Rental property damage (Mietsachschaden) is covered by your private liability insurance when you have caused damage to the rented flat or room and are legally liable for it. This includes floors, doors, walls or sanitary fittings. Whether your tariff actually covers it depends on its conditions in each individual case.
Short answer: Rental property damage is damage to the flat that you cause, for example to floors, windows or sanitary fittings. Many private liability policies cover it, often with a deductible. One insurer cites 150 euros per claim as a typical deductible (guide page, retrieved October 2026). Movable items such as furniture are usually not included. Check the conditions of your tariff before you move in.
The key points in brief
- Rental property damage arises from your own fault, for example from fire, water or gross carelessness.
- Your private liability insurance pays damages to the landlord if you are liable, usually up to the agreed coverage limit.
- Many tariffs exclude glass, electrical appliances and heating systems. Movable items such as furniture are usually not part of the rented property.
- Wear and tear and gradual damage are not covered. That part of the rent is something you cannot insure.
- Intentionally caused damage is not insured under Section 103 VVG.
What exactly is rental property damage?
Rental property damage concerns the flat itself. It covers all parts firmly attached to the building: floors, doors, windows, walls, built-in cupboards and sanitary fittings. A cracked laminate floor after a party or a damaged washbasin after improper use both fall under this. Liability insurance steps in because you owe the landlord compensation. The main legal basis is tenancy law in the German Civil Code (BGB), which obliges tenants to take care of the property.
Things are different for items you own yourself. A broken television or a damaged laptop is a matter for your household contents insurance, and then only if an insured cause such as fire, water or burglary applies. Liability insurance does not cover your own belongings. How to set the sum for your own contents is shown in our guide Household Insurance on a Budget: How Much Coverage Is Enough.
What does liability insurance cover in a student hall?
In a student hall, you usually have a tenancy or hall agreement. Damage to fixed parts of your room falls under the rental property damage rule of your tariff, provided the tariff includes it. Furniture supplied by the hall is different. It belongs to the operator, not to you, and many tariffs do not cover it.
If in doubt, ask the administration which items belong to the room. Also read in the agreement who is liable for damage to the inventory. This saves time in a dispute, because you then do not have to rely on assumptions. Boundaries are often unclear in halls with shared kitchens or shared bathrooms.
Which damage is typically covered?
The table shows typical cases. It does not replace reading your conditions, because every tariff is worded differently.
| Damage | Typically covered | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Parquet or laminate damaged through carelessness | yes, depending on tariff | Watch your deductible |
| Wall or door damage during a move | yes, depending on tariff | Intentional damage is not covered |
| Damage to heating or hot water system | usually no | Often explicitly excluded |
| Glass breakage | usually no | Often explicitly excluded |
| Furniture supplied by the hall | usually no | Belongs to the operator, not to you |
| Wear and tear | no | Covered by the rent |
What is the deductible, and what does the insurer pay?
Many tariffs require a deductible (Selbstbeteiligung) per claim. The liability insurer then pays only the amount above this threshold, up to the coverage limit (Deckungssumme) of the contract. If the damage exceeds that, you bear the rest yourself.
Assumption for a worked example: you damage the parquet in your room, the damage amounts to 1,200 euros, and your deductible is 150 euros. Then the liability insurer pays 1,050 euros, and you bear 150 euros. If the coverage limit of your tariff is lower than the damage, you pay the remainder yourself as well. The 150 euro figure is named by an insurer as a common deductible. It is not a legal value.
How do you check your tariff properly?
- Search the conditions for the terms “rental property damage” or “rented property” and read exactly what they say.
- Note the deductible per claim and compare it with the value of your flat.
- Check the coverage limit, meaning the maximum benefit, and whether it fits your situation.
- Find out whether furniture or inventory supplied by the hall is covered.
- Have the scope of cover for your flat confirmed in writing before you move in.
What should you do if damage happens?
First document the damage with photos before you change or repair anything. Report it to the landlord or the administration, and then to your liability insurer. Prompt reports make settlement easier, and delays can trigger proof obligations. If the insurer rejects a claim, ask for the reasons in writing and check them against the conditions.
A handover protocol at move-in helps most. Record every existing defect in it, ideally with dates and photos, and have the administration or landlord countersign it. Without this protocol it is often unclear whether a scratch is new or was already there. The protocol therefore protects you from claims for damage you did not cause, and it helps at move-out when the flat is returned.
Frequently asked questions
Does my private liability insurance always pay for damage in the flat?
No. It pays only if you are liable for the damage and your tariff includes rental property damage. Wear and tear and intentional damage are excluded. So first check whether your tariff has a rental property damage clause.
Do I need my own liability insurance if I am covered by my parents?
Often you are covered by their policy as long as you belong to their household. Whether that cover continues after you move out depends on your parents’ tariff and is often linked to training and place of residence. Check this before you move out. More on this is in Student Family Insurance: Until When Are You Covered?.
What happens if hall furniture is damaged?
The inventory belongs to the operator, not to you, and many tariffs do not cover damage to it. Clarify this with the hall before anything happens, and record in writing which items were present at move-in.
Do I have to report damage immediately?
Yes, you should report it promptly, preferably in writing. Damage that goes unnoticed for a long time is harder to classify. The reporting obligations in your contract set out the exact deadlines.
What coverage limit should I choose?
The coverage limit is the maximum benefit, and there is no blanket recommendation. Read in the conditions which sum your tariff provides, and consider whether it is enough for a flat with high-quality flooring or a fitted kitchen.
What to do now
- Read your private liability conditions on rental property damage before you move in.
- Ask the landlord or hall which inventory belongs to the room, and document its condition with photos.
- Note the deductible and coverage limit so you can react quickly if something happens.
- Report damage promptly, and document it with photos first.
Related reading
- Student Family Insurance: Until When Are You Covered?
- Affordable student housing: strategy, portals and costs
- Budget Planning for Students: A Monthly Plan in 3 Steps
- Organise Student Finances: Account, Reserve and Deadlines
Sources: Section 103 VVG, intentional acts (Gesetze im Internet, retrieved October 2026); insurer guide “Mietsachschäden: Was ist versichert?” for the 150 euro deductible as a guideline, not an official source (retrieved October 2026) (in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
