The house rules (Hausordnung) are binding on tenants if they have become part of the tenancy agreement, for example as an annex. Repeatedly breaking the rules of neighbourly living can even justify ending the tenancy.

Quiet hours (Ruhezeiten)

Quiet hours are set by state laws, local regulations and the house rules: usually night rest from 10 pm to 6 am (or 7 am), plus Sundays and public holidays. During these times you should not play loud music, vacuum, drill or run the washing machine on a fast spin.

German waste separation (Mülltrennung)

Waste is separated by type: the blue bin for paper and cardboard, the yellow bag or bin (Gelber Sack / Wertstofftonne) for plastic and metal packaging, the brown bin for organic waste and the grey bin for residual waste (Restmüll).

Glass, deposit bottles and batteries

Non-deposit glass jars and bottles go into street containers sorted by colour (white, green, brown), and only at the permitted times on working days. Bottles with a deposit (Pfand) are returned to the machines in supermarkets.

Balcony barbecues, drying laundry and pets

Charcoal grills on balconies are often banned by the tenancy agreement or house rules because of the smoke; electric grills are usually allowed. Check your building's rules. Smoking on the balcony must not unreasonably disturb the neighbours. Guests are allowed, but you should give notice of loud parties.

What to check

  • Read the house rules attached to your tenancy agreement.
  • Find out the collection dates for bulky waste (Sperrmüll) in your district.
  • Keep particularly quiet on Sundays and after 10 pm on weekdays.
  • Use the bins in the courtyard strictly by waste type to avoid problems for the whole building.

Example situation

The residents of a new building put a note in the stairwell announcing their housewarming party on Friday evening, avoid a police call-out and stay on good terms with the neighbours.

Next step

Respecting quiet hours and separating waste are basic parts of living in Germany; take them seriously.

Official information on this topic

Checklists and examples are organisational recommendations. Requirements depend on the procedure, the city and your situation; check them with the relevant office before you act. Please discuss legal and tax questions with an authorised professional.

This article was prepared with the help of AI. The example illustrates the approach and does not describe a client case.