Tenant checks surveillance cameras and discovers landlord in her apartment
Created: 06/09/2022, 07:00
By: Andrea Stettner
A woman wants to use a surveillance camera to check on the cats in her apartment.
She discovers an uninvited guest in her apartment - the landlord.
The story begins harmlessly at first: A woman on a business trip wants to check on the cats in her apartment while she is away.
For this purpose, she has installed surveillance cameras in her apartment.
But then she makes an unpleasant discovery: her cats are not alone in the apartment.
The woman's landlord entered the apartment without her knowledge and is now sneaking through the rooms.
The tenant is horrified and shares the story on
in early September : "Without words" is the sad comment from "Little Red Riding Hood", as the woman calls herself on the social network.
But the question is: Can the landlord enter the apartment without prior notice?
And is he even allowed to keep a key?
Landlords are not allowed to keep a key to the apartment
Even if the rumor persists: According to the German Tenants' Association (DMB), landlords must hand over all the keys to the apartment to the tenant.
Landlords are not allowed to retain any apartment keys – not even for “emergencies”.
Although tenants can voluntarily give the landlord a second key, the landlord may never enter the rented apartment without permission and certainly not without prior notice.
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When landlords are allowed to enter the apartment - and when not
If a right of inspection is regulated in the rental agreement, the landlord may enter the apartment.
However, the registration for the apartment inspection must then be made in good time.
"At least 24 hours are considered appropriate," says
Haufe.de
.
Unless there is imminent danger, for example because a burst water pipe threatens to cause considerable damage in the apartment.
If the tenant cannot be reached in this case, the landlord may have the apartment opened.
In order to prevent an expensive emergency opening, a regulation can also be made between the tenant and the landlord that allows him to pick up a second key from a person the tenant trusts.
Landlords may not enter the apartment without prior notice.
© SKATA/Imago
Tenants may change locks
Tenants can also change the lock on the apartment door at any time to protect themselves from unwanted "visitors" - be it from previous tenants, ex-partners or stubborn landlords.
"Clauses in the rental agreement or in the house rules that prohibit you from changing your door lock are generally invalid," informs
DAHAG
legal advice .
However, you should definitely keep the old lock, because the landlord can ask you to put it back in when you move out.
In addition, tenants have to bear the costs for a new lock themselves.
Germany in the energy crisis: are landlords allowed to turn off the hot water or increase the additional costs at will?
Tenants should definitely check their utility bills carefully, as they are often wrong.