Tenant Guide: Photo & Video Documentation in Germany
As a tenant in Germany, careful photo and video documentation is often crucial when it comes to move-in, defects, or move-out. This guide shows step by step how to make professional recordings over a weekend, record damage and meter readings as secure evidence, and set up an organized archive. You will learn which settings, angles and metadata are important, how to create timestamps and logs, and which legal bases support your rights. The aim is to give you practical tools so that you can argue more effectively in disputes before a local court or with the property manager. The tips are aligned with German law and easy to implement. Read on for concrete checklists and forms.
Why photo and video documentation matters
Photos and videos help document condition, extent and timing of damage. Legal obligations and rights from the German Civil Code (BGB)[1] determine when tenants can claim rent reduction or report defects.
- Evidence: Photos and videos prove condition and date.
- Repair needs: Documentation shows scope and severity of defects like mold or heating failure.
- Formal records: Protocols and defect reports support later letters or claims.
- Deadlines: Timely documentation preserves deadlines and appointments.
Weekend preparation
With little effort you can prepare a systematic documentation set: device, backup, checklist and template texts for defect reports or termination letters.
- Devices: Smartphone with full battery and sufficient free storage; set date/time synchronization.
- Shooting quality: Use wide angle for rooms, close-ups for defects and short videos for context.
- Timestamps: Take an initial overview shot with date and time.
- Documents: Scan or photograph meter readings, tenancy agreement and correspondence.
- Backup: Store copies in a cloud with version history.
Practical tips when photographing
Pay attention to good lighting, clear perspectives and comparison shots (e.g. overall room + detailed shot). Number files briefly and logically, e.g. "kitchen_01_2025-05-10.jpg".
- Overview shots: Room overview from the door and from two additional angles.
- Detail shots: Close-up of the defect with a scale (ruler or coin).
- Video clips: Short 10–30 second clips showing context and sounds.
FAQ
- Do I need photos for every defect?
- Yes. For visible defects, photos and short videos are the best initial evidence.
- Are smartphone records sufficient in court?
- Yes, if metadata, timestamps and file naming make the sequence verifiable.
- What should I do with extensive correspondence?
- Scan all letters and save them chronologically with date labels.
How-To
- Prepare: Set device, battery, storage, checklist and naming scheme.
- Shoot: Take room shots, detail shots, meter readings and series shots.
- Record: Add date, time, location and short description in a text file.
- Backup & Send: Create backups and formally notify the landlord of serious defects (defect report).
Help and Support
- BGB text and general legal foundations
- Information from the Federal Court of Justice (BGH)
- Guidance on local courts and procedures
