Legal insurance in Germany has waiting periods before it covers landlord-related disputes over deposit refunds. If you have already moved out and handed over your keys, legal insurance cannot be taken out to cover disputes arising from the landlord not returning your deposit because the event precedes the insurance contract. Coverage depends on the date of the initial event, typically the key handover date, making post-move legal insurance ineffective for this issue.
Why is legal insurance not available after moving out?
Legal insurance policies determine coverage based on the date of the initial cause of the event, which is generally the key handover date. Because this date is close to the move-out date, any dispute over the deposit after these dates is considered pre-contractual and is not covered by new legal insurance policies.
What are the waiting periods for the Home Add-On protection?
Advanced legal insurance plans have a 3-month waiting period before landlord disputes coverage begins.
Basic plans with the Home add-on require a 6-month waiting period before coverage applies.
What is the legal timeframe for landlords to return a deposit in Germany?
German law grants landlords up to six months to return a tenant's security deposit after the tenant moves out and returns the keys.