A balcony power plant (Balkonkraftwerk, also called a plug-in solar device) in a rented flat usually needs the landlord’s permission once it goes beyond a device you could simply take with you. Whether a landlord is allowed to refuse is one of the most common questions people search for on this topic. This guide explains what section 554 of the German Civil Code (BGB) gives tenants, where the limits lie, and what you can do if a request is turned down.
Short answer: No, a blanket ban is not permitted. Under section 554 subsection 1 of the BGB, you can require the landlord to allow structural changes that serve electricity generation with plug-in solar devices (Steckersolargeräte). The claim lapses only if the change cannot reasonably be expected of the landlord, after weighing your interests as tenant. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points in brief
- The text of the law names plug-in solar devices explicitly as a case in which you can request permission.
- The claim lapses only if the change cannot reasonably be expected of the landlord. Your interests as a tenant are weighed in that assessment.
- An agreement in the lease that excludes this to your detriment is void under section 554 subsection 2 of the BGB.
- You can undertake to provide a special security. Section 551 subsection 3 of the BGB applies accordingly.
- Whether a refusal is justified in an individual case depends on weighing the circumstances, not on a fixed rule.
What does section 554 of the BGB say about plug-in solar devices?
The provision belongs to the rules on structural changes made by tenants. It lists several occasions on which you can request permission, including use by people with disabilities, charging electric vehicles, burglary protection and, in this case, electricity generation through plug-in solar devices. The list shows that the legislator has explicitly considered power generation within a tenancy.
The claim is directed at permission to alter the rented property. It is therefore not a licence to modify a balcony or facade at will. It is a right to install a specific system, and both sides can negotiate over it. How the system looks and where it is mounted therefore affects the weighing.
Which reasons can a landlord cite?
The landlord can withhold permission if the change cannot reasonably be expected of them. The law requires that the interests of both sides be weighed. Which reasons are sufficient in an individual case cannot be fixed in general terms. What matters is the condition of the flat, the type of fixing and the effects on the building and other residents.
The law asks whether the change is reasonable, not whether the landlord simply prefers a certain appearance. If you rely on a reason, name it concretely and be able to explain it, for example with details on the fixing or the actual effects on the building. A general reference to looks does not replace the weighing that the wording requires.
What does reasonableness mean in everyday terms?
The wording requires that the landlord does not have to accept the change even when the tenant’s interests are taken into account. You cannot therefore rely only on your wish for a system, and the landlord must be able to name concrete disadvantages. This turns the decision into a question for the individual case, in which both sides should present their arguments objectively.
Who decides what? An overview
| Question | Rule under section 554 BGB |
|---|---|
| Do you have a claim to permission? | Yes, for plug-in solar devices under subsection 1 |
| When does the claim lapse? | If the change cannot reasonably be expected of the landlord |
| Can the lease exclude this? | No, an agreement to the tenant’s detriment is void (subsection 2) |
| Which security may be requested? | You may offer a special security; section 551 subsection 3 BGB applies accordingly |
The table only summarises the wording of the law. The concrete weighing in an individual case remains a matter for the parties and, in a dispute, for the courts.
Can the lease ban a balcony power plant?
A clause that generally excludes plug-in solar devices is void under section 554 subsection 2 of the BGB, to the extent that it disadvantages you. The law therefore does not allow an agreement that defeats the claim. It is still worth checking the lease for such clauses before you order a system.
These rules concern the tenancy. Home ownership with a community of owners follows its own rules and is not covered here.
How should you respond to a refusal?
A refusal is not the end of the matter but the start of a weighing. The wording of the law does not set a particular form for your request. Writing is still sensible, so that you can prove receipt and content of your request. Describe the planned system, its location and the type of fixing, and offer a security if the landlord has concerns.
What speaks for and against a system?
A balcony power plant can cover part of your own electricity demand if location and orientation fit. At the same time there are questions about fixing, liability for damage and handing back the flat. Clarify these points with the landlord before you buy. If you want a personal assessment of your housing situation, you can also ask for advice from Academycon (in German).
Before you make a request, a short inventory helps. Clarify where the system should stand, how it will be fixed and whether the house rules contain rules on balconies. A photo record of the starting condition also helps with later questions about damage or removal.
Frequently asked questions
Can the landlord simply ban a balcony power plant?
According to the wording of section 554 subsection 1 of the BGB, a blanket ban is not provided for. You have a claim to permission, which only the unreasonableness for the landlord limits. A refusal without a traceable weighing can therefore be challenged.
Do I have to show the landlord the system beforehand?
The law does not prescribe a particular template. In practice it helps to describe the model, the output and the fixing in advance. The landlord can then make the weighing without follow-up questions.
Can the landlord ask for a security?
You can undertake to provide a special security. For the security, the law refers to section 551 subsection 3 of the BGB. Whether a security is appropriate, and in what amount, depends on the individual case.
What happens to the system when I move out?
The provision in the version checked here does not regulate dismantling. Whether the system must be removed when you move out should be settled in writing in the lease or with the landlord. Tenant associations can advise on tenancy questions in case of doubt.
Does this also apply to students in a shared flat?
The rule applies to tenancies in which you are the tenant of a flat. In a shared flat with a sublease the position can differ, because the landlord and the main tenant are not the same person. Clarify who the right contact is.
How to proceed now
- Check your lease for clauses on structural changes and the use of balconies.
- Describe the planned system, its location and the fixing to the landlord in writing.
- If there are concerns, offer a security and refer to section 554 of the BGB.
- If the landlord refuses, document your reasons and seek legal advice where needed.
- Only after permission is given do you register the system in the Marktstammdatenregister (in German).
Related guides
- Climate, energy and costs 2027: The overview for tenants and students
- Registering a balcony power plant: Marktstammdatenregister and plug rules
- Reducing heating costs: What tenants can do without renovation
- Saving Electricity as a Student: Energy and Utility Costs
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
