# Insurance for house clearance businesses in Germany

> A wardrobe scrapes the stairwell wall, a box of family papers ends up in the skip, the van rolls into a courtyard gate. In house clearance businesses the damage rarely happens on your own premises; it happens at the customer's home. Here is what clearance firms in Germany need to insure, what it costs and what German waste law expects from you.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-house-clearance.php  
Updated: 2026-10-14

## Does my public liability pay if we damage the stairwell while carrying furniture out?

Usually yes, because the stairwell belongs to the landlord or the owners' association, so it is third party property. It gets harder with items you handle yourself: a cabinet that breaks while you take it apart, or a painting that ends up in the skip, counts as damage to goods in your care. Many basic policies exclude that. Make sure your policy includes it in writing.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** Motor liability for every van, by law at least €7.5 million for injury, €1.3 million for property damage and €50,000 for pure financial loss
- **Waste law:** Anyone who collects or transports waste must notify the state authority before starting (§ 53 KrWG, Circular Economy Act); hazardous waste needs a permit under § 54 KrWG
- **Biggest risk:** Damage to stairwells, lifts and neighbours' property while carrying items out, and disputes over things that were thrown away
- **Basic cover from:** about €300 a year for public liability for a small firm, a guide value from our quoting work
- **Often forgotten:** Damage to items you handle or take away is excluded in many basic policies and has to be added

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Stairwells and lifts:** A wardrobe hits the banister, the lift car gets scratched, the freshly painted hallway is ruined. Property managers send the bill.
- **Thrown away by mistake:** The box of letters, jewellery or cash was never meant for the skip. The heirs want compensation, and the value is hard to prove.
- **Van accidents:** Narrow courtyards, reversing with a full load, double parking: the van works hard every day.
- **Injuries from lifting:** Heavy furniture, steep stairs, glass and nails in the junk. Backs, hands and knees take the strain.
- **Lost keys:** The master key to an apartment block goes missing. Replacing the locking system quickly runs into four figures.
- **Disputes over waste:** A fine for incorrect disposal, an argument with the client over the price or with the landlord over leftover rubbish often ends with a lawyer.

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

## The insurance you need

- **Car insurance** (Essential): Motor liability is compulsory for every van. Comprehensive cover makes sense for newer vehicles, because the van is your most important tool. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-car-insurance.php
- **Business liability** (Strongly advised): Not compulsory, but the key cover: damage in stairwells, flats and next door. Make sure damage to goods in your care, work on items and lost keys are included. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Strongly advised): Business legal expenses cover for disputes with clients over prices and discarded items, for fines and for employment matters. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php
- **Cargo insurance** (Depends on the business): If you transport furniture and antiques for resale, goods in transit cover protects the load. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cargo-insurance.php
- **Business contents** (Depends on the business): Contents cover for your store, tools and second hand stock against fire, burglary and water damage. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Accident insurance** (Depends on the business): For you as owner, if you are not voluntarily insured with the Berufsgenossenschaft (statutory accident insurer); heavy lifting is a real accident risk. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-accident-insurance.php
- **Occupational disability** (Depends on the business): Income protection: without a healthy back there is no income in this trade. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-occupational-disability.php

## What it costs: example prices

Insurers in Germany rarely publish tariffs for house clearance. The premium depends on turnover, staff, the limit of indemnity and whether damage to goods in your care and lost keys are included.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Owner with up to two helpers, €3 million limit, including goods in care and lost keys | about €300 to €700 a year |
| Car insurance | Van up to 3.5 tonnes, business use, third party and partial cover, average no claims class | about €900 to €1,800 a year |
| Business legal expenses | Small firm with contract, employment and traffic legal cover | about €350 to €800 a year |
| Business contents | Store with tools and stock worth €50,000 | about €200 to €500 a year |
| Accident insurance | Owner, €100,000 disability sum with progression | about €150 to €300 a year |

For comparison: Liability and legal cover for a small clearance firm cost about as much per year as one larger flat clearance.

