Construction work in the house or in the neighborhood annoys many residents. When these must be announced – and when a rent reduction is justified.
When the jackhammer roars at 7 a.m., the residents' nerves are already on edge. Construction sites that are particularly unannounced are often perceived as an imposition. But regardless of whether the pipes in the rental house or the house on the neighboring property are being replaced - certain rules apply to construction work that homeowners and construction companies must adhere to.
How long do construction work in the house have to be announced?
Modernization measures in or on the house must always be announced by the landlord three months in advance, in writing (according to § 555 c BGB). This should include, among other things, the type and scope of the modernization measure, as well as
its expected start and expected duration. However, this deadline only applies to modernization measures. “Other construction work on the house or apartment only needs to be announced to the extent that the tenant has to be able to prepare for it,” the
Berliner Mietverein
informs on its website. Emergency repairs do not have to be announced anyway. If there are modernization measures in the apartment, there is a risk of a rent increase - but this is only permitted in certain cases.
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Do residents have the right to a rent reduction?
Construction work often creates a lot of noise and dirt. In this case, the rent may be reduced. By how much, however, depends on how severely the quality of living is reduced and how often tenants suffer from the construction work, explains Ulrich Ropertz from
the German Tenants' Association
in Berlin in a report by the German Press Agency (dpa). “The landlord should always be informed in writing about the defects first,” the report continues. “This gave him the demonstrable opportunity to remedy the deficiency. This is a prerequisite for the rent to be reduced.” There can also be a rent deficiency if there is a heating failure.
How long do residents have to put up with construction site noise from the neighborhood?
When it comes to construction work in the neighborhood, for example on the property next door, the situation is usually different, as construction site noise usually has to be tolerated. However, noise protection rules also apply here and building owners and companies must adhere to them.
The usual local rest times apply to craftsmen - primarily between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. However, the building use regulations distinguish between residential, commercial and mixed areas
differentiated. There is no afternoon rest. And if the construction workers start work in front of the bedroom at 7 a.m., residents usually have to live with it. However, according to
the general administrative regulations for protection against construction noise (AVV construction noise),
the continuous sound level is limited to a maximum of 55 decibels, with a tolerance of five decibels.