Check Basement Fire Safety: Tenants in Germany

As a tenant in a high-rise building, you should take basement fire safety in shared cellars seriously. Many risks arise from improperly stored items, faulty electrical installations, or blocked escape routes. This article explains in plain language which duties landlords and tenants have, how to conduct a practical basement inspection, and which steps follow when defects occur. The guide is aimed at tenants in Germany and includes an easy-to-use checklist, advice on documenting damage, how to notify the landlord, and which courts and laws are relevant so you can act safely and well prepared.

What tenants should consider

Before the inspection, quickly check access, lighting and potential hazards. Pay special attention to properly closing fire doors, clear escape routes and stored materials that are highly flammable.

• Regular checks: Perform inspections at least once a year and after special events like renovations.
• Access and closures: Make sure fire doors and escape locks operate freely and are not blocked.
• Electricals and lighting: Watch for visible damage to wiring or lamps that can cause sparks or overheating.
• Documentation: Take photos, note date and time and keep receipts or messages to the landlord.

Practical checklist for basement fire safety

1. Fire doors: Check that they are intact and close by themselves.
2. Storage risks: Do not store flammable liquids or large stacks of cardboard in escape areas.
3. Technical rooms: Ensure heating and electrical installations are accessible and labelled.
4. Marking: Escape routes and fire extinguishers are visibly marked and not obstructed.
5. Contact: Document defects in writing and request the landlord to remedy them.

Rights and duties — legal basics

The landlord is generally obliged to hand over and maintain the rental property in a usable and safe condition (BGB § 535 ff.) (BGB § 535 ff.)^[1]. In case of acute fire hazards, the landlord must act without delay; otherwise tenants can report the defect, set deadlines and demand emergency measures. In disputes, the local court (Amtsgericht) usually decides in the first instance; procedural rules are found in the Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO) (ZPO)^[2]. Important precedents and interpretations for tenancy law are published by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) (BGH)^[3].

How-To

1. Document: Photograph defects, record date and location, and store everything securely.
2. Written defect notice: Send the landlord a clear defect description with a deadline for remedy.
3. Deadlines and reminders: Remind by phone and in writing if there is no response.
4. Legal actions: If no remedy occurs, prepare a lawsuit or approach the local court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who must ensure basement fire safety?

The landlord is primarily responsible for ensuring safety; tenants must not create hazards or ignore removal instructions.

Can I arrange repairs myself as a tenant?

Only in urgent cases to avert danger can tenants act and claim reimbursement; otherwise the landlord should be commissioned.

Where do I turn for persistent problems?

Contact the competent local court for tenancy disputes; legal foundations are in the BGB and the ZPO.^[1]

Key Takeaways

• Regular documentation protects your rights in disputes.
• Immediate reporting of acute hazards to the landlord is essential.

Help and Support / Resources

• BGB §§ 535–580a: Tenancy law (gesetze-im-internet.de)
• ZPO: Civil procedure rules (gesetze-im-internet.de)
• Federal Court of Justice: Decisions and information (bundesgerichtshof.de)

1. [1] BGB §§ 535–580a: Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (gesetze-im-internet.de)
2. [2] ZPO: Zivilprozessordnung (gesetze-im-internet.de)
3. [3] Bundesgerichtshof (bundesgerichtshof.de)