Check Natural Damage Coverage for Tenants in Germany

As a tenant in Germany, natural damages such as floods, heavy rain or burst pipes can occur suddenly and cause significant expenses. This practical guide explains in plain language how to check your liability and household contents insurance, what duties landlords have under the BGB^[1] and which deadlines apply for reporting and limiting damage. I show which receipts and photos are important, how to document conversations with the insurer and the landlord, and which first budget-friendly steps can secure your apartment. Read step by step how to report damage immediately, which costs insurers and landlords may cover, and how to arrange inexpensive provisional repairs without jeopardizing your rights.

What are natural damages?

Natural damages include harm from natural events such as floods, heavy rain, backflow, landslides or storms. For tenants it is important to know: not every loss is automatically covered by household insurance, and landlords have separate maintenance duties under tenancy law.

Check insurance: liability & household contents

First check which policies you and your landlord have. Pay attention to exclusions for natural hazards, deductibles and whether water damage or flooding is covered.

• document all policies and policy details (policy number, insurer) and take photos of the damage.
• Check which costs the household insurance covers and whether liability insurance covers third-party damage.
• Forms: record damage reports and submit written claims to insurers; keep copies as proof.
• For urgent repairs (repair) secure provisionally: turn off water, avoid electrical hazards, protect furniture.

Immediate actions after damage

Act quickly to prevent further damage and to avoid jeopardizing claims. Report the damage within the deadlines required by the insurer and inform the landlord immediately.

• report the damage within the deadline required by the policy (within the deadline) in writing to insurer and landlord.
• document damage with photos, videos and an inventory of damaged items.
• If the apartment is uninhabitable: check temporary accommodation options and clarify cost coverage (hotel, housing).

Rights, deadlines and court

If insurers or landlords do not respond, tenants can consider legal steps. Tenancy duty breaches fall under §§ 535–580a BGB^[1]. Civil procedure is governed by the ZPO^[2] and the local court (Amtsgericht) is usually the first instance.

Forms and templates

Use official forms where available. Important examples for tenants include:

• Termination letter / withdrawal notice template (check preconditions and deadlines).
• Application for legal advice assistance or legal aid if you face financial hardship (file in time).
• Power of attorney for legal representation if you retain a lawyer.

FAQ

Who pays for immediate protective measures after a natural damage?

Typically the insurer of the affected person or the landlord covers short-term emergency measures; check your policy and inform insurer and landlord immediately.

Can I reduce rent if the apartment becomes uninhabitable due to damage?

Yes, rent reduction may be possible for significant impairments; document the defect and notify the landlord in writing.

When is a court (Amtsgericht) competent?

For tenancy disputes with lower claim values, the local court is usually competent; for higher values the regional court and possibly appeals up to the Federal Court (BGH) apply.

How-To

1. Step 1: Secure the damage and remove hazards immediately (within 24 hours).
2. Step 2: Document all damage with photos and an item list.
3. Step 3: Report the damage in writing to your household and liability insurers and send copies to the landlord.
4. Step 4: If needed, seek legal advice or apply for legal aid and check deadlines for court actions.

Key takeaways

• Document damage and communication thoroughly as evidence.
• Take inexpensive provisional measures to limit damage.
• Contact insurer, landlord and official bodies early.

Help and Support / Resources

• Gesetze im Internet (BGB, ZPO and more)
• Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ) – information and forms
• Federal Court of Justice (BGH) – decisions

1. [1] Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) — gesetze-im-internet.de
2. [2] Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) — gesetze-im-internet.de
3. [3] Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ) — bmj.de
4. [4] Federal Court of Justice (BGH) — bundesgerichtshof.de