For a house abroad, involve an insurer in that country.

Checklist

Policy names the house as a holiday or second home
No fixed vacancy limit, or a limit long enough for your use
Letting disclosed to the insurer
Natural hazard cover near coast, river or slope
Plan for heating or draining the pipes in winter
Regular checks by a neighbour or a service

Common mistakes

Insuring the holiday home under a standard policy and not mentioning vacancy
Not shutting off the water in winter
Not telling the insurer about letting to guests
Assuming the contents policy for your main home also covers the holiday home

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

How long can a holiday home stand empty?

The policy decides. Standard policies often set 60 to 90 days, holiday home policies allow longer vacancy but require regular checks.

Is frost damage in an empty house covered?

Yes, if you kept to your duties: heating, or shutting off the water and draining the pipes. Otherwise the payout is often cut.

Do I have to report letting?

Yes. Letting changes the risk, and some policies exclude it. Keeping it quiet puts your cover at risk.

Can I insure my holiday home in Spain with a German policy?

Usually not with standard German buildings insurance. You normally need a policy from an insurer licensed in Spain.

Can I get the documents in English?

Rarely. The German terms apply in a claim, so ask us when a clause about vacancy or letting is unclear.

Is the premium tax deductible?

If you let the house, a share can count as income-related expenses. For purely private use usually not; ask a tax adviser.

Sources

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