Can my landlord enter my apartment without my permission?
June 6, 2023 | 50,00 EUR | answered by Oliver Hentschel
Dear lawyer specializing in tenancy law,
My name is Fanni Binder and I am reaching out to you with a question regarding my tenancy agreement. I have been renting an apartment in a multi-family house for two years and have not had any issues with my landlord so far. However, in recent weeks, my landlord has been entering my apartment unannounced more frequently to carry out repairs or inspections. This makes me very uncomfortable and I wonder if my landlord even has the right to enter my apartment without my permission.
Currently, I am very busy with work and have little time to deal with this issue intensively. I am worried about my privacy and no longer feel safe in my own home. I wonder if my landlord has the right to enter my apartment at any time or if there are boundaries that he must adhere to.
Could you please explain to me what rights and obligations my landlord has regarding entering my apartment? Are there any legal regulations that require the landlord to inform me in advance of a visit? How can I protect myself from unannounced visits by my landlord in the future? I would greatly appreciate it if you could assist me with this matter.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Fanni Binder
Dear Mrs. Binder,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding your tenancy and the unannounced visits of your landlord to your apartment. It is understandable that you feel disturbed in your privacy and are concerned about your safety. I would like to explain to you in more detail what rights and obligations your landlord has in relation to entering your apartment.
Basically, the landlord has the right to enter the rental premises to carry out necessary repairs or inspections. However, he must adhere to certain rules. Firstly, the landlord must have the right to enter the rental premises to carry out repairs that are necessary for the maintenance of the apartment. However, he must respect your privacy and coordinate with you regarding the timing of the visit.
For inspections, for example in the case of selling the apartment, the landlord must give you reasonable advance notice. The legal regulation usually states that the landlord must inform you at least 24 hours in advance. In exceptional cases, such as in acute emergencies, the landlord can also enter the apartment without prior notice, but he must justify this afterwards.
So if your landlord enters your apartment unannounced to carry out repairs or inspections, you should talk to him and inform him that you want a reasonable advance notice. You can also make a written agreement in which you specify how visits should be announced.
If your landlord continues to enter your apartment unannounced and refuses to respect your privacy, you can contact a tenants' association or a lawyer specializing in tenancy law to take legal action. It is important that you know your rights as a tenant and enforce them against your landlord.
I hope this information helps you and that you are better protected against unannounced visits from your landlord in the future. If you have any further questions or need legal assistance, I am at your disposal.
Sincerely,
Oliver Hentschel, Lawyer specializing in tenancy law
