Tenant Application Questions: Correct in Germany
Many tenants in German big cities encounter sensitive or inappropriate questions on housing application forms. Such questions can concern origin, religion, marital status or income and may be discriminatory. This article explains which questions are often inadmissible, how you can have incorrect or prohibited entries corrected, which deadlines apply and which official forms and authorities in Germany are responsible. The guide is aimed at tenants without legal expertise and shows practical steps, sample texts for objections and how to collect evidence before sending a letter to a landlord or a court. The goal is to protect your rights and provide clear, reliable steps.
What is inadmissible in application questions?
Landlords must not ask questions in housing applications that violate the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) or fundamental rights. Direct inquiries about origin, religion or health data are often problematic. Questions intended to exclude potential tenants because of personal characteristics may also be inadmissible. If in doubt, collect examples and notes of conversations before responding.
- Questions about origin, religion or worldview
- Questions about marital status or sexual orientation
- Detailed questions about income or rent payment
- Questions that request sensitive health data
How to have errors or inadmissible questions corrected?
First secure evidence: copies of the application form, emails or screenshots. Then write a short, factual correction or objection letter to the landlord with the date and a concrete request to delete or correct the question. If the landlord does not respond, you can file a complaint with the responsible authority or, as a last resort, consider legal action. For tenancy disputes, the provisions of the German Civil Code (BGB) regarding the duties and rights of parties also apply.[1]
- Contact the landlord in writing and request a correction.
- Document all contacts and keep proof.
- Draft a clear letter with a deadline (e.g. 14 days).
Forms and responsibilities
There are no uniform "application form" templates at the federal level, but for further legal steps certain documents and sample letters are helpful. For example, you can draft an informal objection or deletion request; for termination or eviction cases standardized court procedures and forms apply. The local court (Amtsgericht) is usually responsible for tenancy disputes; important legal bases are found in the BGB and the Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO).[1][2]
How-To
- Collect all evidence: completed application forms, emails, screenshots and notes of conversations.
- Draft a short correction or deletion request: date, which question is inadmissible, desired change, deadline.
- Send the letter by registered mail or email with read receipt and record the dispatch.
- If there is no response, contact an official body or consider legal action via the local court.
- If necessary, prepare files, evidence and a precise statement of facts for court action.
FAQ
- May the landlord ask about my origin?
- Direct questions about origin are often inadmissible if they are discriminatory or not directly related to the tenancy.
- How do I phrase a deletion request?
- Write briefly: date, which question is inadmissible, why (e.g. data protection/discrimination), and a clear deadline for response or deletion.
- Which court do I contact in a dispute?
- Tenancy disputes are usually handled by the local court (Amtsgericht); appeals go to the Landgericht and possibly the Federal Court of Justice (BGH).[3]
