Compare the top home insurance providers in Austria — see cover, features and typical rates side by side.
What is home insurance in Austria?
Home insurance in Austria comes in two main forms: household contents insurance (Haushaltsversicherung), which covers your belongings against fire, water, theft, storm and glass breakage, and buildings insurance (Eigenheimversicherung), which covers the structure of a house you own. The Haushaltsversicherung is by far the most common policy and typically bundles personal-liability cover (Privathaftpflicht), which is highly valued in Austria.
How the Austrian market works
Renters usually take a Haushaltsversicherung for their contents plus liability, while homeowners add or combine buildings cover. Policies are priced mainly on the insured living area in square metres and the sum insured for contents, along with location and risk factors like flood exposure. Personal-liability cover, often included, protects against claims for damage or injury you cause to others in daily life and is a key reason Austrians hold these policies. In shared households the Privathaftpflicht typically extends to a partner and children, which is why so many families treat the Haushaltsversicherung as an essential everyday safeguard. Landlords, meanwhile, insure the building structure separately, so tenants only need contents-and-liability cover while owners of a house combine both; owners of an apartment usually contribute to building cover through the condominium association.
Benefits
Contents protection — covers furniture, electronics and valuables against fire, water, theft and storm.
Bundled liability — included Privathaftpflicht guards against costly third-party injury or damage claims.
Buildings cover for owners — protects the structure of your home against major perils.
Add-on flexibility — options for bicycles, glass, natural hazards and legal protection.
How to choose
Set the contents sum insured to reflect the real replacement value of your belongings to avoid underinsurance, and enter the correct living area since premiums scale with square metres. Check whether personal liability is included and at what limit, and consider natural-hazard cover if you live in a flood- or storm-prone area. Compare deductibles and add-ons, and homeowners should confirm buildings cover matches rebuild cost. Many insurers waive the underinsurance clause if you accept their recommended per-square-metre valuation, which is often the simplest way to guarantee full payout, and it is worth checking whether extras like bicycle theft away from home, glass breakage and legal-protection cover are included or cost more, so the cheapest headline premium is not always the best value.
Leading providers in Austria
Major insurers including Allianz, ERGO, Zurich, Oberösterreichische Versicherung, Donau Versicherung and Signal Iduna write household and buildings cover, competing on sums insured, included liability limits and natural-hazard options. Regional insurers are strong in their home states. The right choice balances price against the breadth of included cover and the claims service.
What it costs
Household contents policies often start around €180 a year for a typical apartment, rising with living area, contents value, location and chosen add-ons such as extended natural-hazard or glass cover. Buildings insurance for a house is priced separately on rebuild value. A higher deductible lowers the premium, while richer cover and higher sums insured raise it.
Protections and regulation
Insurers are supervised by the FMA under the Insurance Contract Act and EU distribution rules, with mandatory pre-contract information and a product information document. Policyholders have information and, generally, cooling-off rights, and disputes can be taken to the insurance ombudsman. Underinsurance clauses (Unterversicherung) mean setting an accurate sum insured is important to full claims payment.
Common questions
Do renters need home insurance? It is not legally required but strongly advised for contents and liability. Is liability cover included? Household policies usually bundle Privathaftpflicht. What sets the price? Mainly living area, contents sum insured, location and add-ons. What is underinsurance? Setting the sum too low can cut claim payouts proportionally.
The cheapest Home Insurance in Austria is €180 /year from Allianz AT.
Home Insurance in Austria — FAQ
What does home insurance cost in Austria?
Giraffy tracks 5 home insurance products across Allianz AT,ERGO Home AT,Donau Home AT,Oberösterreichische Home AT,Zurich Home AT insurers in Austria. The lowest tracked price is €180 /year. Premiums depend on your property type, rebuild or replacement cost, contents value, and local claims history — compare multiple quotes to find the best deal for your specific circumstances.
What is the difference between buildings and contents insurance?
Buildings insurance covers the structure of your home — walls, roof, floors, and permanent fixtures — against events like fire, flood, or subsidence. Contents insurance covers your belongings inside the home. Many insurers offer combined buildings and contents policies, which is often better value than buying separately.
Do I need home insurance if I rent?
As a tenant, you're responsible for insuring your own belongings (contents insurance), not the building — that's the landlord's responsibility. Tenants' contents insurance covers your possessions against theft, fire, and accidental damage. Some policies also cover items outside the home.
What does home insurance typically NOT cover?
Standard exclusions include: general wear and tear, damage caused by pests, mechanical breakdown, and damage due to poor maintenance. Flood and earthquake cover is often sold separately — especially in high-risk areas. Always check exclusions carefully — especially for high-value items like jewellery above a single-item limit.
What is an excess and how does it affect my premium?
The excess is the amount you contribute towards a claim before the insurer pays the rest. A higher voluntary excess reduces your premium. Make sure you could comfortably pay the full excess amount in an emergency.
How is my buildings insurance cover amount calculated?
Buildings cover should reflect the rebuild cost — what it would cost to demolish and rebuild your home from scratch — not the market value. These figures can differ significantly. Many insurers provide online rebuild calculators; a professional assessment is more accurate for unusual or period properties.