It sounds very tempting! Install your own photovoltaic system on the balcony and you can produce electricity for your own consumption. This saves energy and protects the environment. Unfortunately, it's not that easy. We, the FAB, must always give our consent for the installation.
Why is that?
A PV system weighs up to 50 kilograms. The structural conditions must therefore be checked before installation. The PV system must also not be attached to the façade. The façade must not be damaged.
Furthermore, the tenant must create the technical conditions for operation at their own expense, in detail:
- A specialist must check the electrical circuit and install a feed-in socket.
- Only a CE-marked module may be installed.
- The system must be registered with the grid operator.
- You must provide us with proof that you have taken out liability insurance for the PV system.
- There is an obligation to dismantle the system after moving out.
- After the PV system has been installed, you must provide us with photographic documentation.
Unfortunately, the subject is not as simple as the advertising would have us believe. If you are toying with the idea of a PV system, please contact our technical department. We will draw up a written agreement together before the installation begins.
Is a balcony power plant worthwhile?
You can use the "Plug Solar Simulator" from the Berlin University of Applied Sciences to find out how much electricity and money you can save. You can find the calculator and lots more information at solar.htw-berlin.de
Finn Witt, lawyer and specialist lawyer for tenancy and residential property law, advises:
Before installing such a system, it is advisable to talk to the landlord in order to reach an agreement that is legally secure for both parties.
The installation of a solar system or a so-called balcony power plant requires the landlord's permission. Otherwise, it is a case of use of the rented property in breach of contract and the tenant may be obliged to dismantle it.
The background to this is that the installation of such a system already constitutes a structural alteration with an interference with the substance, because the electricity generated is fed into the existing electricity grid via a connection.
Professional installation to avoid hazards, permissibility under building law, easy dismantling and lack of visual disturbance are essential requirements for the landlord to grant permission. In addition, protection against any (fire and other) risks must be provided, e.g. by taking out liability insurance for the system.
If you as a tenant are thinking about using such a system for yourself, you should always talk to the landlord first.
