Insurance protection
Residential building insurance: Does it also pay for garden furniture?
11.08.2025 – 11:49 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
Depending on the version, the garden furniture can be expensive. Is residential building insurance liable for damage? An overview.
Garden furniture makes the terrace or the garden homely. If they are damaged or even stolen by storm or hail, insurance creates financial security. Most homeowners have taken out building insurance. This insurance covers a lot, but does that also apply to the outdoor area?
Anyone who owns a house or apartment is well advised with residential building insurance. In the basic version, the insurance already covers many risks such as fire, damage caused by tap water or storm and hail.
In addition, building insurance can be expanded by building blocks. In this way, owners can insure their property against elementary damage such as earthquakes, floods and even against avalanches and volcanic eruption.
In principle, however, only the building itself is insured. Protection does not include inventory such as furniture. This also applies to everything that stands in the garden or on the balcony.
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While residential building insurance insures all fixed components on the house, household insurance covers damage and loss of moving parts in and around the house or on the property.
Not only damage to furniture, but also on clothing or electrical appliances takes over the household insurance in the event of fire, water damage or burglary. Necessary cleaning work is also paid.
Not only is the inventory in the house, but also objects in the garden or on the balcony – provided that the owner has taken out household insurance with external insurance.
For example, if you get a high-priced outdoor kitchen or a noble garden furniture set, you should read your insurance policy thoroughly and, if necessary, consult the insurance agent.
With the right household insurance, garden furniture is insured outdoors and do not have to be brought into the house every evening. However, insurers generally determine upper limits.
This means that the full value is not necessarily replaced in the event of damage to the garden set or theft. A look at the insurance policy is also worthwhile in this regard.
You can actually (almost) everything. Some insurance companies are unnecessary, some make sense and some insurance companies are mandatory.
Contrary to a widespread opinion, residential building insurance is not a compulsory insurance. Household insurance is also a sensible but non -mandatory protection. Read here which insurance you really need and which not.
In Germany, only health, nursing and vehicle liability insurance are mandatory in Germany. Employees must also be legally insured and, in most cases, also pay them into unemployment insurance.
For companies, statutory accident insurance is mandatory and hunting liability insurance for hunters. Some professional groups such as doctors or lawyers need professional liability insurance.
Last but not least, animal owner liability insurance is mandatory for all dog owners in some federal states. In other federal states, this insurance obligation only applies to certain dog breeds.
Even if it is not prescribed, both residential building insurance for owners and household insurance are among the insurance companies that everyone should have.