Germany: Rent reduction rights during extreme heat

In Germany, excessive heat in rental properties can serve as grounds for rent reduction, though legal standards depend on specific circumstances. According to ARAG experts, court rulings suggest that if the outdoor temperature is 32 degrees Celsius, the indoor temperature should not exceed 26 degrees Celsius.

For outdoor temperatures exceeding 32 degrees Celsius, a temperature difference of at least six degrees Celsius must be maintained. For example, if it is 40 degrees Celsius outside, the indoor temperature is permitted to reach 34 degrees Celsius. The specific eligibility and the percentage of the rent reduction are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Heat is not automatically considered a rental defect. Tenants in top-floor apartments, for instance, are expected to tolerate higher temperatures than those on lower floors. Furthermore, landlords are not always required to install external blinds or heat protection. In one ruling by the Amtsgericht Leipzig (Az.: 164 C 6049/04), a tenant's demand for blinds in a maisonette apartment was denied because the tenant was aware of the potential heat conditions at the time of signing the lease.