Insurance for a Furnished Rental: Who Insures Furniture, Floor and Kitchen?

Short answer: who insures what in a furnished apartment?

In a furnished apartment, the landlord typically insures the fixed items that belong to the home, such as the kitchen, floor and the furnished furniture included in the rent. The tenant is responsible for their own belongings (personal contents) and for any damage they cause to the property or the landlord’s furniture. But beware: the division can differ per contract. It’s wise to read the rental agreement and condition report carefully, because not all landlords have everything properly insured. As a tenant, you could be faced with unexpected costs if it turns out the landlord doesn’t have cover for certain damages. That’s why it’s smart to also compare contents insurance without commission for your own belongings and take out liability insurance for damage to other people’s property.

What do furniture, floor and kitchen fall under insurance-wise?

From an insurance perspective, furniture, floor and kitchen fall into different categories. Kitchen and floor are usually immovable property and fall under the buildings insurance. Furnished furniture is movable and can fall under the landlord’s contents insurance, provided he has taken one out for the rental property. However, sometimes the insurer treats them as a 'tenant’s interest' if the tenant bears the economic risk. In practice, it’s important to check your rental agreement: who bears the risk of damage to these items? Often there’s a clause making the tenant liable for damage through carelessness. That’s where your personal liability insurance can come in handy.

Who insures what: landlord or tenant?

To clarify responsibilities, we’ve set out who usually arranges which insurance and whether you as a tenant need your own policy. For a complete overview of buildings insurance, you can compare buildings insurance without commission here — even though you as a tenant usually don’t take one out yourself, it’s useful to know what the landlord might have.

When your personal liability insurance (AVP) comes into play

A personal liability insurance (AVP) is one of the most underestimated policies for tenants. It covers damage you accidentally cause to others or their property. In a furnished apartment, this could be an overturned candle on the parquet, a damaged wall while hanging a picture, or a leak that affects the landlord’s kitchen. If you’ve been negligent, the landlord can hold you liable and claim the repair costs. With an AVP you are covered for such events, provided it is a sudden, unforeseen incident and not gradual wear and tear. Damage to the landlord’s belongings is also covered by your AVP, up to the insured amount (usually €1,250,000 or more).

• You knock over the landlord’s lamp and it breaks.
• You leave the tap running and the parquet floor suffers water damage.
• During a party, a glass of red wine spills on the landlord’s sofa and the stain cannot be removed.
• Your child draws on the walls of the rental home with a marker.

Be aware: intentional acts, recklessness and wear and tear are excluded. And if the damage results from a defect in the property that the landlord should have fixed, then the landlord himself is liable. It’s sensible to compare liability insurance without commission and check whether the policy also covers family members.

What to check in your own policy and the landlord’s

Before you sign the lease, it’s smart to run through a checklist so you don’t get caught out. Here is a step-by-step plan to get a grip on the insurance situation.

Common mistakes that can cost tenants dearly

• Assuming the landlord covers everything. Many landlords only have buildings insurance and no contents insurance for the furniture they place in the property.
• Not signing a condition report when moving in. Without proof of the starting condition, you could later be held liable for existing damage.
• Thinking the deposit can always be withheld. The landlord must be able to prove that you caused the damage; the deposit is not an automatic bonus for the landlord.
• Forgetting that your AVP also covers damage to the landlord’s furniture. Many tenants don’t realise their liability insurance also pays for these damages.
• Not insuring your own contents because you think the landlord has already done so. The landlord insures their own belongings, not yours.

By avoiding these mistakes and actively checking your insurance situation, you prevent unexpected bills and legal disputes. A small investment in good insurance awareness pays for itself immediately if something does happen.

When extra cover or a damage check is a good idea

Even if you think everything is well arranged, a second opinion can bring peace of mind. The PolisMoment damage check offers you the opportunity to have all your policies thoroughly reviewed by an independent adviser. This goes beyond just comparing premiums: coverage, exclusions, deductibles and possible overlaps are examined. That way you avoid paying double or being underinsured. This is especially useful in a furnished rental, because the responsibilities can be diffuse. The check also helps you see if you are getting commission-free advice without a middleman taking a commission that you ultimately pay.