Tenant Checklist: Dorm Internet, Germany

As a tenant in a dorm, reliable internet is often essential: for remote work, studies, contacts with authorities and daily life. This practical checklist is aimed at tenants in Germany and shows step by step how to check connection and speed, propose upgrades and enforce your rights. You will learn which obligations landlords have, which deadlines apply, how to document defects and which official forms or sample letters you can use. Concrete examples illustrate wording for inquiries and complaint letters. At the end you will find an easy-to-follow guide for filing claims or lawsuits as well as an FAQ section with quick answers for typical dorm situations. Practical tips help avoid unnecessary costs.

Why this matters

In dorms, many residents often share infrastructure. Poor connections or unclear responsibilities can severely disrupt studies, work and administrative contacts. As a tenant, you should systematically check whether the problem is with your device, the room router or the building infrastructure and document accordingly.

Rights and forms

German tenancy law is governed by §§ 535–580a of the BGB, which set out basic obligations of landlords and tenants ^[1]. For court proceedings or enforcement, the Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO) is relevant ^[2]. For terminations or formal letters many tenants use sample forms, for example termination letter templates or reminder letters from the competent authorities and ministries ^[3]. Examples below show concrete wording for a letter to the landlord and for an outage protocol.

• Check first the contract, provider and connection.
• Document outages with date, time, speed tests and photos.
• Inform the landlord in writing and request repair within a clear deadline.
• Set a reasonable deadline and announce possible steps (rent reduction, technician appointment).
• Propose modernizations, e.g. router replacement or cabling upgrades.
• Keep all replies, bills and communications.

Practical examples

Example of a short information letter to the landlord: date, description of the outage, concrete measurements, request for repair within e.g. 14 days and notice of further steps such as rent reduction. Include measurement logs as attachments. If there is no response, you can send a written reminder and, if necessary, consider rent reduction or filing a lawsuit at the local court.

FAQ

Who is responsible for the internet in the dorm?

That depends on the lease: if the connection is part of the rent, the landlord is usually responsible for provision; otherwise each tenant signs a contract with a provider.

Can I reduce the rent if the internet fails?

For significant impairments of use, tenants can reduce rent if the landlord is responsible for the outage or does not repair it in time. Documentation and setting deadlines are important.

When should I involve the local court?

If written requests and deadlines do not lead to improvement, filing a claim at the competent local court can be considered; appeals go to the regional court and possibly to the Federal Court of Justice.

How-To

1. Check: Run speed tests, note times and compare with contractually guaranteed performance.
2. Document: Save screenshots, photos of network equipment and keep an outage log.
3. Write: Send a formal letter to the landlord with a deadline and attachments.
4. Next steps: If there is no reaction, consider rent reduction, mediation or filing a claim at the local court.

Help and Support / Resources

• Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) — Gesetze im Internet
• Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection (BMJ)
• Federal Court of Justice (BGH)

1. [1] BGB §§ 535–580a — Gesetze im Internet
2. [2] ZPO — Code of Civil Procedure — Gesetze im Internet
3. [3] Sample forms and guidance — Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection