Mängelanzeige from a tenant: what landlords must do now
How to respond to a Mängelanzeige (defect notice) from your tenant, and how to record when the repair was finished.
Confirm receipt quickly, give the tenant a date and have the repair done, even if it is expensive. Record when the repair was finished, because the rent is reduced until then.
What to do after a Mängelanzeige
There is no question that you have to repair. What matters is that you respond quickly and keep a clear record of what happened.
- 1
Confirm receipt
Reply quickly and give the tenant a date.
- 2
Judge how urgent it is
In practice, the usual time is 24 to 48 hours for acute danger, one to two weeks for serious defects and up to four weeks for minor ones.
- 3
Have it repaired
You have to repair even if the repair does not pay off for you.
- 4
Do not miss the tenant's deadline
If you let a deadline set by the tenant pass, the tenant can have the repair done at your expense.
- 5
Know the exceptions
Your duty does not cover trivial issues or damage the tenant caused. A valid Kleinreparaturklausel (small-repairs clause) only passes the cost of small repairs on to the tenant, not the repair itself.
- 6
Record the result
Photograph the repaired spot as soon as the work is done.
Why this matters
Under § 535 Abs. 1 S. 2 BGB, you must keep the flat fit for the use agreed in the lease for the whole tenancy. Under § 536 BGB, the rent is reduced from the Mängelanzeige until the repair is done.
General information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does a landlord have to repair every defect?
Yes, as a rule the landlord has to repair every defect, whatever the repair costs (§ 535 Abs. 1 S. 2 BGB). The only exceptions are trivial issues and damage the tenant caused. For Kleinreparaturen (small repairs), a valid clause in the lease can only pass the cost on to the tenant. The repair itself stays your job.
How quickly must I repair after a Mängelanzeige?
There is no fixed deadline for the repair. How fast you must act depends on how urgent the defect is. In practice, the usual time is 24 to 48 hours for acute danger, one to two weeks for serious defects and up to four weeks for minor ones.
When does the rent reduction start?
The rent is reduced from the Mängelanzeige on, and no deadline has to pass first (§ 536 BGB). The reduction ends as soon as the repair is done.
Also in this topic: Hoarded flat or eviction: record the conditionLimitation under § 548 BGB: six months for damage claimsWhen may a landlord enter the rented flat?Energieausweis when renting out: 2026 rules
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