Emergency Plan for Tenants in Germany 2025: Avoid Mistakes

As a tenant in Germany, it is important to have a practical emergency plan for your home. Many renters underestimate how quickly power outages, burst pipes, or sudden heating failures disrupt daily life — and what rights and obligations then apply. This article explains step by step how to avoid common mistakes when creating an emergency plan, which documents and contacts you should keep ready, and how to realistically train the plan. The guidance takes into account tenancy law basics and practical examples for communication with landlords, neighbors and authorities so you can act calmly in an emergency and better enforce your rights. Specific notes on deadlines, forms and competent courts are given below.^[1]

What Tenants Should Watch For

A safe emergency plan starts with clear responsibilities, contact lists and documented procedures. Record who in the household takes which tasks, how to quickly document damage and which tradespeople to contact in an emergency. Keep copies of important pages from the lease, the addresses and phone numbers of the landlord, property manager and tradespeople, and digital photos in a safe place.

Emergency Checklist

• Keep emergency numbers (112, property manager, landlord, electrician) accessible
• Identify and mark safe escape routes
• Digitise important documents (lease, handover protocol, insurance)
• Take photos and videos of damage immediately
• Report defects in writing and keep proof of delivery
• Arrange emergency repairs in a timely and documented manner
• Note important deadlines and check them

Rights, Deadlines and Form Notes

As a tenant you have obligations but also rights under the German Civil Code (BGB) governing residential leases.^[1] In disputes such as rent reduction, termination or eviction lawsuits, local courts (Amtsgerichte) are usually competent; procedural rules are found in the Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO).^[2] There is no single official "form number" for each situation, but practical templates (for example for written defect notices or terminations) should clearly state facts, deadlines and your requests. In complex disputes, early legal advice can be helpful; if necessary, a suit is filed at the local court or an eviction claim is prepared.

Documentation and Communication

Documentation increases your chances of enforcing claims. Send defect notifications in writing by registered mail or e‑mail with read receipt and keep proof of receipt. In the message, state date, type of defect, concrete request (e.g. repair within 14 days) and attach evidence photos. Copies of all outgoing and incoming correspondence help later in court.

FAQ

What belongs in an emergency plan for tenants?

An emergency plan includes emergency numbers, contact to the landlord, location of water and gas shut-offs, a meeting point outside the apartment and a list of important documents.

Can I arrange repairs myself as a tenant?

Minor repairs are often regulated in the lease; otherwise major defects should be reported to the landlord in writing. In acute dangers, immediate measures to protect health are permitted.

Which deadlines apply to defect notifications?

Defects should be reported without delay; give the landlord a reasonable deadline to remedy and document everything in writing.

How-To

1. Identify and prioritise risks in the household
2. Create a contact list: emergency, landlord, property manager, tradespeople
3. Digitise important documents and secure them offline
4. Agree on contacts for emergency repairs
5. Practice the plan regularly with household members
6. Document damage and formally notify the landlord
7. If necessary, consider legal steps at the local court under the ZPO.^[2]

Key Takeaways

• Create a clear written emergency procedure for your household.
• Document damage immediately with date and photos.
• Keep communication channels with landlord and property manager open.

Help and Support / Resources

• Gesetze im Internet: Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) §§ 535–580a
• Gesetze im Internet: Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO)
• Bundesgerichtshof (BGH) – Decisions on tenancy law

1. [1] Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) §§ 535–580a — Gesetze im Internet
2. [2] Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) — Gesetze im Internet
3. [3] Bundesgerichtshof (BGH) — Official publications