Balcony Solar Systems for Tenants and Owners in Germany: When Landlords and Owners' Associations Must Consent
, By NeueEnergie24, 8 min reading time
Since October 2024, plug-in solar devices have been privileged in Germany: landlords and owners' associations may only refuse if the installation is unreasonable. We explain the legal position, the process and the key technical points.
Summary: Since October 2024, tenants and condominium owners in Germany have had a statutory right to have a plug-in solar device (balcony power plant) permitted in principle by the landlord or the owners' association. This is regulated by § 554 BGB (German Civil Code) for rented flats and § 20 para. 2 WEG (German Condominium Act) for owner-occupied flats. A refusal is only possible if the measure is unreasonable in the individual case, for example because of safety concerns. This article shows how to prepare your request for consent and what to look out for technically.
As of October 2026, not legal or tax advice. For your individual case, please contact a tenants' association, a consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale) or a lawyer.
What the law provides for tenants
Under § 554 para. 1 BGB, a tenant can require the landlord to permit structural changes to the rented property that serve, among other things, the generation of electricity by plug-in solar devices. The provision also lists barrier reduction, the charging of electric vehicles and burglary protection. Two points are particularly important:
- The claim lapses if the measure cannot reasonably be expected of the landlord, even taking the tenant's interests into account.
- In connection with the measure, the tenant can undertake to provide special security; for this, the law refers to § 551 para. 3 BGB.
Under § 554 para. 2 BGB, any agreement that deviates to the tenant's disadvantage is invalid. A blanket ban in the tenancy agreement therefore cannot exclude the claim. In its FAQ (as of 6 March 2026), the Verbraucherzentrale (consumer advice centre) adds: since October 2024, a refusal without reasons or merely on aesthetic grounds is no longer permitted.
What applies to condominium owners
Under § 20 para. 2 WEG, every condominium owner is entitled to reasonable structural changes that serve, among other things, the generation of electricity by plug-in solar devices (no. 5). The implementation is to be decided within the framework of proper administration. In practice, this means: you should inform the property management of your plans and submit a resolution proposal for the next owners' meeting, stating the device, the installation location and the mounting method.
How to prepare your request for consent
The more specific your documents, the less room there is for queries. We recommend a short written letter with the following information:
- Device type, number and size of the modules and inverter output (attach the data sheet).
- Installation location (balcony railing, wall, ground) and type of mounting, ideally with a sketch or photo.
- Reference to § 554 BGB or § 20 para. 2 no. 5 WEG, respectively.
- A commitment to install the system safely, to mount it in a removable way where necessary, and to register it in the Marktstammdatenregister (Germany's central register of energy installations).
- Reference to an existing liability or household contents insurance (see below).
The landlord or the owners' association may have a say in how the system is installed, as long as implementation is not effectively prevented. Safe, professional mounting is in your own interest anyway: modules are heavy, and wind generates considerable forces. You will find suitable mounts in the category Halterungen and additional material under Solarzubehör.
Technical and formal requirements at a glance
| Topic | What applies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Output limits | Up to 2,000 watts of module output and 800 VA of inverter output; several devices behind the same connection point are added together | Bundesnetzagentur (Federal Network Agency) |
| Registration | Mandatory in the Marktstammdatenregister, simplified entry; five technical details (module output, inverter output, location, commissioning, meter number) | Verbraucherzentrale |
| Grid operator | A separate notification is no longer required since Solarpaket I (May 2024); the Bundesnetzagentur informs the grid operator | Verbraucherzentrale, Bundesnetzagentur |
| Meter | Operation is permitted before the meter is replaced; a backward-running Ferraris meter is tolerated until it is replaced (§ 10a EEG) | § 10a EEG, Verbraucherzentrale |
| Socket | Into a wall socket, not a power strip; Schuko plug up to 960 W of module output if the safety requirements are met, above that the product standard requires a special feed-in plug | Verbraucherzentrale |
| Standard | DIN VDE V 0126-95 has applied since 1 December 2025 to plug-in solar devices without storage; a further product standard is being developed for devices with storage | Verbraucherzentrale |
Mounting and safety on the balcony
Whether a measure is reasonable also depends on the safety of the installation. According to the Verbraucherzentrale, the Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik (DIBt, German Institute for Building Technology) has stated that the modules of plug-in solar devices are not construction products; special requirements for installation above a height of 4 metres therefore do not apply. The Verbraucherzentralen nevertheless recommend checking standard modules and mention plastic modules as a lighter alternative. Practical tips for the balcony:
- Mount according to the manufacturer's instructions and with suitable material; the railing and wall must be able to bear the load.
