Tenancy law: rights and obligations at a glance

Rent reduction due to children's noise? Heating output too low? Mold in the bathroom? There are often enough disagreements between tenants and landlords that even end up in court. Tenancy law is a tricky business, so you should at least have a basic knowledge of the law before getting involved in a dispute. At idee für mich, we highlight important topics relating to tenancy law and housing.

When can the rent be reduced?

There is always uncertainty, for example, about when you are allowed to reduce the rent. The amount of the rent reduction depends on how much it affects your life. And this is where the uncertainty begins, because tenants and landlords often have opposing views on what is reasonable.

Children's noise from the neighboring apartment, for example, is not a reason for a reduction at all, but if water drips from the ceiling or the apartment door cannot be locked, a reduction of 25 to 30 percent is possible. It gets expensive for the landlord if mice are scurrying through his city apartment: In this case, the tenant can withhold 100 percent of the rent - until the rodent infestation comes to an end.

Heating is often a point of contention between landlords and tenants. Tenancy law provides for this: From October 1 to April 30, it must be possible to heat the apartment to 20° C during the day and 18°C at night. If the heating output is too low, a rent reduction of 20 to 50 percent is possible. If the heating fails completely and it is below freezing outside, a reduction of 100 percent is also possible.

Disputes about mold growth

Whether a defect entitling a rent reduction exists at all is often just as controversial as the question of fault. In the case of mold growth in the rented apartment, landlords often accuse the tenant of not having heated the apartment sufficiently and ventilated it inadequately. Often, an expert first has to find the cause of the mold. In such cases, it is advisable for the tenant to seek advice on tenancy law, for example from a tenants' association.

In which federal states are smoke alarms mandatory and when? Is my neighbor allowed to barbecue all the time? Questions that are dealt with in the tenancy law guide on idee für mich.