Germany updates tenant rights for solar and heating systems

New legal frameworks in Germany regarding renewable energy and building modernization are reshaping the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords.

Under current reforms to the German Civil Code (BGB), tenants have a legal claim to implement structural changes for renewable energy use, such as plug-in solar devices or balcony modules, provided they bear the costs and do not impose disproportionate burdens on the landlord. While landlords can only refuse permission based on specific structural or aesthetic grounds, tenants do not have a direct claim to install solar panels on rooftops, which are typically considered communal or landlord-owned property.

Additionally, the Building Modernization Act (GModG), which replaced significant portions of the Building Energy Act, introduces new rules for heating systems. As of July 29, 2026, landlords have more freedom to choose between various heating technologies, including heat pumps, district heating, biomass, and fossil fuels like gas or oil. However, to mitigate financial risks for tenants, new regulations require landlords to share a portion of the additional costs associated with certain newly installed fossil fuel heating systems, preventing them from passing all economic consequences of these choices onto tenants through operating costs.