A cleaner relieves the burden on everyday life, creates order, and ensures that everything runs smoothly at home. But those who regularly employ support also take responsibility. A mishap can happen faster than you think: a broken vase, a fall while cleaning, or water damage while cleaning windows. It is precisely at such moments that the importance of adequate insurance coverage becomes apparent.
Household insurance protects both employers and employees. It protects against damage or accidents and prevents unpleasant financial consequences. They also ensure that legal requirements are complied with and that all parties involved are on the safe side.
In this article, you will learn:
- When and for whom insurance is compulsory
- Which insurance is useful or even required for households
- How home contents insurance offers additional protection
- What costs and procedures you may face in the event of damage
This way, you can keep track and keep your housekeeper busy with a good feeling
When Do I Need to Insure My Home?
As soon as you employ someone regularly or for a fee in the household, there is a legal insurance requirement:
- This regulation is intended to ensure that your domestic help is protected in the event of an accident and that you, as an employer, are legally protected. The basis for this can be found in § 2 of the Seventh Social Code (SGB VII). Registration takes place via the so-called budget check procedure at the mini-job headquarters.
What is crucial here is the form in which the domestic help works.
- If you employ a cleaner directly, for example, as a mini-hobber with up to 556 euros in monthly earnings, you are obliged to register her and thus automatically insure against accidents. In this variant, you, as an employer, also bear the social security contributions.
- The situation is different for self-employed domestic helpers, such as those booked through platforms such as Helpling. These professionals work independently and are themselves insured against liability. So you don’t have to deal with insurance issues yourself and are still protected in the event of a claim.
Which Insurance Policies are Relevant for Cleaners?
If you want to insure your home help, there are different insurance policies that are relevant. Which of these is mandatory or recommended depends on whether your cleaner is employed or self-employed. Those who do their research here not only protect themselves, but also the person who works in their own home.
Statutory accident insurance (compulsory for mini-jobs)
As soon as you employ a cleaner for a mini-job, statutory accident insurance is mandatory.
- It provides protection in the event of accidents at work and on the way, both while working in the home and on the direct route to work.
- Registration takes place via the budget check procedure at the Minijob headquarters, which automatically forwards the contributions to the accident insurance fund of the respective federal state. The contribution rate is approximately 1.6% of gross wages.
Business liability insurance (for self-employed persons)
- Self-employed domestic helpers who work on their own account require business liability insurance.
- It covers damage that can occur during work, such as a broken vase, scratched furniture, or water damage during cleaning.
- This protection is already included for bookings through platforms such as Helpling. All cleaning staff working there are covered by liability insurance, so customers are covered in the event of damage and do not have to worry about their own insurance.
Employer liability (voluntary for private households)
For private households that employ a domestic helper in a mini-job, employer liability insurance is recommended:
- It takes action if the assistance provided accidentally damages something and protects the employer from high demands for compensation.
- This insurance is voluntary but provides additional security in everyday life.
Private accident insurance (for self-employed persons)
Self-employed domestic helpers can also cover themselves with private accident insurance.
- This applies not only during work but also during leisure time. It is particularly useful for freelancers who do not have legal accident protection through the mini-job center.
What is Household Insurance?
If you want to insure your home help, you should also consider home contents insurance. It protects the household’s property and thus meaningfully complements the other types of insurance.
- In principle, household insurance covers damage to one’s own property, for example, due to fire, tap water, storms, or burglary.
- So if a water pipe bursts and furniture or electrical appliances are damaged, this insurance will apply.
Nevertheless, household insurance is worthwhile because it protects all your belongings in everyday life, regardless of service providers. It covers property damage caused by fire, tap water, storms, or burglary, and usually replaces the replacement value.
- If you want to play it safe, combine household and liability insurance. Thus, both own and externally caused damage are covered.
- It is important to carefully consider the terms and conditions of insurance, as gross negligence or intent are often excluded from coverage. This combination provides holistic protection in everyday life. Whether you take care of your home yourself or receive support from a domestic helper.
We will take a closer look at who is liable in the event of damage and what costs you could incur in the coming section.
Household Insurance: Who is Liable in the Event of Damage?
A broken mirror, a stain on the carpet, or an accident on the way to work happened quickly. The question of liability depends primarily on whether the aid is employed or self-employed.
Salaried domestic helpers (mini-job)
For employees in the mini-job, clear rules apply.
- Mild negligence occurs when something happens accidentally, such as an overturned vase. In such cases, the employer, i.e., the private individual who employs the assistance, is usually liable.
- Gross negligence or intent, on the other hand, for example, when something is intentionally damaged, means that the cleaner themselves could be held liable.
