German Court to Rule on Balcony Air Conditioner Installations

Germany's Federal Court of Justice (BGH) is set to decide on Friday whether apartment owners have the right to install air conditioning units on their balconies. The ruling stems from a case brought by property owners in Berlin who were denied permission to install such a device during a homeowners' association meeting.

The lower court, Berlin Regional Court II, had previously sided with the property owners in July 2025. The judges determined that the installation would not cause a disturbance to other owners beyond what is considered unavoidable in a shared living environment. Consequently, they ruled that the owners were entitled to have the installation permitted.

However, the homeowners' association lodged an appeal against the Berlin court's decision. They expressed concerns that the operation of air conditioning units, specifically mentioning noise, condensation, and waste heat, could negatively impact the rental or resale value of neighboring apartments. The association argues that these potential consequences pose a serious risk.

Klima-Splitgeräte, or split air conditioning units, consist of an indoor and an outdoor component. The outdoor unit is typically mounted on the building's exterior wall, requiring the wall to be drilled. The homeowners' association fears that these installations could lead to a reduction in the value of adjacent properties due to the operational effects of the devices.