Tenant Checklist: Internet Outage in Germany

As a tenant in Germany, a stable internet connection is often part of the contractually agreed use of your apartment. If the connection fails or is severely limited, you may under certain conditions claim a rent reduction or seek rapid judicial relief in an emergency procedure. This guide explains step by step how to document an internet outage for court, which deadlines to observe and which types of evidence are accepted by courts. It is aimed at non-lawyers and provides concrete practical examples, standard questions to ask the landlord, and the relevant legal bases and authorities so you can assert your rights clearly and securely.

What to do first: Immediate measures and contact with the landlord

Act in a structured way: first inform the landlord or property management in writing and demand the fault be fixed. Describe time, duration and visible limitations. Request written confirmation of receipt and a timetable for remediation.

• Set a deadline: ask the landlord to fix the problem within 48 hours and specify a grace period.
• Written report: use email and, if possible, registered mail or certified mail for delivery.
• Documented calls: record calls with date, time and contact person.

Evidence collection: What is court-worthy

Collect verifiable evidence that substantiates the outage. Court weight is given to timestamped screenshots of speed tests, router connection logs, written communication with provider and landlord, and witness statements if neighbors report the same outage.

• Speed tests: screenshots with date, time and test server.
• Router logs: export or photograph error and connection logs.
• Photos/videos: document blank pages or connection error messages.
• Written correspondence: collect all emails and letters to provider and landlord and order them chronologically.

Brief legal position: Rent reduction and emergency procedure

If there is a significant impairment of contractual use, a rent reduction may be considered under tenancy law. The relevant statutory rules on the lease and landlord duties are set out in the tenancy law provisions of the BGB^[1]. In urgent cases, an emergency procedure under the procedural rules of the ZPO can be useful, for example if the outage is severe and immediate remedy is necessary^[2].

Concrete steps before filing an emergency procedure

1. Set a deadline to the landlord detailing the defect and a time to fix it (e.g., 48–72 hours).
2. Contact the internet provider in parallel and request a fault confirmation and fault number.
3. Secure evidence via screenshots, logs and witnesses; collect all proofs in order.
4. If no remedy: seek legal advice and, if necessary, apply for interim relief at the competent court.

Examples: Wording and sample letters

Use clear wording. Example: "Dear Sir or Madam, since DD.MM.YYYY there has been no functional internet connection in my apartment. Please confirm receipt of this letter and inform me by when the defect will be remedied. If no remedy has been provided by DD.MM.YYYY, I will consider legal steps."

FAQ

Can I reduce the rent immediately if the internet fails?

A rent reduction is possible if the use is significantly impaired; examine the scope and duration of the outage and document it carefully before reducing the rent.

Who is responsible: landlord or internet provider?

In principle the landlord is obliged to ensure the contractually owed usability of the rented property; the provider is responsible for line quality. Coordination of both parties is often necessary.

When is an emergency procedure appropriate?

When a rapid court decision is required, e.g. in the case of existential impairment of use or when a prolonged outage threatens and deadlines have been ineffective.

How-To

1. Document the outage immediately with screenshots, logs and timestamps.
2. Send a formal defect notice to the landlord and request confirmation.
3. Contact the provider and request a fault confirmation.
4. Seek legal advice and, if necessary, apply for interim relief at the competent local court.

Help and Support / Resources

• Laws: German Civil Code (BGB)
• Procedural law: German Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO)
• Federal Court of Justice (BGH) – Decisions

1. [1] Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB)
2. [2] Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO)
3. [3] Bundesgerichtshof (BGH) Decisions