Tenant liability. The correct way to insure against damage by tenants.

Q: When does your tenants’ liability resp. private liability insurance pay for damage?

Repair of damage caused by tenants If you move out, you should inform your landlord of any damage at an early stage so that they can organize the repair. This can prevent any delays or rent losses. Report damage as soon as you become aware of it In any case, you should immediately report any damage to the rental property to your insurance company. The insurance company will then inform you of the next steps. Some damage must be repaired immediately. However, sometimes the repairs can also be deferred until you move out. For example, an accidentally caused deep scratch in the glass ceramic hob that does not affect how the hob functions would not be repaired until you have moved out of the apartment. Useful life is also a factor The repair costs are based on the useful life of an object. The glass ceramic stove, for example, has a useful life of 15 years. If it has to be repaired after ten years, a maximum of one third of the original value is still left. You can find the useful life of individual furnishings in the useful life table of the Tenants' Association (Mieterinnen- und Mieterverband).

Q: When am I as a tenant liable with my private assets?

The tenant's liability insurance does not cover gradual damage you yourself have caused. In such cases, tenants must pay for the repair of the damage themselves. Examples of such damage include nicotine deposits on the walls, smoke odours or mould if you have demonstrably not ventilated enough.

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Report a claim

Calculate premium

Report a claim

Living leaves its mark over time. This could be due to normal or excessive wear and tear or if something is accidentally damaged or breaks. Find out who pays for which damage.

Automatically included when you take out private third-party liability insurance

Covers damage caused by you as the tenant

All people living in the same household are insured

Calculate premium simply online and conclude insurance directly

What is tenants’ liability insurance?

As a tenant of an apartment, you and others living in the household are responsible for damage caused by its use during the rental period. Your private liability insurance – also called tenant's liability insurance – covers certain types of damage. All persons living in the same household are also insured.

Damage caused by tenants – who pays?

When does your tenants’ liability resp. private liability insurance pay for damage?

Repair of damage caused by tenants

If you move out, you should inform your landlord of any damage at an early stage so that they can organize the repair. This can prevent any delays or rent losses.

Report damage as soon as you become aware of it

In any case, you should immediately report any damage to the rental property to your insurance company. The insurance company will then inform you of the next steps. Some damage must be repaired immediately. However, sometimes the repairs can also be deferred until you move out. For example, an accidentally caused deep scratch in the glass ceramic hob that does not affect how the hob functions would not be repaired until you have moved out of the apartment.

Useful life is also a factor

The repair costs are based on the useful life of an object. The glass ceramic stove, for example, has a useful life of 15 years. If it has to be repaired after ten years, a maximum of one third of the original value is still left. You can find the useful life of individual furnishings in the useful life table of the Tenants' Association (Mieterinnen- und Mieterverband).

Service life table

Service life table

When am I as a tenant liable with my private assets?

Our tips for you

Do not organize repairs yourself

In the event of substantial damage you should always first inform your landlord and do not organize the repairs yourself. If your landlord is not satisfied with the repairs he or she may have them redone at your expense.

Do not organize repairs yourself

Apartment handover report

You do not have to pay for damage already listed in the apartment handover report. If you discover deficiencies after the apartment is handed over you can still report them within five to 30 days, depending on the landlord.

Apartment handover report

Restore the original condition

As a rule, the apartment must be handed over in the original condition. Repainted walls, a cat flap, etc. must be restored to the original condition. Changes can only be left if they have been confirmed in writing by the landlord.

Restore the original condition

Define a reduction in value

What if the scratch on the parquet floor is only small and having the whole floor sanded would be disproportionate? In this case a reduction in value can be defined, and you only need to pay for part of the repair costs. If the landlord makes unjustifiable demands, you can ask Helvetia’s specialists and claims experts to help you.

Define a reduction in value

Personal liability insurance

Cover yourself and your family against minor acts of carelessness with major financial consequences so that you can keep your composure even when something goes wrong.