- Secure the modules against wind and falling, and check them regularly.
- Route cables so that nobody can trip or get caught on them.
- If in doubt about structural stability or mounting, consult a specialist.
Feed-in tariff and aggregation of installations
According to the Verbraucherzentrale, the special rules for plug-in solar devices generally require that the installation is assigned to the unremunerated purchase of electricity; in practice, hardly any devices therefore receive a payment. Plug-in solar devices are also exempted by law from being aggregated with other photovoltaic installations. For everyday use, this means: you use most of the electricity yourself, and surplus electricity flows into the grid without payment.
Balcony power plant with or without storage?
The landlord's duty to consent relates to plug-in solar devices. If you are planning a device with storage, please note that the Verbraucherzentrale still mentions notification to the grid operator for storage, and that a separate product standard is still being developed for devices with storage. Therefore, also clarify your plans with your grid operator. You will find sets in both variants in the categories Balkonkraftwerke ohne Speicher and Balkonkraftwerke mit Speicher, and an overview of all sets under Balkonkraftwerke.
Insurance and liability
According to the Verbraucherzentrale, plug-in solar devices can be included in household contents insurance, according to the German Insurance Association (GDV). Inform your insurer accordingly and keep the confirmation of your registration in the Marktstammdatenregister. Your private liability insurance should also be included.
Process in five steps
- Choose the device and have the data sheet ready; module and inverter output must not exceed the stated limits.
- Determine and document the installation location and mounting.
- Inform the landlord or property management in writing and ask for consent; for owner-occupied flats, submit a resolution proposal.
- Install the device safely, plug it into a wall socket and register it in the Marktstammdatenregister.
- Inform your insurer and keep the registration confirmation.
Please note that, as a rule, you can take the system with you when you move. The registration must then be updated, because according to the Bundesnetzagentur, operators must report changes such as decommissioning, technical modifications or a change of operator.
Meter replacement and metering point operator
According to the Verbraucherzentrale, since mid-May 2024 you no longer have to wait for a meter replacement before putting the device into operation. The grid operator or the metering point operator can arrange the replacement, and you must not be charged for it. Under § 10a EEG, the metering point operator is obliged, without delay after being requested by the Bundesnetzagentur, to equip the metering point with a modern metering device as a bidirectional meter or with an intelligent metering system, without any separate order from you being required. For tenants, this is mainly a matter of organisation: access to the meter location must be possible, if necessary via the property management.
If the landlord refuses
- Ask for a written justification and check whether specific safety or structural reasons are given.
- Offer technical solutions, for example a different mounting method or a different installation location.
- If the refusal persists, seek legal advice, for example from a tenants' association or a Verbraucherzentrale.
Do not install the system on your own authority while the dispute is still open. Whether a measure is reasonable in the individual case depends on the specific circumstances.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to ask my landlord?
Yes. The Verbraucherzentrale states that the consent of the landlord or the owners' association is required. However, since October 2024 they may only refuse consent if the installation is unreasonable.
Can the tenancy agreement prohibit a balcony power plant?
An agreement that deviates to the tenant's disadvantage is invalid under § 554 para. 2 BGB.
Do I have to register the device with the grid operator?
Within the output limits, the separate notification to the grid operator is no longer required, but registration in the Marktstammdatenregister remains mandatory.
May I plug the device into a multiple socket?
No. According to the Verbraucherzentrale, the device belongs in a wall socket, not in a power strip.
Sources
- Gesetze im Internet (German federal legislation portal): § 554 BGB and § 20 WEG
- Verbraucherzentrale: FAQ on plug-in solar devices (as of 6 March 2026) and Laws and standards for plug-in solar
- Bundesnetzagentur: Balcony solar installations
- Gesetze im Internet: § 10a EEG 2023
Are you planning a balcony power plant and would like to know which set suits your balcony? We are happy to advise you by email: kontakt@energie24.shop.
As of October 2026, not legal or tax advice.