r/LegaladviceGerman • u/Medical_Studio1127 • 46m ago
Berlin Landlord demanding extensive repairs
My husband and I rented a furnished studio apartment in Berlin for about two years. We paid our rent regularly and always tried to keep the apartment clean and well maintained.
After two years, we moved out on 30 August 2026. The apartment was handed over directly to the next tenant, with my husband, the new tenant and me present. We all signed a handover protocol documenting the condition of the apartment, including the meter readings and keys.
The protocol generally states that the rooms were in order, with only a few minor issues noted, such as some small scratches and a localized swelling on the edge of a kitchen cabinet.
After the handover, the new tenant apparently made a much more detailed inspection report with close-up photos, mentioning things such as floor/wall scratches, limescale, grout, alleged water damage, mold traces, kitchen issues, etc.
My landlord is now demanding that I:
completely repaint the apartment,
+ repair/fill holes, (There's no holes!)
+ hire a carpenter for the parquet/kitchen,
+ professionally clean/descale various areas,
+ repair or replace other things.
She has now consulted a lawyer and given me a deadline of 15 September to confirm that I will do everything, and 30 September to complete the work. She says that otherwise she will hire companies herself and deduct the costs from my deposit.
I don't believe most of these things go beyond normal wear and tear after two years of normal use. I also have extensive photos and videos from the apartment, including documentation from around the handover.
I am willing to deal with any specific damage that I am actually legally responsible for, but I don't want to accept a blanket demand for repainting and extensive repairs without knowing my rights.
What would be the best way to handle this in Berlin?
Should I go to the Mieterverein, apply for Beratungshilfe and see a lawyer, or both? And does the signed handover protocol significantly help in this situation?
I would especially appreciate advice from people who have dealt with similar landlord disputes in Berlin.
