mietminderung

Rent reduction for leaky windows and drafts

5 rulings on this topic – with reduction rate, case number and link to the decision.

Updated: October 2026 · 119 court rulings

Leaky windows and doors let cold, drafts and sometimes water into the apartment. That is a defect when the apartment noticeably cools down or moisture gets in – it weighs more in winter than in summer.

Drafts can be a defect in modern buildings too: the Frankfurt local court awarded a year-round reduction for strong cold drafts from the ventilation system of a passive house (33 C 1251/17).

Calculate reduction →

5 rulings found

Enforce your right to rent reduction

Create a free defect notice with a rent reduction demand — backed by these court rulings.

Reduce rent
DefectReductionDescription
25 %Rainwater entering through the chimney top; water stains on the walls; leaking windows
25 %Damaged bathroom and drafty, poorly closing windows (combined rate)
20 %Faulty seals on windows and doors; strong drafts and water getting in
15 %Leaky windows with drafts and heat loss
10 %Strong cold drafts from the ventilation system in a passive house