Heating Outage Checklist 2025 - Tenants Germany

A heating outage in winter is more than an annoyance for tenants in Germany: it can affect the usability of the apartment and lead to rent reduction or claims for damages. This guide explains in plain language which steps you as a tenant should take now: how to notify the landlord correctly, set deadlines, collect photographic evidence and documentation, and which official sample forms and courts are responsible. I name relevant sections of the BGB, courts such as the local court (Amtsgericht) and practical wording suggestions for letters. This helps tenants enforce their rights effectively in Germany without legal expertise and know when professional legal advice makes sense. We also show which official forms to use.

What to do in case of a heating outage?

In case of a heating outage the landlord is obliged to carry out repairs under tenancy law (Sections 535–536 BGB)^[1]. In addition, the Heating Costs Ordinance and other rules set out obligations for landlords and suppliers^[2]. Practically, tenants should act quickly but deliberately: set deadlines, create evidence and, if necessary, assert a rent reduction.

• Notify the landlord in writing and traceably; describe the defect precisely and name a deadline for remedy.
• Record immediate measures and deadlines: in acute cases immediately, otherwise usually 14 days.
• Collect evidence: photos, date, time, room temperatures and note witnesses.
• Differentiate which repairs the landlord must bear and what counts as minor repairs.
• Calculate and document a possible rent reduction before withholding payments.

Forms and legal foundations

For court action use the complaint form and the rules of the Code of Civil Procedure; disputes over rent are usually handled in the first instance by the local court (Amtsgericht)^[3]. Sample letters for reporting the defect or threatening a rent reduction should include date, exact description and deadline. Official forms for lawsuits and payment orders can be found on justice portals and the federal service websites.

FAQ

Can I reduce the rent if the heating fails?

Yes. If usability is significantly impaired, a rent reduction is possible; the concrete reduction depends on the scope and duration of the defect.

How do I set deadlines with the landlord?

In writing by letter or e‑mail with an exact description of the defect, a deadline for remedy and a note on further steps such as rent reduction or lawsuit.

When is the local court (Amtsgericht) competent?

In tenancy disputes the local court is usually competent in the first instance; higher instances are the regional court and the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) for appellate issues.

How-To

1. Notify the landlord in writing: prepare a short letter with date, defect description and deadline for remedy.
2. Document: take photos, record room temperatures, note witness statements and keep a defect log.
3. Inform the supplier and management: report the outage to the energy supplier or building management if necessary.
4. Check rent reduction: calculate an appropriate percentage and inform the landlord in writing.
5. Legal action: if no solution, file a complaint at the competent local court using the complaint form.

Key Takeaways

• Documentation is essential for rent reductions and court actions.
• Set clear deadlines and communicate with the landlord in a verifiable way.
• If there is no response, the local court is the correct authority for tenancy disputes.

Help and Support

• Gesetze im Internet – BGB and Heating Costs Ordinance
• Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ) – information and forms
• Federal Court of Justice (BGH) – tenancy law decisions

1. [1] Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) §535 — Gesetze im Internet
2. [2] Heizkostenverordnung (HeizKV) — Gesetze im Internet
3. [3] Information on courts and jurisdiction — JUSTIZ