A converted attic is tempting. But before you roll up your sleeves, you should know the rules, to which your construction project is subject. From case to case, your neighbors or your landlord also have a say.
Only the homeowner – Do you want to expand the unused attic in your own family home?? Then you have a significant advantage for yourself: You hardly need to ask anyone for permission. That must e.g. B. all owners in an apartment building, where the owners' meeting decides everything important. However, even owners of a family home are subject to construction- and planning regulations of the applicable building law. These are essentially the provisions of the Federal Building Act and the provisions of the state building codes, which differ in the individual federal states.
Always everything in writing – Tenants in an attic apartment can also renovate or extend their home. The following must be observed:
■ Most are built-in devices, Conversions and installations by the tenant are subject to approval according to the rental agreement. Nothing works in these cases without the consent of the landlord.
■ There is no regulation in the rental agreement, the tenant may make changes, but only such, which do not entail any significant interference with the substance of the apartment, with. B. Installation of a water heater, Construction of a transportable shower cubicle in the kitchen, Installation of a shower partition.
■ Measures, which mean a significant intervention in the condition and substance of the apartment, generally require the consent of the landlord. These are, for example, structural changes such as the installation of a bathroom, a gas floor heating, a roof window, wall penetrations, Connection of a stove or installation of insulating glass windows. As is so often the case, there are very different opinions on these questions in the German courts, so that litigation is always a risk. Our advice: Come to an agreement with your landlord and put it in writing as early as possible,
■ what changes you are allowed to make,
■ what value the changes have and the amount of depreciation,
■ whether fixtures can remain in the apartment when you move out,
■ whether you can agree on a distance with the successor tenant or
■ Whether the landlord will take over the installations when you move out and pay appropriate compensation.
■ In any case, you should first start the work, when the written agreement is signed and sealed.
To make sure: The sample contract helps – A model contract is available from the German Tenants' Association, of the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords during expansion or renovation work. Here u. a. fixed:
■ the value of any personal contributions made by the tenant,
■ which insurance applies in the event of damage (Personal liability of the tenant or home insurance of the landlord),
■ what consequences will occur if the tenant moves out (Compensation or takeover by the successor). According to this model contract, the fixtures become the property of the lessor from the start. The tenant's expenses in the amount of one year's cold rent are considered to be worn out in four years. during this period of abstinence
may not be terminated by the tenant and the rent may not be increased because of the modernization measure.
During the period of absence, the landlord bears the costs of maintenance,
maintenance and renewal.
A rent increase due to the fixtures is excluded during the entire period of the tenancy, The lessee is responsible for maintenance from the start.
If the tenant moves out early, he can ask for compensation (in the first year 80 percent of expenses, thereafter every year 10 percent less).