GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

warehouse keeper liability

Warehouse keeper liability defines the extent to which a storage operator is responsible for damage to, or loss of, goods held in its custody.

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Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hgb/

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Logistics Concept

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Definition & Explanation

Warehouse keeper liability defines the extent to which a storage operator is responsible for damage to, or loss of, goods held in its custody. The obligation arises from statute – typically commercial codes – as well as from contractual provisions, both of which may expand or, within legal limits, restrict the standard scope. A key feature is that liability does not necessarily require proof of negligence: in many jurisdictions, demonstrating that loss occurred during the storage period is sufficient to trigger the keeper's responsibility. Liability is, however, regularly capped at statutory or contractually agreed maximum amounts. The keeper may be discharged if it can show that the damage resulted from force majeure, the consignor's own fault, or the inherent nature of the goods.

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warehouse keeper liability

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