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Who is liable if a tradesperson causes damage in my home in Germany?

In short

Who is liable if a tradesperson causes damage in my home in Germany? The business you hired, including for its staff and subcontractors (section 278 BGB). Usually its business liability insurance pays, which tradespeople often have for EUR 200 to 450 a year. Faulty work itself is not insured; the business must put it right. Report the damage in writing with photos.

Who is liable if a tradesperson causes damage in my home in Germany?

What it costs

What tradespeople pay for the insurance that covers your damage.

ExampleTypical range
Trades, standard workusually EUR 200 to 450 a year
Construction and roofingfrom about EUR 600 a year
Small businessesabout EUR 60 to 200 a year
Recommended cover for tradesEUR 3 to 10 million

Guide values from published examples, October 2026.

Worked example

Painter in a period apartment

An employee knocks over a ladder, damaging a display cabinet and the parquet.

Cabinet, current valueEUR 1,200
Sanding and sealing the parquetEUR 1,800
Liabilitythe painting business, sections 280 and 278 BGB
Paymentthe painter's business liability insurance

The business's insurer pays EUR 3,000; your own contents insurance is not needed.

The business is liable, also for its people

Your contract is with the business. If it breaches a duty and you suffer damage, it must pay (section 280 of the Civil Code, BGB). It is liable for its staff and subcontractors as for itself (section 278 BGB).

The worker who caused the damage is also personally liable, but stick to the business: it is your contract partner and normally holds the insurance.

What the tradesperson's insurance pays

Business liability insurance checks liability, rejects unjustified claims and pays justified ones. A painter scratching your parquet or a plumber flooding the bathroom are typical cases. Damage to the item being worked on (Tätigkeitsschäden) is governed by its own clause, partly only by special agreement.

DamageDoes the insurance pay?
Parquet scratched while paintingusually yes
Water damage from a loose pipeusually yes, including consequential damage
Tiles laid crookedno, the business must fix it
New pipe leaks and damages itselfno, damage to own work

What it does not pay

Claims for performance, repair of the work, price reduction or withdrawal are excluded, as is damage to things the business made or supplied. Faulty work is a warranty matter the business pays itself. If the insurer declines, your claim against the business remains.

Your own insurance and time limits

For water or fire damage, your contents (Hausrat) or buildings insurance (Wohngebäude) may pay first. Your claim then passes to your insurer (section 86 VVG), which recovers the money. Tenants also tell the landlord.

Damage claims expire after three years from the end of the year you learned of the damage and who caused it. Defect claims expire after two years, five for buildings, from acceptance. Norman Nammert arranges cover as an insurance broker (Versicherungsmakler).

Step by step

  1. Photograph the damage and note witnesses.
  2. Inform the business in writing and ask for its insurer.
  3. Set a deadline of about two weeks.
  4. Allow an inspection.
  5. For water or fire, also inform your own insurer.

Checklist

  • Before and after photos
  • Written notice to the business
  • Name of its insurer
  • Repair estimate
  • Deadlines in the calendar

Common mistakes

  • Only talking to the worker
  • Having it repaired before anyone has seen it
  • Trying to settle faulty work through the insurance

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Do I have to contact the tradesperson's insurer?

No, your claim is against the business; it reports to its insurer.

Is the business liable for a subcontractor?

Yes, as for itself.

What if the tradesperson has no insurance?

Then the business pays from its own assets.

Does my personal liability insurance pay?

No, you did not cause the damage.

Contents or buildings insurance may pay for water and fire.

Do I get the new value?

The loss is compensated, for older items often current value or repair.

Sources

NAMMERT insurance broker

Request a quote: Business liability

We compare insurers and come back to you, in English.

Free; the insurer pays our fee.

1Who is it for?
2Which insurance?

Choose as many as you like. For each one, the details an insurer needs for a quote appear below.

Personal

Business

3Details

Business liability insurance in Germany (Betriebshaftpflicht)

For example electrical installation in homes, café with outdoor seating, online shop for furniture

For example work at clients' sites, own products, exports to the US, parent company abroad

4Your current policy
5How can we reach you?

Related questions

Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT.

Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act.

Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company.

It does not arrange your contract.

Statutory disclosure (German) · Updated

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