Tenants check EV charger underground garage in Germany

As a tenant in Germany you may wonder whether you can have an EV charger inspected or installed in the shared underground garage. Key factors are landlord consent, technical safety and possible conditions from monument protection authorities if the building is listed. This text clearly explains tenant rights, when modernization costs can be allocated under §§ 535–580a BGB and especially § 559, how to formally request permission and which deadlines and proofs matter. You will get practical steps for documenting inspections, tips for communicating with landlord and monument office, and a checklist for court action or filing at the local court if disputes arise.

What tenants should check

Before having an EV charger inspected or installed in the communal underground garage, clarify technical, legal and monument-protection aspects. Check accessibility, cable routing, circuit protection and whether structural changes are necessary.

• Technical inspection of electrical infrastructure and protections by a certified electrician.
• Determine whether landlord approval for structural changes is required.
• Clarify with the property management about parking space allocation and cable routes.
• Check whether the building is listed and what requirements the monument office sets.
• Keep all offers, inspection reports and correspondence as evidence.

Rights, monument protection and modernization

Key legal references for tenants are the provisions in the German Civil Code (BGB) on tenancy and the rules on modernization and cost allocation. Charging infrastructure can be considered a modernization; cost allocation is governed by the modernization provisions, in particular § 559 BGB.^[1] For listed buildings, additional requirements of the responsible monument authority apply, usually under state law.

Important: For structural changes in communal areas the tenant usually needs landlord approval and often a permit from the monument office. If there is a dispute, the local court (Amtsgericht) is competent; important case law is published by the Federal Court of Justice.^[2]

Practical steps for tenants

Before the inspection

• Notify the landlord and property manager in writing with a description of the proposal and technical needs.
• Request information about available electrical capacity and existing cables.
• Check whether the building is listed and what requirements the monument authority specifies.

During and after the inspection

• Obtain a written inspection certificate or inspection protocol.
• Keep all invoices and offers to clarify cost issues.
• If the landlord refuses, review legal steps and deadlines.

FAQ

May I as a tenant have an EV charger inspected or installed in the underground garage?

In principle tenants may propose inspections and often installations, but structural changes and permanent installations generally require landlord consent; for communal property the management resolves issues.

What role does monument protection play?

For listed buildings additional requirements from the monument authority apply. Measures that change the appearance often require a separate permit.

Who pays for inspection and installation?

Short-term inspections are usually paid by the applicant; for modernizations and cost allocation the BGB rules must be checked; in disputes the local court may decide.^[1]

How-To

1. Step 1: Inform landlord and property manager in writing about your plan.
2. Step 2: Hire a qualified electrician for an initial technical inspection and documentation.
3. Step 3: Coordinate required permits with the monument office and landlord.
4. Step 4: Present offers and inspection reports to the landlord and document responsibilities in writing.

Help and Support / Resources

• German Civil Code (BGB) - Gesetze im Internet
• Federal Court of Justice - case law on tenancy law
• Federal Ministry of Justice - information for tenants

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1. [1] Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB), § 559 — Modernisierungsmaßnahmen
2. [2] Bundesgerichtshof - Entscheidungen zum Mietrecht
3. [3] Bundesministerium der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz - Informationen für Mieter