Tenant Rights: Dorm Internet in Germany

Many tenants in Germany live in dorms or special housing and wonder whether house rules may regulate internet use. This page explains in clear language which rights tenants have, when the landlord or provider can be liable and how to take practical steps to secure your access. We name official regulations, show concrete forms and provide a checklist for talks with the landlord or housing administration. Practical examples and the jurisdiction of the courts help you make the right decision and meet deadlines.^[1]

What may the house rules regulate about the internet?

The house rules can contain details on the use of common areas and safety, but they must not conflict with statutory minimum obligations. Restrictions that effectively make internet access impossible may be invalid. In many cases, the question depends on the landlord's duties under the tenancy law of the BGB and the respective contractual agreements.^[1]

Typical points of dispute

• Access (notice): Times and restrictions for shared WLAN use.
• Equipment (repair): Who pays for router, cabling and outages?
• Liability (safety): Who is liable for illegal use or security gaps?
• Privacy (evidence): Which logs may the administration inspect?

If the house rules, for example, completely ban private routers, tenants should check whether the ban restricts the contractual use of the rented property. Courts, typically the local court (Amtsgericht), decide such issues if a dispute arises.^[2]

Forms and practical templates

The following official forms and templates are important for tenants:

• Notice of termination template (BMJ) — use when a timely contract termination is necessary due to a serious breach.
• Defect notice / request for remedy — document in writing, set a deadline and request proof of repair.
• Outage log template — date, time, type of outage, contact attempts.

Example: You repeatedly report failures of the shared WLAN and give the landlord a 14-day deadline to fix it. If there is no response, rent reduction or termination may be possible — document everything in writing.^[3]

How a legal procedure proceeds

For disputes about internet access rights, the following steps are typically possible:

• Send a written defect notice to the landlord with a deadline.
• Attempt to resolve via meetings or mediation with the housing administration or provider.
• If no agreement: file a lawsuit at the local court (Amtsgericht) for tenancy disputes.

FAQ

Who is responsible if the house rules restrict internet access?

Usually the local court decides tenancy disputes; higher instances are the regional court and the Federal Court of Justice (BGH).

Can I reduce the rent if the internet fails?

Yes, in case of significant impairment of usability a rent reduction may be possible if the landlord does not act in time.

Am I liable for illegal content shared over shared WLAN?

Liability depends on control and protective measures; inform yourself about data protection and criminal law obligations.

How-To

1. Document outages: collect date, time, screenshots or logs.
2. Write a defect notice and set a reasonable deadline (e.g. 14 days).
3. Seek advice from tenant counseling if no solution is found.
4. File at the local court if deadlines and reminders fail.

Key Takeaways

• House rules cannot fully negate contractual use of the rented space.
• Thorough documentation and deadlines improve chances in court.
• Local courts are the first instance for tenancy disputes.

Help and Support

• §§535–580a BGB (gesetze-im-internet.de)
• Federal Court of Justice – Decisions (bundesgerichtshof.de)
• Federal Ministry of Justice – Forms (bmj.de)

1. [1] §§535–580a BGB (gesetze-im-internet.de)
2. [2] Bundesgerichtshof (bundesgerichtshof.de)
3. [3] Federal Ministry of Justice – Forms (bmj.de)