Report Neighbor Harassment - Tenant Rights Germany

Discrimination & Equal Treatment 2 min read · published September 07, 2025
As a tenant in Germany, persistent, targeted neighbor harassment can greatly reduce your quality of life, health, and safety. This guide explains clearly how to recognize harassment, secure evidence, inform official bodies and landlords, and what legal steps are possible. We describe practical forms, deadlines, and examples for police and authority reports as well as template wording for letters to your landlord. The goal is to give you practical steps so you can protect your rights as a tenant and avoid escalation. The information refers to German tenancy law, relevant statutes such as the BGB [1], and official procedures that help in practice.

What is neighbor harassment?

Neighbor harassment means repeated, targeted harassment, intimidation, or disturbance by neighbors that significantly interferes with the use of your apartment. Affected tenants can seek protection under German tenancy law; see the BGB [1] for details on duties and rights.

In most regions, tenancy law protects tenants against unreasonable harassment.

Immediate steps for tenants

  • Collect evidence: take photos, videos and keep a dated logbook (evidence).
  • Send written notices/forms to the landlord and set a deadline (form).
  • Contact the police or emergency number if there is an immediate threat (call).
  • Check whether proceedings before the local court (Amtsgericht) are necessary [2] (court).
Secure evidence daily and note date, time and witnesses.

Forms and official bodies

In cases of discrimination you can file a complaint with the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency [3]. For criminal acts, filing a police report is appropriate; many federal states offer online reporting (Internetwache). Letters to the landlord should list dates, incidents, evidence and a reasonable deadline for remedy.

A clear written request to the landlord improves your position for later steps.

FAQ

What counts as neighbor harassment?
Repeated, targeted harassment or intimidation by neighbors that impairs the use or safety of the dwelling.
Can I reduce my rent because of harassment?
In certain circumstances yes, if the habitability or living quality is significantly impaired; check the conditions under tenancy law [1].
When should I contact the police?
If there are immediate threats, vandalism or crimes, contact the police right away; consider filing a report for documentation in repeated harassment cases.

How-To

  1. Systematically collect evidence: photos, videos and a dated logbook (evidence).
  2. Write a formal defect/complaint letter to the landlord and set a deadline (form).
  3. Contact the police in case of danger and secure the report numbers (call).
  4. Consider legal action at the local court and gather all documentation for a claim (court).
  5. Use counseling services and the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency for specialized support (help).

Help & Support

  1. [1] Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) – Gesetze im Internet
  2. [2] Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO) – Gesetze im Internet
  3. [3] Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes – Complaint Office

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Bob Jones
Bob Jones

Editor & Researcher, Tenant Rights Germany

Bob writes and reviews tenant law content for various regions. They’re passionate about housing justice and simplifying legal protections for tenants everywhere.

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