Wegweiser Owners & Builders · Buying, building, owning Deutsch

☔ Buildings insurance and natural hazards

Natural hazard insurance has so far not been compulsory. Check whether your residential buildings insurance includes heavy rain and flooding.

residential buildings insurance natural hazard damage heavy rain flooding compulsory insurance household contents

In brief

Residential buildings insurance usually covers fire, storm and tap water. Heavy rain, flooding and landslides are often covered only by an additional natural hazard insurance.

There is currently no legal obligation. The Federal Government announced in the coalition agreement that it would strengthen protection against natural hazards. According to the sources checked, no law has yet been passed.

Check your policy. In an owners' association, adequate insurance is part of proper management.

Step by step

  1. Check the policyLook at which hazards are included.
  2. Assess the riskAsk about the hazard exposure of your location.
  3. Compare offersObtain quotes and get independent advice.
  4. Report damageReport damage immediately and document it with photos.

Deadlines

no legal obligation
Natural hazard insurance is currently voluntaryAs of September 2026 according to the sources checked
approx. 57 percent
Share of residential buildings with natural hazard cover at the end of 2024 (according to a secondary source citing GDV)Search hits, not checked by us
Watch out – common mistakes
  • Reform plans are announced, not adopted. Do not count on it and go without protection.
  • A motion by the Die Linke parliamentary group was removed from the Bundestag agenda on 16 April 2026.
  • Check exclusions and waiting periods in the policy.
  • Condominium owners: the buildings insurance is taken out by the association; you insure your own household contents.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Legal position

According to the sources checked, there is no nationwide obligation to take out natural hazard insurance. According to a secondary source, the coalition agreement announced that residential buildings insurance should in future be offered only with protection against further natural hazards; the initiative is to be stepped up in the second half of 2026; an opt-out solution is also under discussion. This was not checked here against a primary source. On 16 April 2026 the Bundestag had before it a motion by Die Linke (21/5030) for a solidarity-based compulsory insurance; it was removed from the agenda.

Condominium ownership

§ 19 WEG: proper management includes insuring the common property at replacement value and liability insurance.

Not covered

Contract terms, obligations, underinsurance and claims settlement are not covered here.

Who is responsible
  • Insurers and insurance brokers
  • Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice centre; independent advice)
  • Manager (Verwalter; for an owners' association)
Further reading
Condominium ownership: meeting, resolution, manager, service chargeForced auction (Zwangsversteigerung)

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Buildings insurance and natural hazards“?
Natural hazard insurance has so far not been compulsory. Check whether your residential buildings insurance includes heavy rain and flooding.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
  • no legal obligation: Natural hazard insurance is currently voluntary (As of September 2026 according to the sources checked)
  • approx. 57 percent: Share of residential buildings with natural hazard cover at the end of 2024 (according to a secondary source citing GDV) (Search hits, not checked by us)
What should I do first?
  • Check the policy: Look at which hazards are included.
  • Assess the risk: Ask about the hazard exposure of your location.
  • Compare offers: Obtain quotes and get independent advice.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • Reform plans are announced, not adopted. Do not count on it and go without protection.
  • A motion by the Die Linke parliamentary group was removed from the Bundestag agenda on 16 April 2026.
  • Check exclusions and waiting periods in the policy.
Evidence
  • Deutscher Bundestag, Textarchiv, natural hazard damage (16 April 2026), retrieved 20 September 2026
  • WEG § 19, gesetze-im-internet.de, retrieved 20 September 2026
  • Natural hazard insurance, obligation and coverage rate: secondary sources (search hits versicherungsjournal.de, gevestor.de), retrieved 20 September 2026
As of

September 2026 · Sources and method

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.