Right to privacy: Seven points that tenants should know about viewing an apartment

Right to privacy: Seven points that tenants should know about viewing an apartment

According to a report by www.rnd.de,

The doorbell rings. The landlady asks to be let in because she wants to view the apartment. But she's not allowed to do it quite so spontaneously. And she must also have a good reason why she wants to see the rented rooms. “Pure curiosity, for example to see how a tenant has furnished the apartment, is not a legitimate reason for viewing the apartment.” Jutta Hartmann from the German Tenants' Association makes this clear.

The home inspection can be for various reasons, including sale, planned modernization or inspection due to defects. Case law stipulates that reasonable advance notice is necessary for a viewing. As a rule, this notice period is one to two weeks. However, it can be shortened in urgent cases, e.g. if repairs are necessary.

Landlords are only allowed to inspect the apartment with the consent of the tenants or with timely notice. Failure to do so could be considered trespassing and could result in criminal penalties. The rooms must be accessible for inspection, especially in the event of reported damage. However, rooms not affected do not necessarily have to be accessible. In the case of a new lease or sale, however, all rooms must be accessible.

The duration of a viewing depends on the individual case, but can be 30 to 45 minutes depending on the occasion. Tenants may refuse viewings if they are unreasonably frequent or at unreasonable times, unless there is an emergency.

This information is extremely relevant to the real estate market and can have various effects. Adequate notice and compliance with viewing rules can increase tenant trust and lead to better cooperation between tenants and landlords. On the other hand, ignoring the rules could lead to friction and legal conflicts, which could lead to an uncertain and turbulent rental market. It is therefore important that landlords and tenants understand and comply with the viewing rules to ensure a smooth letting of properties.