Holiday in a holiday apartment: Who pays in case of damage?

Berlin (dpa/tmn) – If you don’t look properly once and the vase falls on the floor – something can break quickly while on holiday in the holiday home and the landlord or landlord wants compensation. “In principle, tenants are protected by their private liability insurance if they damage their holiday apartment,” said Bianca Boss of the Insurance People’s Association.

For holiday rental apartments, the insurance cover should cover the property and the itinerary. However, damage to rented items must also be insured.

This also applies if there is a battery fire. If the e-bike you brought with you suddenly catches fire or the cell phone battery explodes, you will be liable for fire damage to the rented apartment. However, if damage to movable and immovable property is included in the contract, private liability insurance will also govern this.

But be careful: Depending on the provider and level of insurance, there may be limitations and exclusions in the event of damage. So you should check the insurance conditions carefully before your holiday starts.

Theft and theft: household contents insurance with outside insurance

But not all damage is done alone. In the event of a burglary in a locked holiday home, home contents insurance with its integrated outside insurance offers the best protection. This covers household goods outside your own four walls and is valid worldwide. The external insurance period is limited depending on the provider, but it is usually at least three months.

“External insurance covers your own household effects that are stolen at home and abroad – for example in the event of a break-in in a locked travel area”. Here too, it is worth looking more closely at any exclusions and limitations of compensation in the contract, as the protection does not always apply to everything: “There are significant differences, for example, when it comes to money and valuables. ,” warns a BdV board member.

If things get even worse and things are stolen from your accommodation under threat of violence, it is called robbery. “This is often insured as well. Then the insurance will reimburse you at the new value,” says Boss. In this case, the threatened act of violence must be committed on the spot and the theft must be reported immediately to the responsible police station.