Rights & duties

A landlord's damage claims expire six months after the flat is returned. With a cash Kaution, the landlord can still deduct them. What that means for you.

Liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung) is not compulsory for tenants in Germany, but you are liable for damage you cause. What a policy usually covers.

Mängelanzeige model letter (Muster) for tenants in Germany to copy and print. Describe the damage, set a deadline, reserve the rent reduction, send with proof.

Your landlord can usually photograph the flat you live in only with your consent. When a damage photo is fine, and what applies to listings and to the handover.

Water damage in a rented flat in Germany: report it at once (§ 536c BGB), who pays (buildings or contents insurance), which photos you need, when rent drops.

Moved into an unrenovated flat, but your lease says you must renovate? What you must prove, what counts as unrenovated, and one real court case.

The landlord must show you the Energieausweis at the viewing at the latest (§ 80 GEG). If not, you cannot reduce the rent, but the landlord risks a €10,000 fine.

Ruhestörung in a German rental: quiet hours usually run from 22:00 to 6:00. When noise is a defect and how much you can then reduce the rent.

Landlord won't repair? How to report a Mangel (defect) correctly, set a deadline of usually about 14 days and reduce the rent (§§ 536, 536c BGB).

Mietminderung: with a noticeable defect such as mould or no heating, the rent drops automatically (§ 536 BGB). How to report it and keep paying under Vorbehalt.

Mould is a defect, so your rent drops automatically (§ 536 BGB) unless you caused it. Report it in writing at once (§ 536c BGB) and record it with dated photos.

Whether you must repaint at move-out depends on the clause and on the flat's condition at move-in. Five things to know, and one real court case.

Can your landlord enter your flat in Germany? Your rights as a tenant: no general right of access, only for a specific reason and after notice in good time.