Who pays if my cleaner breaks something? Often you do. Your own liability insurance does not pay for damage to your things, contents insurance only for perils such as escaping water. If the cleaner comes through a cleaning company, the company is liable. A minijob cleaner is hardly liable for slight negligence. A registered minijob costs you 14.62 percent in contributions.
What a registered household minijob and private liability cost in Germany.
Example
Typical range
Contributions for a minijob in a private household
14.62 percent of monthly pay
Tax reduction for a household minijob
20 percent of costs, up to EUR 510 a year
Private liability for one person, at least EUR 10 million cover
about EUR 40 to 120 a year
Private liability for a family or couple
about EUR 60 to 180 a year
Contributions and tax benefit according to the Minijob-Zentrale;
premium ranges from published market overviews, as of 2026.
Worked example
Ceramic hob scratched with the wrong sponge
The cleaner works in a minijob via the household cheque. She accidentally uses a scouring pad; the EUR 600 hob is scratched.
Your private liability
does not pay, own loss
Contents insurance
does not pay, no insured peril
Cleaner's liability
slight negligence, at most a share
Cleaning company instead of minijob
would have been fully liable for the mistake
You bear most of it yourself. Had the cleaner come through a company, you could claim the damage from the company.
Why your own liability insurance does not pay
Private liability insurance pays for damage you cause to others. If your cleaner breaks your vase, that is your own loss. Under the German model terms, household staff are co-insured, but only towards third parties, and claims of the policyholder against co-insured persons are excluded.
Your contents insurance (Hausrat) only pays for insured perils. If the cleaner causes a fire or escaping water damage, it may apply. Simply dropping and breaking something is not one of them.
Who is liable depends on the arrangement with the cleaner
If the cleaner comes from a cleaning company, the company is liable for its staff's fault as for its own under Section 278 BGB. You contact the company, whose business liability usually steps in.
If the cleaner is employed by you, for example in a minijob, employment law applies. Under the case law of the Federal Labour Court, the cleaner is not liable for the slightest negligence, liable in part for normal negligence and, as a rule, fully liable for gross negligence.
Type of cleaner
Who is liable to you
Who pays
Cleaning company
the company
the company's business liability
Minijob via household cheque (Haushaltsscheck)
the cleaner, heavily limited
often you yourself
Self-employed cleaner with invoice
the cleaner, if at fault
their business liability, if any
Unregistered help
the cleaner, if at fault
usually nobody
The self-employed cleaner and their insurance
A self-employed cleaner is liable to you under Section 280 BGB if they culpably breach their duties. Their private liability does not cover professional or business risks under the model terms. Some policies include small side activities; this depends on the policy terms.
Before the first visit, ask whether the cleaner has professional or business liability cover and ask to see the policy. Without insurance, you can only enforce your claim against their own money.
If the cleaner damages a neighbour's flat or gets hurt
If your cleaner leaves water running and it drips through the neighbour's ceiling, your private liability also covers persons employed in your household towards third parties under the model terms.
If the cleaner slips on the wet stairs, they have statutory accident insurance when registered with the Minijob-Zentrale. According to the Minijob-Zentrale, you then do not have to cover the costs. Undeclared work lacks this protection.
Step by step
Photograph the damage and talk calmly with the cleaner.
Clarify whether it is a company, a minijob or self-employment.
With a company, report the damage there in writing.
For water damage or fire, also inform your contents insurer.
For damage to neighbours, report to your private liability within one week.
Checklist
Cleaner registered, via Minijob-Zentrale or a company
Proof of business liability for self-employed cleaners
Delicate surfaces and appliances explained beforehand
Valuable single items put away
Contents insurance with escaping water and glass checked
Common mistakes
Reporting damage by the cleaner to your own liability insurer
Employing the cleaner undeclared and losing accident cover
Simply deducting the damage from the minijobber's pay
Not reporting in writing to a company
Questions and answers
Frequently asked
Does my liability insurance pay if the cleaner breaks my vase?
No.
Your liability insurance does not pay for damage to your own things,
even if co-insured household staff caused it.
Is my minijob cleaner liable for every damage?
No.
Under the case law, she is not liable for the slightest negligence and only partly for normal
negligence.
Does the cleaner's liability insurance pay?
Their private liability usually does not cover the work.
Business liability pays if they have it.
What if the cleaner comes from a company?
Then the company is liable for its staff's fault as for its own,
usually through its business liability.
Who pays if the cleaner gets hurt at my home?
Statutory accident insurance, if registered with the Minijob-Zentrale.
