Taking out liability insurance for au pairs is not required by law, but it is strongly recommended. Au pairs come from a different cultural background, may speak only limited German and are responsible for looking after children. These factors can increase the likelihood of accidents or mishaps.
The host parents’ personal liability insurance may cover damage caused to third parties by people working in their household, such as an au pair. However, it generally does not cover damage caused to the host family itself. For example, if the au pair accidentally causes a kitchen fire or injures a child, there may be no insurance coverage.
A liability insurance policy taken out specifically for the au pair covers property damage and personal injury within the host family if the au pair is responsible. For this reason, liability insurance is usually included in au pair insurance packages.