If an accident occurs at work or on the way, statutory accident insurance takes effect. It covers accidents that occur during work or on the way there. The prerequisite is that the aid has been correctly registered with the mini-job headquarters via the budget check procedure.
Self-employed domestic helpers (e.g. B. via platforms such as Helpling)
The situation is simpler for independent workers:
- They are covered by their business liability insurance. This covers the costs if something is damaged or dirty at work. The client bears no risk here, since the self-employed cleaner carries out his activities commercially and must therefore provide insurance coverage himself.
And how does it all work with Helpling? If you book through the platform, this protection is already integrated. Damage is reported and regulated through the platform. As the client, there’s no additional effort or paperwork involved. This ensures that both property damage and liability issues are handled transparently and easily.
How do you get the right insurance?
Start with a clear plan; here’s how to reliably protect yourself and your household:
- Clarify employment model: employed or self-employed. Duties, contributions, and responsibilities depend on this.
- Register a mini-job if employed: Use the budget check procedure at the mini-job headquarters. Thus, statutory accident insurance is automatically active.
- Check household items: Read the policy carefully. Does it cover burglary, tap water, and fire? Check for gross negligence and the deductible.
- Add liability: Employer liability is recommended for employee assistance. It protects if something is accidentally damaged by the activity.
- Get self-employed people covered: Request proof of business liability. Document the policy in your records.
- Update regularly: If the scope, address, or values in the household change, adjust the policies. A short annual check is often enough.
Household Insurance: Practical Tips
Insurance coverage is only as good as it works in everyday life. To enable you to react quickly and safely in an emergency, it is worth having a clear overview of costs, processes, and responsibilities. Good insurance is only helpful if you know how to use it:
- Check your policies regularly and compare posts. Many insurers offer combination plans that cover household goods, liability, and accidents. This will help you avoid double costs and ensure a clear overview. Document all agreements with your home help in writing. This helps if something happens once.
- If damage occurs, you should act quickly. Report the incident to the insurer immediately, take photos, and describe the process as accurately as possible. The better the documentation, the faster the regulation.
- Also, make sure that everyone involved, both employers and domestic helpers, is aware of their insurance. Only when both sides are secured will security and trust be built in the long term.
Also, make sure that everyone involved, both employers and domestic helpers, is aware of their insurance. Only when both sides are secured will security and trust be built in the long term.
Summary
Having a cleaner means relief and quality of life. But real security only arises when the insurance coverage is also right. Proper insurance ensures that a problem does not become a financial disadvantage in the event of an accident, property damage, or minor mishaps.
With statutory accident insurance, appropriate liability insurance, and supplementary home contents insurance, you create a stable foundation. Employers and domestic helpers benefit equally because both sides know that everything is regulated in an emergency.
It is important to regularly check insurance policies and adapt them to changing life situations. A quick check often saves a lot of effort and protects in the long term. Anyone who employs help in the mini-job should ensure correct registration and clear agreements. Self-employed professionals, on the other hand, usually bring their insurance coverage with them, especially if they work through audited platforms.
If you book your cleaning through Helpling, these points are already taken into account. The domestic helpers placed there are covered by liability insurance, and all procedures are transparently documented. Damage is handled easily; you receive an official invoice and can rely on certified professionals.
This is how cleaning becomes a safe thing. You enjoy a well-maintained home, your help works with a good feeling, and both sides know that everything is secured in the background. This is exactly how trust works in everyday life: clear, simple, and professional.
Household Insurance: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do I need to register my domestic help?
Yes. As soon as you employ a domestic helper regularly or for a fee, there is a legal obligation to report. Registration takes place via the mini-job center in the so-called budget check procedure. This means that your home help is automatically covered by statutory accident insurance. A simple registration is enough, and you meet all legal requirements.
Which insurance is mandatory?
Statutory accident insurance is compulsory for employed domestic helpers. It protects against accidents during work and on the way there. There is no legal obligation for self-employed assistance, but this is usually covered by a separate business liability obligation. When cleaning via Helpling, this protection is automatically included.
What does household insurance cover?
Home contents insurance protects your property from damage caused by fire, tap water, storm, or burglary. However, it does not work if a stranger, such as a domestic helper, accidentally damages something. In this case, liability insurance is used. A combination of home contents and liability protection provides the most comprehensive coverage for your household.
Who is liable for damage?
This depends on the employment relationship. For employees, the employer is usually liable for minor negligence. In cases of gross negligence or intent, the assistance itself is liable. Self-employed domestic helpers are liable through their own business liability. When you book your cleaning through Helpling, the damage is handled directly, quickly, and easily through the platform.
