Everything you need to know about cosmetic repairs and renovations

What is meant by Schönheitsreparaturen (cosmetic repairs)?

Schönheitsreparaturen are minor, mainly cosmetic renovation works in a rented flat or house. They typically include:

• Painting walls and ceilings

• Repairing small holes in the walls (e.g. from nails and screws)

• Renewing or re-hanging wallpaper

• Painting interior doors, the inside of window frames and radiators

The purpose of these works is to restore the flat to a visually acceptable and tidy condition. They are not intended to remedy structural or technical defects, nor to replace major renovation or repair work.

Who is responsible for cosmetic repairs?

Under German tenancy law, the landlord is originally responsible for carrying out cosmetic repairs.

However, this responsibility can be shifted to the tenant via an explicit clause in the rental contract. Important points:

• The clause must be clear, specific and not excessively burdensome.

• Vague, very broad or unfair clauses can be considered legally invalid by the courts.

When are Schönheitsreparaturen clauses binding?

Clauses on cosmetic repairs are in particular considered binding when:

• the flat was handed over to the tenant in a renovated or freshly painted condition, and

• the rental contract clearly states that the tenant is obliged to carry out cosmetic repairs.

If the tenant received the flat in an unrenovated / unpainted condition (ungestrichen), they generally cannot be obliged to return it in a fully renovated state upon moving out, at least not without appropriate compensation.

What are the usual guideline intervals?

Rental contracts often contain guideline time intervals for carrying out cosmetic repairs, for example:

• every 3 years in heavily used rooms (such as kitchen and bathroom)

• every 5 years in living and sleeping rooms

• every 7 years in less frequently used rooms

These intervals are only guidelines, not rigid obligations. What really matters is the actual level of wear and tear. If a room still looks acceptable despite an elapsed interval, repainting may not be necessary.

Can fixed lump-sum payments be demanded instead of repairs?

Some contracts require the tenant to pay a fixed lump sum instead of actually carrying out cosmetic repairs.

Such flat-rate arrangements are often legally questionable and may be invalid, especially if:

• there is no fair and transparent calculation behind the amount, or

• the real condition and wear of the flat are not taken into account.

What happens at the end of the tenancy?

• If the rental contract contains valid, lawful clauses on cosmetic repairs and the preconditions (such as renovated handover) are met, the tenant must carry out the agreed works or bear the corresponding costs.

• If the contract does not contain clear and legally valid regulations, the landlord generally cannot force the tenant to perform cosmetic repairs.

Practical tips

• Read your rental contract carefully and pay close attention to any clauses relating to Schönheitsreparaturen.

• Document the condition of the flat when you move in, preferably with photos and a written handover protocol.

• If the landlord demands renovation work or payments, first check whether the clause is legally valid – and if in doubt, seek advice from a tenants’ association (Mieterverein) or a legal adviser.

• Do not undertake extensive renovation work or make additional payments solely out of uncertainty, without having checked the legal situation.

Conclusion

Cosmetic repairs (Schönheitsreparaturen) in Germany are a complex legal topic that depends heavily on the exact wording of the contract and the condition of the flat at the beginning of the tenancy. Knowing your rights and obligations as a tenant, and understanding the precise language of the contract, helps you avoid unjustified extra costs and protects you from unnecessary and expensive legal disputes.

The editorial and writing team of the website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and consultation of multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or some information may not be fully verified. Therefore, the information in these articles should be considered as an initial point of reference, and you should always contact the competent authorities to obtain binding and up-to-date information.