Equal Treatment at Viewings for Tenants in Germany

What is equal treatment at viewings?

As a tenant in Germany, applicants must not be disadvantaged because of origin, gender, religion, disability or family situation. At viewings this means landlords must provide equal information and appointments and must not ask legally improper questions.^[1]

Practical: How to document viewings

Good documentation makes the difference. Note date, time and content of the conversation, take photos of the apartment condition and save messages. If possible, ask an independent person to act as a witness.

• Take photos of the apartment condition and the entrance area
• Record the date and time of the appointment as well as the course of the conversation
• Name witnesses and secure contact details
• Save all emails and messages as PDFs

Responding with template letters and deadlines

If you suspect discrimination, first send a polite dated template letter to the landlord requesting a written statement. Set a clear deadline of about 14 days and document the dispatch. If there is no response or the reply is insufficient, you can consider further legal steps, such as filing a lawsuit at the local court.^[2]

When are courts competent?

Most tenancy disputes fall under the jurisdiction of the local court; appeals go to the regional court, and in rare cases the Federal Court of Justice decides on fundamental questions.^[3][4]

Frequently Asked Questions

What may the landlord ask at a viewing?

Landlords may ask about creditworthiness and move-in arrangements, but not unlawful questions about origin, religion or marital status.

How do I document discrimination correctly?

Note place, date, time, involved persons, save messages and take photos; collect witnesses if possible.

How-To

1. Document: Note date, time and conversation content and take photos
2. Send template letter: Request a written statement and set a deadline
3. Observe deadlines: Wait for the set deadline and document follow-up actions
4. Legal steps: File a claim at the local court if necessary

Important about evidence

Collect all relevant documents in a folder or digitally, label files clearly and keep a short table of contents.

Help and Support / Resources

• Local court information on justiz.de
• BGB §§ 535–580a on gesetze-im-internet.de
• Federal Court of Justice decisions on bundesgerichtshof.de

1. [1] German Civil Code (BGB) – Gesetze im Internet
2. [2] Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO) – Gesetze im Internet
3. [3] Information on courts – justiz.de
4. [4] Federal Court of Justice (BGH) – bundesgerichtshof.de