Apartment Viewings: What Tenants Must Allow (2026)
Apartment Viewings: What Tenants Must Allow
You have to allow viewings only within reason, on a concrete occasion and after proper notice.
No law names a fixed period; the case law on Art. 13 GG and § 535 BGB gives the yardstick: proper notice (customarily around 3–4 days, at least 24 hours), reasonable times and limited frequency. Appointments are agreed, not dictated.
Art. 13 GG, § 535 BGBIn 60 seconds
Once you have signed the tenancy agreement the right to decide who comes in is yours alone (Hausrecht, Art. 13 GG, § 535 BGB). You decide who comes in and when.
There is no dedicated provision for viewings and no fixed period in the law: both come from case law.
The landlord needs a legitimate interest: an intended sale, or reletting after notice. A clause granting a general or occasion-free right of access is void (BGH, 04.06.2014 – VIII ZR 289/13).
Around one to three appointments a month with pre-selected viewers is reasonable; more than three a month generally is not. You do not have to accept mass viewings.
Unannounced or unilateral entry is prohibited self-help (§ 858 BGB) and you do not have to allow it. Conversely, persistently blocking properly announced viewings risks damages.
What the law says
The home is inviolable under Art. 13 GG, and the tenancy agreement gives you sole use of it (§ 535 BGB). A right to view does not follow automatically: it requires a concrete occasion and is derived from case law rather than from a provision of its own. The guide figures for notice, frequency and duration likewise come from case law.
What you must allow, and what you may refuse
| Reasonable (allow after notice) | What you may refuse |
|---|---|
| A viewing for a concrete sale or reletting | A viewing with no occasion, "just in case" |
| Around one to three appointments a month, agreed | More than three a month / mass viewings |
| Weekdays at ordinary times, a contained length (say up to 45 min.) | Sundays, public holidays or unsocial hours |
| You nominate someone you trust if you cannot be there | Entry in your absence without your consent |
| Photos of empty rooms, by agreement | Photos of your furnished flat without consent |
The Landgericht Frankfurt am Main held three appointments a month between 7 and 8 pm, of at most 45 minutes each, reasonable for a sale, for a tenant in work. For a tenant not in work, 24 hours' notice may suffice.
What it means for each side
- Propose time slots yourself that fit your day.
- Bundle viewers into few appointments; above three a month you may push back.
- You need not hand a key to the landlord or agent, and need not be present yourself. A person you trust will do.
- Confirm the occasion, date, time and duration in writing.
- State the concrete occasion, not "an inspection".
- Propose several appointments, on weekdays at ordinary times.
- Bundle viewers rather than sending individuals across the month.
- Agree any listing photos in advance.
Common mistakes
You have a say in timing and frequency; appointments are agreed, not imposed.
Properly announced viewings have to be allowed, or you risk damages and, in the extreme, termination.
That hands over control of who enters while you are away, and you are not obliged to.
Pictures of your furnished flat belong in a listing only with your consent, and without a written trail nothing can be shown later.
What to do next
Check the occasion and the notice: a genuine sale or reletting, announced in good time with a concrete slot?
Propose your own time slots and keep an eye on frequency.
Settle who opens the door, you or someone you trust, and whether photos may be taken.
Confirm the occasion, date, time and duration by message.
Frequently asked questions
Do I as a tenant have to allow viewings for a sale or re-letting?
Yes, within reasonable limits. For a concrete reason such as a planned sale or re-letting after your Kündigung (termination), the landlord has a legitimate interest in showing the apartment to prospective buyers or tenants (Art. 13 GG, § 535 BGB). You must allow such appointments if they are announced in good time, fall at reasonable hours and stay limited in frequency. The landlord has no general right of access, however (BGH, VIII ZR 289/13).
How many viewings per month do I have to allow?
The law names no fixed number. Case law treats roughly one to three appointments a month with pre-selected prospects as reasonable; more than three appointments a month is generally considered unreasonable. The LG Frankfurt am Main (Frankfurt regional court) held three appointments a month between 7 and 8 pm, each lasting no more than 45 minutes, reasonable for a sale. You do not have to accept mass viewings or a constant stream of new appointments.
How much notice does the landlord have to give?
There is no deadline in the law; it follows from the case law on Art. 13 GG and § 535 BGB. For viewings, around three to four days' notice is customary; in exceptional cases 24 hours' notice may suffice for tenants who are not in employment. Appointments should fall on weekdays at usual daytime hours, not on Sundays or public holidays or at unsociable times.
Do I have to let the landlord and agent in while I am away?
You do not have to make the apartment accessible in your absence, and you do not have to hand a key to the agent. You hold the sole Hausrecht (right to control who enters); entry without you is verbotene Eigenmacht (unlawful self-help, § 858 BGB). You need not be there in person, though. You can appoint a person of trust to open the door and be present for you.
Can I refuse photos of the apartment with my furniture?
Yes. Photos of your furnished apartment may be taken and published for sale or letting listings only with your consent. Your Hausrecht and your Persönlichkeitsrecht (personality right) take precedence. You can refuse photos, put personal items away beforehand, or insist that only empty rooms are photographed.
What happens if I keep refusing legitimate viewing appointments?
Where there is a legitimate, properly announced reason, you have a Duldungspflicht (duty to allow access). Stubbornly blocking announced, reasonable appointments without good reason risks, depending on the case, a claim for damages and, in extreme cases, a Kündigung (termination) by the landlord. You may reschedule appointments that do not suit you, but you may not prevent them indefinitely.
This page gives general information as at the date shown. It does not replace legal advice on an individual case.