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Questions & answers on home contents insurance

What does home contents include?

Your home contents are all items found in a household that are used to furnish the same or intended to be used or consumed for private purposes. That also includes cash and valuables.

Rule of thumb: All things that you take with you or would take with you when you move.

Do I need to buy additional coverage to protect my belongings from natural disasters?

Yes, if you want to ensure that your belongings are covered against damage caused by natural disasters such as, for example, flooding (e.g. due to heavy rainfall or high water levels), water backup, snow load, earthquakes, avalanches, volcano eruptions or landslides, you will need to buy additional natural disaster insurance. Natural disaster insurance is generally only available as an add-on to home contents insurance rather than as a stand-alone policy. Review whether insurance that covers natural disasters makes sense for you and, if it does, consider extending your insurance coverage. Please check which specific natural disasters are covered and what your obligations are (e.g. installing a backwater valve). The same applies to residential buildings insurance.

How are the sums insured calculated, or how can I avoid being underinsured?

The contractually agreed sum insured should correspond to the replacement value of the existing home contents.

It is your choice whether to specify the sum insured yourself (in which case it is advisable to use a value calculation form) or to calculate the value based on square metres of living space (e.g. living space X sum insured = 90 sqm X e.g. € 650 = sum insured of € 58,500). When calculating the sum insured on a square metre basis, the home contents insurer will normally waive an underinsurance review following an insurance claim.

Where and at what locations does insurance coverage exist?

Insurance coverage exists for the home specified in the insurance policy including the rooms in adjoining buildings on the same property (= place of insurance). Rooms used exclusively for professional purposes (including their furnishings and contents) are not insured. Insurance cover also exists for garages located near the home as long as they are used exclusively for private purposes.

Insured items which are temporarily (for up to three months) located outside the insured home (on trips, in the car, etc.) are likewise insured under such off-premises insurance subject to certain conditions and the restrictions as specified in the terms and conditions of insurance (e.g.: pan-European or worldwide off-premises insurance cover).