What must a landlord do for the tenant in Germany?

What the Law Says

Under German civil law, the landlord’s core duties are defined in the Civil Code (BGB), specifically § 535 — the central provision governing lease agreements.

The landlord has three primary legal obligations: (1) to hand over the rented property (Mietsache) to the tenant for use during the entire lease term; (2) to deliver it in a condition suitable for the agreed purpose (e.g., habitable, safe, compliant with building codes); and (3) to keep it in that condition throughout the tenancy. This includes repairing defects that arise during the lease — unless caused solely by the tenant’s misuse or negligence.

Additionally, the landlord must bear all 'burdens' (Lasten) legally attached to the property — such as property tax (Grundsteuer), ground rent (Grundzins), and public charges tied to ownership. These cannot be shifted to the tenant unless explicitly permitted by law (e.g., certain operating costs passed on via Nebenkostenabrechnung) and clearly agreed in the lease.

Statutory Text

Durch den Mietvertrag wird der Vermieter verpflichtet, dem Mieter den Gebrauch der Mietsache während der Mietzeit zu gewähren. Der Vermieter hat die Mietsache dem Mieter in einem zum vertragsgemäßen Gebrauch geeigneten Zustand zu überlassen und sie während der Mietzeit in diesem Zustand zu erhalten. Er hat die auf der Mietsache ruhenden Lasten zu tragen.

— BGB § 535(1) — German Civil Code

What to Do

Sources

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