Painting of outside windows on a rented apartment

Hi
I am having problems with my landlord and am concerned that I will have a big job ahead of me. The paint on the wooden windows in our apartment is cracking and peeling and the metal part that protects the bottom frame from water damage is lifting. This is happening on the outside of the window i.e. the part that faces the rain and weather not the inside. Am I responsible for repairing this or is it the landlord?
Thanks
Katting

Officially I don't know - is there anything covering this in your contract?

The landlord has a painter round once each year to paint and weather-proof the outside windows of my apartment.
MT

I'm almost definite that this is the responsibility of the landlord.

Morover, even if the damage was on the inside of the window, if the damage resulted from normal wear and tear, it's generally classed as "normal usage" and the landlord is responsible (although they are rarely willing to admit this). If you have problems, try contacting the Mieterverein München. We disagreed with our landlord as to the extent of our responsibility in renovating when moving out. As it turned out we only had to do about 10% of what was demanded from us.

Or if you're not in Munich, go to the Deutscher Mieterbund e.V. website where you can find the Mieterverein nearest to your postcode. Just put your postcode into the PLZ box on the start page and hit the >>> button.

It depends on your actual contract wording, but typically you are responsible for minor repairs (usually up to €50) and servicing due to normal wear and tear of any internal fixtures and fittings such as locks, catches, hinges, taps, showers, toilets, etc. Larger repairs due to normal ageing and external fittings are the responsibility of the landlord.

The painting of outside windows are 100 % the responsibility of the Landlord!

Mr rent is totally correct on this no matter what is in your contract.Some Landlords like to put stuff in a rent contract even though its illegal.You have absolutely no responsability for this

It's the landlord's responsibilty. But as it's so-called "Gemeinschaftseigentum" ('external' property belonging to every owner) even he can't just get a painter to do the job. It's a bugger but he needs the approval of the other flat owners (assuming its a house with several flats) and he can normally only get that once a year when all of the owners have their General Meeting ("Eigentümerversammlung") with their managing agents ("Hausverwalter").

If you can get the telephone number of your landlord's managing agents ("Hausverwalter") give them a ring and ask them for their advice. Perhaps a neighbour will know the number. I gave my tenants all the vital numbers, just to be on the safe side. You never know. Good luck!

D.D. very good but i was on the understanding we are talking about rented living space.Maybe i have mis understood.But in the case of rented living space its definately the landlords responsability.Like you say if you are the owner in a multiple place then it has to be brought up at a meeting

Not quite. It doesn't make any difference. It doesn't matter whether the owner lives in the place or tenants. To do something to the outside windows the owner needs to have the approval of the other owners...

But if it's urgent I'm sure his managing agents can and will make an exception to the rule...

DD is right. It is the responsibility of the landlord. But because the facade of the house must be 'einheitlich', all windows must be painted at the same time, which means that all the owners must agree that this is a necessary measure. And if it is deemed to be an emergency by the Verwalter, then the owners representatives (usually a small sub-committee of 3 or 4 people) will be consulted and will give the go ahead.

Hi#The situation is I am a tenant and my landlord has complained about a few different other things recently and I have been looking around my flat in a paranoid type of way and have noticed the paint is flaking on the outside of several window frames and also the metal that protects the wood from the rain at the bottom of the frame is lifting on several. I am a bit worried that she will hassle me about them. I like to air out my flat a lot but can not see how I could have caused this to happen. I am just a little paranoid at the moment.
Thanks

Katting the landlord is just trying it on.The landlord is responsible for the outside.Tell him about the metal lifting off because if it falls down on someones head heor she are in for it.If she or he are moaning then tell her to get it done.Make sure she understands that you are not gonna do anything about it.
You are only renting the inside and contents i.e.kitchens and stuff.
Also if your landlord or landlayd wants to look inside they have to give you notice for this no one can ask to come in willy nilly

The landlord is also responsible for the inside and "Schönheitsreparaturen" (small repairs), unless in the contract responsibilty for these "Schönheitsreparaturen" is expressly shifted to the tenant. We had some problems of this nature and our legal counsel fair rubbed his hands with glee when he saw that the landlord hadn't shifted responsibility to us in the contract. Even if you are responsible for them, there are strict guidlines as to what is to be done and when.