German Phrase
Deckt Schäden oder unbezahlte Miete ab.
Meaning
The sentence states that something – most often an insurance policy, a guarantee, or a landlord’s liability clause – provides coverage for either property damage or rent that has not been paid. It emphasizes the two separate risks that are protected.
When to use
Use this phrase when you describe the scope of a contract, insurance policy, or guarantee, especially in rental or property‑related contexts. It is common in legal brochures, tenancy agreements, and insurance product sheets.
✦Grammar Breakdown
DecktSchädenoderunbezahlteMieteab
Deckt (verb)
Third‑person singular present of the separable verb *abdecken*; the prefix *ab* moves to the sentence end.
Schäden (noun)
Plural of *der Schaden* – ‘damage, loss’. In German plural nouns often end in -e or -en.
oder (conjunction)
Means ‘or’; connects two alternatives.
unbezahlte (adjective)
Weak declension adjective before a feminine noun (*die Miete*); ends in -e.
Miete (noun)
Feminine noun meaning ‘rent’; here it refers to the amount owed.
ab (separable prefix)
The prefix of *abdecken* that is placed at the end of the clause in main clauses.
🗨In Conversation
Was deckt die Hausratversicherung genau ab?
What exactly does the household insurance cover?
Sie deckt Schäden oder unbezahlte Miete ab.
It covers damages or unpaid rent.
✕Common Mistakes
Deckt Schäden und unbezahlte Miete ab.
Using *und* changes the meaning to ‘covers both damages and unpaid rent together’, which is a stronger claim than the original ‘or’.
Deckt Schäden oder unbezahlte Miete.
The separable prefix *ab* must appear at the end of the clause; omitting it makes the sentence incomplete.
Deckt Schaden oder unbezahlte Miete ab.
The noun *Schaden* should be plural (*Schäden*) because the sentence refers to any number of possible damages.
↔Alternatives
Übernimmt Schäden und ausstehende Miete.
Assumes responsibility for damages and outstanding rent.
Versichert gegen Schäden sowie gegen Mietrückstände.
Insures against damages as well as against rent arrears.
Schützt vor Schäden und vor nicht gezahlter Miete.
Protects against damages and against unpaid rent.
Cultural Tip
In German contracts the verb *abdecken* is the standard legal term for ‘to cover’ in the sense of insurance or guarantee. Note that *Schäden* usually refers to physical/property damage, while *Mietrückstand* is the more technical term for ‘rent arrears’; however, *unbezahlte Miete* is perfectly understandable in everyday language. When you want to stress that both risks are covered simultaneously, you can also use *sowohl … als auch* (both … and).