Skip to content
Emergency

Balcony solar plant as a tenant: the landlord can hardly ban it anymore

Generate and save your own electricity from the balcony: plug-in solar devices ('balcony solar plants') are popular. Good news for tenants: since a change in the law, they count among the privileged measures that the landlord must generally consent to.

Reach your next steps and the matching ready-made texts in just a few minutes, free of charge:

Demand consent →

Your chances of getting your money back

Since the reform, plug-in solar devices count among the privileged structural modifications (§ 554 BGB). Tenants (and condominium owners) generally have a right to consent, and the landlord can no longer simply refuse it without cause.
So the tenant largely decides whether to install one, while the landlord has a say in how it is done (e.g. proper, safe mounting). The system must be registered in the Marktstammdatenregister, and technical requirements must be met.

What you should do now

  1. 1

    1. Obtain consent

    Ask the landlord in writing for consent and describe the planned, safe installation.

  2. 2

    2. Assure safety

    Offer professional mounting, compliance with the technical standards, and removal when you move out.

  3. 3

    3. Register

    Register the balcony solar plant in the Marktstammdatenregister (and with the grid operator if required).

  4. 4

    4. If refused

    If the landlord refuses without cause, point to § 554 BGB and the right to consent.

Frequently asked questions

May my landlord forbid a balcony solar plant?

As a rule, no longer without cause. Since the change in the law, plug-in solar devices count among the privileged structural modifications (§ 554 BGB), so tenants generally have a right to consent. The landlord may set requirements for the specific, safe installation, but can hardly prevent it in principle.

What do I need to keep in mind with a balcony solar plant?

Obtain the landlord's consent and assure a professional, safe installation as well as removal when you move out. Register the system in the Marktstammdatenregister and comply with the technical requirements. That way you use your right and avoid disputes over the installation.

Take action now

We put together the ready-made texts and the right places to contact for you.

Demand consentCheck a suspicious message
More help: Emergency by phone · Act together · Right to a lawyer · All guides

General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.