Residential building insurance in the test: 68 tariffs are “poor”

There is very rare. 196 Insurance tariffs – and 68 received the judgment “poor”. More than every third tariff. It affects practically the entire industry, also providers such as Allianz, Arag, Devk, Hanse Merkur, Nuremberg or WWK.

The reason: In these tariffs, the insurance companies do not pay all the damage in the event of “gross negligence”. That doesn’t sound bad. But makes a huge difference that many homeowners apparently not clear to its extent.

For example, if you do not emptied the water pipes on the outside before winter, to prevent frost damage, you are grossly negligent. Who does not get the awning at Sturm. Who does not lock the main tap in the uninhabited house. Or who leaves the house, even though candles are still burning, and there is a fire. In all of these cases, insurance in the tariffs complained would shorten the performance, and in extreme cases would not pay at all.

Colloquially one would say: You have built crap. But even then it is good to be insured. Or actually then. In insurance German, there is talk of “waiver of objections of gross negligence”. This clause should actually stand in every insurance contract, whether for houses, cars, liability or household items.

The overall association of insurers (GDV) naturally sees it differently. The test only showsaccording to the GDV at the request of the star, “There is a wide range of tariff offers”. “This is an advantage for many consumers, others may find this a disadvantage. ”

The disadvantages are not just a matter of sensation. The clause not only guarantees proper insurance cover, it also protects against unpleasant processes against its own insurance. Because the argument, what is “grossly negligent” and what only “negligent” has already dealt with countless judges. And especially in the event of major damage, as often occurred in residential building insurance, insurance companies are in the plaintiff. And insurance that does not want to pay is sitting on the long lever towards the insured person – especially if he cannot shoot the costs.

The tariffs criticized by the Stiftung Warentest often have names such as “base” or “Standard” or “Classic”. Either way: it is worth checking its existing contract on the clause from “giving up the objection of gross negligence” – and, if necessary, changing the contract.

Because the good news is: there is a lot of “very good” or “good” tariffs tested – usually also from the same providers. In the 119.

The Stiftung Warentest gives another tip: only every second homeowner is currently insured against natural hazards such as floods or landslides. Protection against such elementary damage makes sense, although it makes insurance cover more expensive. In order to keep the costs in the framework, the foundation recommends a high deductible: the policy can make 2000 euros of deductible by almost half. You shouldn’t use your residential building insurance for little things anyway.