# Insurance for disability support services, supported housing and sheltered workshops in Germany

> Disability support services in Germany (Eingliederungshilfe) run supported housing, day centres, sheltered workshops and transport services. They take on supervision of people who cannot always judge danger, and they are liable when something goes wrong. Add buildings, workshop machinery and minibuses. This page shows what a provider should insure and what it costs.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-disability-support-services.php  
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Who pays if a resident scratches a parked car while unsupervised?

If the provider took on supervision, the owner of the car can claim against it under § 832 BGB. Public liability checks whether supervision was breached, pays justified claims and defends the others. Many policies also pay voluntarily where nobody is legally liable; ask for this clause.

## At a glance

- **Duty of supervision:** Anyone who takes on supervision of a person with an impairment by contract is liable for damage that person causes to others if supervision was inadequate (§ 832 BGB)
- **Sheltered workshops:** People working in recognised sheltered workshops (Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen) are covered by statutory accident insurance (§ 2 (1) no. 4 SGB VII)
- **Biggest risk:** Injury to clients and third parties, such as a fall, a client wandering off or a road accident
- **Basic cover from:** about €800 a year for the public liability policy of a small provider with one group home (guide price from our quoting practice)
- **Often forgotten:** Damage clients cause to the provider's property or to housemates, and the board's personal liability

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Supervision:** A client leaves the group unnoticed, runs into the road or damages someone else's property. The question then is whether supervision was sufficient.
- **Care and assistance:** Transfers, meals with swallowing difficulties, medication: mistakes in assistance can have serious consequences.
- **Workshop production:** Machines, assembly and packing for customers: accidents, product defects and downtime hit the provider twice.
- **Transport service:** Minibuses run to workshops and day centres every day. One accident can injure several people at once.
- **Buildings:** Homes, workshops and day centres full of people: a fire means evacuation and temporary accommodation.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 5, Fire and water 4, Theft 2, Cyber 3, Downtime 3, Health 4

## The insurance you need

- **Business liability** (Essential): Pays for damage from support, assistance and supervision, to clients and third parties, with product liability for the workshop. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Fleet insurance** (Essential): Motor liability is compulsory; for transport minibuses a fleet policy with passenger cover makes sense. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-fleet-insurance.php
- **Commercial buildings** (Strongly advised): For your own homes, workshops and day centres against fire, storm and water damage. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-commercial-buildings.php
- **Business contents** (Strongly advised): Replaces furniture, aids and workshop equipment after fire, water and burglary. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **D&O insurance** (Strongly advised): Protects board and managing directors against personal liability for management errors. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-directors-and-officers.php
- **Cyber insurance** (Strongly advised): Helps after attacks on support plans, billing and health data. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cyber-insurance.php
- **Business interruption** (Depends on the business): Pays running costs if a workshop cannot fulfil orders after damage. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-interruption.php

## What it costs: example prices

Premiums depend on places and staff, on workshop and transport service and on building values. Buildings and vehicles are usually the largest items.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Small provider with one group home and outreach assistance | about €800 to €2,000 a year |
| Business liability | Provider with a sheltered workshop, 150 places and product liability | about €3,000 to €8,000 a year |
| Fleet insurance | Per minibus in the transport service, liability and fully comprehensive | about €1,200 to €2,500 a year |
| D&O insurance | Association or non profit company, €2 million cover | about €800 to €2,000 a year |

For comparison: Liability cover for a small provider costs about as much a year as insuring a single minibus.

_Guide prices from our quoting practice, as of October 2026. There are hardly any published tariff examples for disability support providers; the sources below support the legal statements. We obtain the exact quote for you._

- [Gesetze im Internet: § 832 BGB, liability of person with duty of supervision](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__832.html)
- [Gesetze im Internet: § 2 SGB VII, compulsory accident insurance](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_7/__2.html)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Start** (small provider with one group home and outreach assistance): Business liability, Business contents, Cyber insurance. Together: about €2,000 to €4,500 a year
- **Provider** (supported housing, day centre and transport service): Business liability, Fleet insurance, Commercial buildings, Business contents, D&O insurance, Cyber insurance. Together: about €10,000 to €25,000 a year
- **Full cover** (provider with workshop production and several sites): Business liability, Fleet insurance, Commercial buildings, Business contents, D&O insurance, Cyber insurance, Business interruption. Together: about €25,000 to €60,000 a year

## The worst day in disability support

Five things that really happen to disability support providers, all on a single Wednesday here. Tap through the day and see who pays.

- 07:15: A transport minibus runs into the car in front at traffic lights; two passengers are hurt. (€25,000, Paid by: Fleet insurance)
- 09:40: A resident leaves the group unnoticed and damages several parked cars. (€6,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 11:20: Parts assembled in the workshop are faulty; the customer claims the cost of replacing them. (€15,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 14:00: A toaster sets the kitchen of a group home on fire; residents have to move out for a while. (€80,000, Paid by: Commercial buildings)
- 17:30: Support planning is encrypted and billing stops. (€20,000, Paid by: Cyber insurance)

**Damage so far:** €146,000

## Practical tips from your broker

- Have the duty of supervision and damage caused by clients named explicitly in public liability.
- Ask for a clause that pays even without legal liability when a client who cannot be held responsible causes damage.
- Insure workshop products with product liability, and with extended product liability if you assemble for industrial customers.
- Check passenger accident or driver cover for minibuses in addition to motor liability.
- Keep supervision concepts and records up to date; they decide liability disputes.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We know social care providers:** Norman Nammert acts as an insurance broker and obtains quotes from several insurers. We focus on supervision, workshop and board liability.
- **We know claims from practice:** In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves. That experience goes into our advice.
- **Advice in English:** Buildings, transport, workshop and management with one contact person. Advice is free of charge; the insurer pays our commission.

## FAQ

### Is a provider liable if a client causes damage?

If the provider took on supervision and breached it, yes. Under § 832 BGB there is no liability if supervision was sufficient or the damage would have happened anyway.

### Are people in sheltered workshops covered by accident insurance?

Yes, people in recognised sheltered workshops are covered by statutory accident insurance under § 2 (1) no. 4 SGB VII.

### How much does liability insurance cost for a disability support provider?

About €800 to €2,000 a year for small providers, about €3,000 to €8,000 for providers with a workshop and 150 places. These are guide prices from our quoting practice.

### Do sheltered workshops need product liability?

Anyone producing or assembling for customers is liable for defects. Product liability should therefore be included in public liability.

### Does the board need D&O cover?

Board members and managing directors can be personally liable for management errors. D&O cover through the provider protects them.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison, free of charge. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-disability-support-services.php#anfrage

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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.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.