What counts as living space for contents insurance in Germany?
In short
For contents insurance in Germany, living space (Wohnfläche) usually counts the floor area of all living rooms, including converted hobby rooms in the cellar and closed conservatories. Balconies, terraces, stairs, storage rooms, laundry and boiler rooms and garages usually do not count. Areas under two metres high often count only half. Your policy conditions set the exact rule.
What the area means for sum insured and premium, from published calculation examples.
Example
Typical range
Sum per square metre for the underinsurance waiver
about EUR 650 to 750
100 square metres at that flat rate
about EUR 65,000 to 75,000 sum insured
52 square metres, sum EUR 34,000, premium rate 1.8 per mille
about EUR 61 before and EUR 72 with insurance tax per year
Each extra square metre at EUR 650 and 1.8 per mille
about EUR 1.10 to 1.20 per year before tax
Flat rates and premium rate from the sources listed,
the value per extra square metre is calculated from them.
Your premium rate depends on your address and cover and is a guide value from our quoting practice.
Worked example
Flat with a converted hobby cellar, only the lease area stated
The lease says 75 square metres. There is also a converted hobby room of 20 square metres in the cellar, which counts for contents insurance.
Correct area
95 m²
Sum at EUR 650 per square metre
EUR 61,750 instead of EUR 48,750
Extra premium at 1.8 per mille before tax
about EUR 23 per year
Water damage of EUR 10,000, cut in the ratio 75 to 95
about EUR 7,900 instead of EUR 10,000
About EUR 23 more per year protects roughly EUR 2,100 in a claim here. Whether and how the payout is cut depends on your conditions.
Why the square metres matter so much
Many contents tariffs use a flat rate: living space times a fixed amount per square metre, usually EUR 650 to 750 depending on the insurer. If you insure this way, you often get a waiver of the underinsurance deduction (Unterversicherungsverzicht). The insurer then does not check in a claim whether your belongings were worth more.
This waiver depends on the floor area. In tariffs based on square metres it only applies if the living space at the time of the claim matches the figure in your policy schedule. Some conditions otherwise cut the payout in the ratio of the stated to the actual area.
Which rooms count and which do not
Insurers usually define living space as the floor area of all rooms that can be used for living. One insurer's published information sheet expressly includes hobby and party rooms, also in the cellar or loft, plus conservatories and similar rooms closed on all sides.
It does not count terraces, roof gardens, loggias and balconies, stairs, storage rooms in the cellar or loft, laundry, drying and boiler rooms, or garages and carports. The contents of these rooms are still insured if they belong to your home.
Room
Contents insurance, usual rule
German living space ordinance, as in many leases
Living rooms at least 2 metres high
full
full
Area under a sloping ceiling, 1 to 2 metres high
half
half
Area under 1 metre high
not counted
not counted
Balcony, loggia, terrace
not counted
usually a quarter, at most half
Converted hobby room in the cellar
full
not counted if it remains a cellar room
Cellar storage, laundry, boiler room, garage
not counted
not counted
Lease, purchase contract or measure yourself
The figure in your rental contract often follows the German living space ordinance (Wohnflächenverordnung). It usually counts balconies and terraces at a quarter but leaves out hobby rooms in the cellar. For contents insurance the figure can therefore be too high or too low.
Some insurers expressly accept the area under the living space ordinance or from the lease or purchase contract, as long as it reflects the current layout. If you have converted the cellar or loft since moving in, report the new area.
When the area matters less
If you have no underinsurance waiver but a sum you calculated yourself, what matters in a claim is mainly whether that sum covers the replacement value of your belongings. The area is then only part of the premium calculation.
Even with a waiver, the right area does not protect you from a sum that is too low if you own a lot of technology, art or jewellery. In that case, it is better to do your own calculation.
Step by step
Measure every room of the flat, length times width.
Add converted hobby rooms, a study and closed conservatories.
Halve or leave out areas under sloping ceilings depending on height.
Do not count the balcony, cellar storage, laundry or garage.
Compare the figure with your policy schedule and report differences in text form.
Checklist
Area in the policy schedule matches your current home
Converted cellar and loft rooms included
Move or conversion reported with the new area
Sum at least at the insurer's flat rate
Own valuation if you own a lot of technology, art or jewellery
Common mistakes
Taking the lease figure unchecked although a hobby cellar comes on top
Not reporting a loft conversion
Counting balcony and terrace and paying too much
Not stating the new area after a move
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
What applies to sloping ceilings?
Usually: from 2 metres high in full, between 1 and 2 metres half, under 1 metre not at all.
Your insurer may set a different rule.
Does the cellar count as living space?
A plain storage cellar does not, a converted hobby or party room usually does.
The contents of the cellar are insured either way.
Does the balcony count as living space?
For contents insurance usually not.
In a lease it is often included at a quarter.
Can I use the area from my rental contract?
Many insurers accept it if it reflects the current layout.
Check whether converted cellar rooms are missing.
What if I stated too large an area?
You pay a little more premium but get no more than the actual damage in a claim.
Report the correct area.
Do I have to report the area after a move?
Yes.
The model conditions require you to state the new living space in square metres at the latest when
