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What does buildings insurance cover in Germany?

In short

Buildings insurance (Wohngebäudeversicherung) pays to repair or rebuild your house after fire, escaping tap water, storm from wind force 8 and hail. It also pays for clearing up and, for let homes, lost rent. Floods, heavy rain and sewage backflow are only included with natural hazards cover (Elementarschutz).

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What it costs

Typical claim amounts and premiums, as of 2026.

Example	Typical range
Tap water damage including drying	about EUR 3,000 to 10,000
Storm damage to the roof	about EUR 2,000 to 15,000
Buildings insurance for a detached house a year	about EUR 300 to 800
Natural hazards cover in a safe location a year	about EUR 50 to 200

Claim amounts are guide values from our quoting practice, premiums from publicly quoted examples, as of September 2026.

Worked example

Burst pipe on the upper floor

This is how a typical tap water claim splits into the items the insurer pays.

Finding the leak and opening the wall	about EUR 800
Drying over three weeks	about EUR 2,500
Screed, flooring and painting	about EUR 5,500
Deductible	minus EUR 500

The insurer pays around EUR 8,300, you carry the agreed deductible.

What counts as the building

Everything firmly attached to the house is insured: walls, roof, windows, heating, plumbing and wiring, and depending on the policy the fitted kitchen.

Garages, carports and garden sheds are often only included up to a limit or if you declare them. Declare solar panels and a wall box for your electric car explicitly.

Peril	Example
Fire	fire, lightning strike, explosion
Escaping tap water	burst pipe, leaking heating, frost damage
Storm and hail	roof torn off, smashed skylights
Natural hazards (add-on)	heavy rain, flooding, sewage backflow, snow load

What is different if you come from abroad

A US homeowners policy bundles the building, your belongings and liability. In Germany these are three separate policies: buildings insurance, contents insurance (Hausratversicherung) and personal liability insurance. In the UK flood cover is usually part of standard buildings insurance; in Germany it is an add-on you have to choose.

Buildings insurance is not required by law, but banks require it for a mortgage. When you buy a house, the seller's policy passes to you, and you can cancel it within one month of being entered in the land register (Grundbuch). If you own a flat, the owners' association insures the whole building. As a tenant you do not need it, the landlord insures the building and usually passes the cost on through the service charges.

Which extra costs are paid

Good tariffs pay not only for the repair but also for clearing up, demolition, protection against further damage and finding the leak.

If you cannot live in the house, many tariffs pay lost rent or the cost of not being able to use it for a limited time.

Where the insurance does not pay

Wear and tear, damp caused by building defects, groundwater without a suitable clause and damage caused by missing maintenance are not insured.

For gross negligence, tariffs without a suitable clause cut the payout. If you leave an empty house unheated in winter, you risk cuts for frost damage.

Step by step

Report the damage straight away and prevent further damage.
Take photos before anything is cleared up.
Keep damaged parts until the insurer has seen them.
Only hire tradespeople after agreeing with the insurer, except for emergency measures.
Collect the invoices and submit them.

Checklist

Natural hazards cover including sewage backflow agreed
Drain pipes on your land covered
Solar panels and wall box declared
Gross negligence fully included
Lost rent included for let parts of the house
Existing policy checked after buying a house

Common mistakes

Believing heavy rain is always covered
Repairing the damage first and reporting it afterwards
Not reporting that the house stands empty in winter and turning off the heating
Keeping the seller's old policy after a purchase without checking it

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Does buildings insurance pay after heavy rain?

Only if you have agreed natural hazards cover. Without it, it does not pay.

From what wind force does the insurance pay?

From wind force 8. The insurer checks data from nearby weather stations.

Does it pay for mould?

Only as a result of an insured event, such as a burst pipe. Mould from poor ventilation or building defects is not insured.

Is the fence covered?

Often up to a limit. Check whether fixtures on your land are named in the policy.

Does it pay for a door damaged in a burglary?

Damaged doors and windows are usually paid by contents insurance, the buildings policy only in some tariffs.

Do I need buildings insurance as a tenant?

No. The landlord insures the building. You need contents insurance for your belongings and liability insurance for damage you cause.

Sources

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Buildings insurance in Germany (Wohngebäudeversicherung)

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