Secure Dorm Internet: Tenant Tips for Germany

As a tenant in a special residence in Germany, a stable internet connection is often essential for work, study and everyday life. If routers, provider choice or landlord rules cause problems, you need clear steps to secure your connection, avoid conflicts and enforce your rights in case of persistent outages. This guide explains in practical terms which rights tenants have, how to write a defect notice correctly, which official forms and courts are relevant, and how to coordinate technical solutions politely with management and roommates. The advice is simple and helps you avoid disputes step by step and stabilize internet service in the residence. I show concrete wording, timelines and authority contacts so you can act quickly without unnecessary escalation.

Rights and Duties as a Tenant

As a tenant you are entitled to the contractual use of the rented property; relevant rules are in the German Civil Code (BGB), for example on defects and rent reduction.^[1] Important: a complete loss of internet access can be considered a significant defect if use was agreed or it is necessary for study/work.

Outages: quick steps

Perform a short technical check, document the outage precisely and inform the provider and property management in writing.

• Check router, cables, power and provider status.
• Report the outage to the provider and note the ticket number.
• Record date, time and duration of each outage.

Defect notice to the landlord

Send the landlord a formal defect notice with description, date and a concrete deadline for remedy (e.g. 14 days). Request confirmation of receipt and keep proof of sending. If the landlord does not respond, state the possible legal consequences such as rent reduction or damages in your next message.

• Termination letter (sample, BMJ) — if a severe and persistent defect exists, consider ordinary or extraordinary termination; example: repeated months-long loss of internet despite reports.^[3]
• Payment order (Mahnverfahren) — to enforce monetary claims such as refunds for overpaid rent or replacement costs; useful if the landlord does not respond.^[2]
• Application for legal aid (PKH) — if you cannot afford a court case, apply for PKH at the competent local court.

Technical and roommate solutions

Clear agreements in the residence help: set rules with management and roommates (e.g. router location, bandwidth sharing, access credentials). Consider alternatives like a personal router, LTE/5G backup or shared costs for a more stable line.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the landlord regulate or block the internet?

The landlord can set rules if agreed in the lease. Arbitrary blocking without legal basis is problematic; document incidents and request a written explanation.

When can I reduce the rent?

If the habitability of the apartment is significantly impaired, you may reduce the rent. The amount and start depend on the extent and duration of the defect; refer to the BGB and document the issue.

Which court is responsible for a tenancy dispute?

The local district court (Amtsgericht) is responsible for most tenancy disputes; eviction suits and rent reduction disputes are heard there.

How-To

1. Check: Start with simple technical checks (restart router, check cables).
2. Document: Note dates, times and duration and save screenshots or photos.
3. Send defect notice: Send a written defect notice to the landlord with a concrete deadline for remedy.
4. Contact provider in writing: Request a confirmation of the outage and a ticket number from the provider.
5. Consider legal steps: If the defect persists, consider rent reduction, payment order or legal action with PKH if necessary.
6. Authorities & court: Seek help from the local court or apply for legal aid if needed.

Key Takeaways

• Good documentation is the most important basis for rent reduction or legal action.
• Written defect notices with deadlines significantly strengthen your legal position.

Help and Support / Resources

• Local courts and judicial procedures (Justizportal)
• German Civil Code (BGB) on gesetze-im-internet.de
• Federal Ministry of Justice (forms and guidance)

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1. [1] German Civil Code (BGB) §535 ff. on gesetze-im-internet.de
2. [2] Payment order and court procedures on justiz.de
3. [3] Sample letters, guidance and forms on bmj.de