_All premiums are guide values from our quoting work, excluding German insurance premium tax, as of October 2026. The minimum motor liability limits are set in the Compulsory Insurance Act (Pflichtversicherungsgesetz), the notification and permit duties in the Circular Economy Act (Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz). We obtain your quote from several insurers._

- [Pflichtversicherungsgesetz, Annex: minimum sums insured](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pflvg/anlage.html)
- [Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz § 53: notification duty for collectors and carriers](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/krwg/__53.html)
- [Kreislaufwirtschaftsgesetz § 54: permit for hazardous waste](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/krwg/__54.html)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Starter** (Owner with one van and occasional helpers): Car insurance, Business liability. Together: about €1,200 to €2,500 a year
- **Established** (Two vans, permanent staff, clearances for heirs and property managers): Car insurance, Business liability, Business legal expenses, Accident insurance. Together: about €3,000 to €5,500 a year
- **With store and resale** (Firm with a store, second hand sales and deliveries to dealers): Car insurance, Business liability, Business legal expenses, Business contents, Cargo insurance. Together: individual, usually from about €4,500 a year

## The worst day on a house clearance

Six things clearance firms really go through, all on one day in a four storey period building. Tap through and see who pays.

- 08:10: While manoeuvring in the courtyard, the van scrapes the neighbour's gate. (€2,400, Paid by: Car insurance)
- 09:45: A heavy cabinet slips on the stairs and tears out part of the banister and plaster. (€3,800, Paid by: Business liability)
- 11:30: The glass door in the hallway cracks while furniture is carried through. (€1,200, Paid by: Business liability)
- 14:00: The property manager's master key is lost and the locking system has to be replaced. (€4,500, Paid by: Business liability)
- 16:20: The heir refuses to pay, claiming a box of jewellery was thrown away. A lawyer is needed. (€2,600, Paid by: Business legal expenses)
- 18:05: The owner twists his ankle carrying a chest of drawers; torn ligament and six weeks off. (€5,000, Paid by: Accident insurance)

**Damage so far:** €19,500

## Practical tips from your broker

- Have damage to goods in your care, work on items and lost keys written into your public liability policy; without them the typical clearance claim is not covered.
- Photograph stairwell, lift and doors before you start. It settles later which scratch was already there.
- Get written confirmation of what may be discarded, and set aside papers, jewellery and cash you find.
- Notify the state authority before you start collecting or transporting waste, as § 53 KrWG requires.
- Tell the insurer about business use of the van and name every driver.
- If you resell furniture, state this in the business description so the liability policy also covers trading.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We read the exclusions:** For clearance firms it is not the price that decides, but whether goods in care, work on items and lost keys are covered. As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert compares the wording of several insurers for you.
- **Van and business together:** Van, liability, legal cover and your personal insurance all run through one contact.
- **We know what claims need:** In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves and know which photos and records an insurer wants to see.
- **Broker since 1989:** A family business, not tied to any insurer. Our service is free for you; the insurer pays our commission. We advise in English.

## FAQ

### Which insurance is compulsory for house clearance in Germany?

Motor liability for every van. Public liability is not required by law, but property managers and business clients often ask for proof of it.

### Do I have to register under waste law?

Anyone who collects or transports waste must notify the competent state authority before starting, under § 53 KrWG. Hazardous waste requires a permit under § 54 KrWG.

### What does public liability cost for a clearance firm?

For a small firm with a €3 million limit and the important add ons, about €300 to €700 a year is a realistic guide value from our quoting work.

### Who pays if valuables are thrown away by mistake?

That depends on the policy. Items handed to you for clearance count as goods in your care and are only covered if that extension is agreed. A clear written list of what may go is your best protection.

### Are my helpers covered for accidents at work?

Employees and casual staff are covered by statutory accident insurance through the Berufsgenossenschaft, and the employer pays the contributions. As the owner you are only covered if you join voluntarily or have private accident insurance.

### Do I need comprehensive cover for the van?

Not by law. For newer or leased vans it is worth it, because otherwise every accident you cause comes out of your own pocket.

## 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-house-clearance.php#anfrage

---

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.