Last updated: February 8, 2024
The internet makes home office, working from home, easier and more popular. And not just for self-employed individuals who save money on office space. Even employees occasionally work in the also tax-relevant home office on their tasks online in their private residence. What about the protection of the home contents insurance?
Are work equipment insured in the home office?
Work equipment and furnishings used for the profession or trade are considered as general household contents under the usual conditions of household insurance when they are kept in an otherwise completely normal apartment. For example, a doctor's emergency kit or the manicure set of a mobile beautician are included.
Especially with older household insurance policies, trade and demonstration goods (e.g. plastic dishes from a Tupperware consultant) are usually excluded. With more modern household insurance policies, sometimes commercial goods and sample collections are also covered - however, there are compensation limits.
Work corner or home office for remote work?
A work corner, for example in the bedroom, is unproblematic. However, if a room in the apartment or house is used exclusively for work (home office or business space), there is often no insurance coverage for the items in older contracts through regular household insurance.
How is a home office defined by household insurance?
When an office or business space is still considered an 'insurance location' with insurance coverage and when not, household insurance companies have partly regulated very differently. Sometimes public traffic leads to exclusion, sometimes a separate entrance. It must be clarified with the respective insurer whether the office is insured or can be insured.
Business contents insurance as an alternative to household contents insurance
If co-insurance of the home office (or the items in it) is not possible with the household insurance policy, taking out a so-called business contents insurance, which covers not only work equipment but also furnishings as well as supplies and goods, remains an option.