All about this insurance: Buildings insurance
Is buildings insurance mandatory in Germany?
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How do I switch buildings insurance in Germany?
In short
First get a quote with at least the same cover and have it accepted, then cancel the old policy with three months' notice before it renews. After a claim, a premium rise without better cover or when you buy a house, you can cancel within one month. Quotes for the same house often differ by several hundred euros a year.
What it costs
Published examples showing how far premiums for the same house can differ.
| Example | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Detached house in Hamburg, cheapest and most expensive tariff in the same comparison | about EUR 172 to 1,342 a year |
| Typical detached house with good cover | about EUR 400 to 500 a year |
| Older houses or exposed locations | about EUR 800 to 1,000 a year and more |
| Extra discount from a EUR 500 deductible | often 10 to 20 percent |
Guide values as of September 2026 from publicly quoted examples. The cheapest tariff in a comparison usually has the least cover. The worked example is a guide value from our quoting practice; we obtain the exact quote for you.
Worked example
Detached house, policy from 2012, renews on 1 January
This is how to switch without a gap when the old policy ends at the turn of the year.
| Current premium | EUR 780 a year |
| New quote, same or better cover | about EUR 520 to 600 a year |
| Accept the new policy | by the end of September, starting 1 January |
| Cancellation at the old insurer | received there by 30 September at the latest |
Saving about EUR 180 to 260 a year, without a single day uninsured.
When you can switch
Most policies run for one year and then renew automatically. Your cancellation (Kündigung) has to reach the insurer three months before the renewal date. Policies with a longer term can be cancelled at the end of the third year at the latest.
Certain events give you a special right to cancel, usually with only one month to act.
| Event | Deadline |
|---|---|
| End of the insurance year | three months before |
| After a claim | one month after the claim is settled |
| Premium rise without better cover | one month after you receive the notice |
| Buying a house | one month after the land register entry |
| Rise only through the index factor | usually no special right |
What is different if you come from abroad
In Germany, the buildings insurance of a house you buy passes to you automatically with the property. You are not forced to keep it, but you only have one month after the land register entry (Grundbucheintrag) to cancel it for that reason.
Deadlines count from when your letter arrives, not when you send it. Letters and policy terms are usually in German, and the German wording is what counts.
The right order
Never cancel first. A house without cover is a risk no saving is worth. Have the new policy start on exactly the day the old one ends.
If you have a mortgage, tell the bank about the new insurer. It wants to see that the house is insured at full value without any gap.
What the new policy must include
Compare cover, not just prices. Key points are a sum insured based on the 1914 value (Wert 1914) with a waiver of the underinsurance deduction, gross negligence without cuts, drainage pipes on the property and power surges from lightning.
Put the old policy next to the new one and check line by line whether anything is lost. Older policies sometimes include extras that cost more today.
Declare past claims honestly
The new insurer asks about claims in recent years, usually five. If you leave one out, it can later refuse to pay or end the contract. That costs far more than a higher premium.
After several water damage claims it becomes hard to get any new policy. Then it is often wiser to fix the cause first, for example by replacing old pipes, and switch later.
When to keep the old policy
If your house is in a high flood risk area and you have natural hazards cover (Elementarschaden) today, a new insurer may not offer it or only at a high price. Check this before you cancel.
Switching is also hard right after a big claim. And if the difference is only a few euros, the effort rarely pays.
Step by step
- Find the old policy and terms and note the renewal date.
- Collect living space, year of construction, renovations and past claims.
- Get quotes with at least the same cover and list all past claims.
- Accept the new policy with a start date matching the end of the old one.
- Cancel the old policy in text form and wait for confirmation.
- Tell your mortgage bank about the new insurer.
Checklist
- New policy accepted before you cancel
- No day without cover between old and new policy
- Sum insured based on the 1914 value with underinsurance waiver
- Natural hazards cover confirmed in the new policy
- All past claims of recent years declared
- Written confirmation of cancellation received
Common mistakes
- Cancelling first and then finding nobody will insure the house
- Comparing only prices and losing drainage pipe or gross negligence cover
- Leaving out past claims to get a lower premium
- Missing the deadline because the letter was sent on the last day
- Giving up existing flood cover in a high risk area
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Can I switch buildings insurance at any time?
No. Without a special reason only at the end of the insurance year with three months' notice. After a claim, a premium rise or a house purchase there is a special right to cancel.
Do I have to declare past claims?
Yes, if the new insurer asks, and it almost always does. Wrong answers can cost you your cover.
What if damage happens during the switch?
The policy in force on the day of the damage is responsible. That is why the new one should start exactly when the old one ends.
Do I need my bank's permission?
Not permission, but tell the bank. It wants to see that the house is insured at full value at all times.
Can I cancel in English?
A clear letter in English is usually accepted, but a short German text avoids questions. State your policy number and the date the contract should end.
Sources
NAMMERT insurance broker
Request a quote: Buildings insurance
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NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act, broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. For boat and yacht insurance we act as underwriting agency, not as broker. Statutory disclosure (German) · Updated
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