{"id":2792,"date":"2013-01-31T16:30:55","date_gmt":"2013-01-31T16:30:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/?p=2792"},"modified":"2025-10-28T07:28:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T07:28:36","slug":"mietrecht-gestiegener-verkehrslaerm-berechtigt-nicht-grundsaetzlich-zur-mietminderung","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mth-partner.de\/en\/tenancy-law-increased-traffic-noise-does-not-generally-entitle-tenants-to-a-rent-reduction\/","title":{"rendered":"Tenancy Law: Increased Traffic Noise Does Not Generally Entitle Tenants to a Rent Reduction."},"content":{"rendered":"

Federal Court of Justice, December 19, 2012, Case No.: VIII ZR 152\/12 <\/b><\/p>\n

A rental defect exists when the actual condition of the rented apartment (= actual condition) deviates to the tenant\u2019s detriment from the contractually agreed or expected condition (= intended condition) of the apartment.<\/p>\n

To assess the defectiveness of the apartment, the actual condition must be compared with the intended condition of the rental property.<\/p>\n

In the case of a legal dispute, determining the intended condition is particularly challenging if it is not recorded in writing in the rental agreement.<\/p>\n

The intended condition can then only be inferred implicitly from references to plans, floor plans, or other descriptions of the rental property. It can also be inferred from statements made by the landlord during the apartment viewing.<\/p>\n

\"Various<\/p>\n

In the above-mentioned decision by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH), the court had to consider under what circumstances it can be assumed that the landlord and tenant had implicitly agreed upon the low traffic noise level at the time of contract signing as the intended condition of the apartment. This would lead to a possible rent reduction in the event of an increase in traffic noise.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Facts of the Case:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/span>Road diversion leads to more traffic noise in a rental apartment.<\/span><\/h3>\n

The defendants had been tenants of the plaintiff\u2019s apartment on Schlossallee in Berlin since 2004. From June 2009 to November 2010, traffic heading towards the city center was diverted through Schlossallee due to extensive roadworks on Pasewalker Street, which had previously carried the traffic. The defendants reduced their rent starting in October 2009 due to the increased noise pollution.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Landlord sues for reduced rent<\/span><\/h3>\n

The plaintiff then sued the defendants for the payment of outstanding rent for the period from October 2009 to November 2010, totaling \u20ac1,386.19 plus interest.<\/p>\n

<\/span>District court finds the lawsuit partially justified<\/span><\/h3>\n

The district court initially ruled in favor of the plaintiff. However, the regional court, which heard the appeal, altered the ruling and ordered the defendants to pay only \u20ac553.22 plus interest. The plaintiff then filed an appeal against this decision.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Judgment of the Federal Court of Justice:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/span>No entitlement to rent reduction due to traffic noise<\/span><\/h3>\n

The BGH did not agree with the regional court\u2019s view and instead ordered the defendants to pay the full amount of rent. The BGH ruled that it is not sufficient to assume an implicit agreement on the apartment\u2019s condition just because the tenant found the relatively low traffic noise advantageous when signing the contract and may have rented the apartment for this reason.<\/p>\n

Rather, it is necessary for the landlord to recognize or have been able to recognize that the tenant considered the low noise level to be a decisive factor for the apartment\u2019s condition, and for the landlord to have responded to this in some way that indicates agreement.<\/p>\n

<\/span>No condition agreement in the rental contract<\/span><\/h3>\n

The findings of the appellate court provided no evidence of such an implicit agreement. Therefore, to determine the contractually agreed condition of the apartment, customary practice, taking into account the purpose of use and the principle of good faith, would be decisive in the event of a dispute.<\/p>\n

According to these criteria, the temporary increase in noise pollution did not constitute a defect justifying a rent reduction. The noise levels presented by the defendants, according to the findings of the lower courts, did not represent a high level of disturbance based on the 2009 Berlin rent index.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Tenants must tolerate the noise pollution<\/span><\/h3>\n

For this reason, the defendants had to tolerate the (increased) noise pollution reasonably.<\/p>\n

There was no justifiable reason for the appellate court\u2019s assumption that the agreed rent should be reduced starting from the seventh month of increased noise pollution. A temporary increase in noise pollution, regardless of its duration, does not constitute a defect justifying a rent reduction under \u00a7 536 BGB if it remains within the usual limits for inner-city areas in Berlin, as was the case here.<\/p>\n

Source: Federal Court of Justice<\/p>\n

Important Note: The content of this article has been prepared to the best of our knowledge and belief. However, due to the complexity and constant evolution of the subject matter, we must exclude liability and warranty.<\/b> Important Notice: The content of this article has been created to the best of our knowledge and understanding. However, due to the complexity and constant changes in the subject matter, we must exclude any liability and warranty.<\/p>\n

If you need legal advice, feel free to call us at 0221 \u2013 80187670 or email us at info@mth-partner.de.<\/p>\n

Lawyers in Cologne provide advice and representation in tenancy law.<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If the diversion of a main road has resulted in a significant increase in the noise level in a rented flat, the tenant cannot simply reduce the rent due to an alleged rental deficiency. <\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":11961,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[2194,1459,1464,2192],"class_list":["post-2792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mietrecht-rechtsanwalt","tag-definition-mietmangel","tag-rechtsanwalt-koln-immobilienrecht","tag-rechtsanwalt-koln-mietvertrag","tag-sollbeschaffenheit-mietsache"],"yoast_head":"\nMietrecht: Gestiegener Verkehrsl\u00e4rm berechtigt nicht grunds\u00e4tzlich zur Mietminderung<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Im Falle eines Rechtsstreits ist insbesondere die Feststellung der Soll-Beschaffenheit der Mietsache mit Schwierigkeiten verbunden.\" \/>\n<meta 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