Secure Dorm Internet: Tenant Rights in Germany

Many tenants in Germany live in dorms or student housing where shared internet access is part of the house rules. If Wi‑Fi is slow, the provider is unreachable or access is blocked, this affects not only comfort but often studies, work and safety. This article clearly explains which rights and duties tenants in Germany have, how house rules and tenancy law (BGB) apply, which deadlines must be observed and which forms or legal steps are possible. The guidance helps to document problems systematically, report them formally and, if necessary, be represented before the local court or higher instances. At the end you will find template letters, tips for proving outages correctly and contacts to the competent authorities.

What do the house rules and tenancy law regulate?

The house rules often set usage rules for shared facilities such as internet access. In addition, the statutory provisions of tenancy law under the BGB apply^[1]. In disputes, the local court (Amtsgericht) is usually responsible as the first instance^[2].

Typical problems and first steps

Problems range from complete outages to very slow connections or access restrictions by the landlord or provider. As first steps, you should document the outage, inform the provider and landlord, and set reasonable deadlines.

• Report the outage in writing (form) to landlord and provider.
• Observe deadlines: set a reasonable deadline (days), often 14 days, for remediation.
• Collect evidence: photos, log files, chat or email records (document).

Forms and template letters

Useful templates include a formal outage report and, if necessary, a model termination or reminder letter. Forms and guidance can also be found at the Federal Ministry of Justice^[3].

• Template: outage report to landlord with date, description of the fault and a remediation deadline.
• Model termination letter for provider or landlord in case of persistent impairments (only after legal review).

Legal steps and responsibilities

If the landlord does not respond, tenants can bring legal action or claim a rent reduction. Tenancy disputes are usually heard in the local court; procedural rules are set out in the ZPO.

FAQ

Can the landlord block internet access in the dorm?

It depends on the contract and the house rules. If internet access is contractually owed as part of the tenancy, arbitrary blocking may be unlawful. Document any blockings and check the lease and house rules.

What deadlines apply for reporting defects?

Defects must be reported to the landlord without undue delay; usually a reasonable deadline for rectification is set. In many cases 14 days is considered practical, depending on urgency.

When can I claim a rent reduction for missing internet?

A rent reduction is possible if internet access is contractually owed and its use is significantly impaired. Documentation of the outage, setting a deadline and, if necessary, legal advice are important.

How-To

1. Document the outage: record date, time, screenshots and log files.
2. Inform the landlord in writing and set a deadline (e.g. 14 days).
3. Attach evidence and use official forms or template letters.
4. If necessary, file a claim at the local court and seek legal advice.

Key Takeaways

• React promptly and set clear deadlines.
• Gather strong evidence to support your case.
• Use official templates and forms when available.

Help and Support / Resources

• Gesetze im Internet: BGB
• Federal Ministry of Justice
• Justice Portal: Local Courts

1. [1] Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) – §535 ff., gesetze-im-internet.de
2. [2] Justizportal – Informationen zu Gerichten, justiz.de
3. [3] Bundesministerium der Justiz – Formulare und Service, bmj.de