Practical Guide
If you live in a Berlin apartment built before 1993, your home may contain asbestos. Your landlord may know. You probably don’t. This guide explains what to look for, what your rights are under German law, and where to get help — in English.
Risk Check
Asbestos was legally used in German construction until October 31, 1993. If your building was constructed or significantly renovated before that date, asbestos-containing materials may be present. This applies to roughly 25% of all residential buildings in Germany.
In Berlin, the problem is particularly widespread. An estimated ~58,847 apartments owned by the city’s six state-owned housing companies are registered as containing or suspected of containing asbestos (as of December 2025). Berlin-wide, including private housing, estimates reach up to 500,000 apartments.
You cannot identify asbestos by looking at it. Only laboratory analysis provides certainty. Common locations in Berlin apartments from the 1960s–1980s:
Vinyl tiles (often 30×30 cm), known as “Floor-Flex” in Germany. The black adhesive beneath them is often more dangerous than the tiles themselves — it contains higher concentrations of asbestos fibers and is easily disturbed during removal.
Lightweight boards in kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways. Often installed as fire protection or moisture barriers. Can release fibers when drilled into or removed during renovation.
Coverings on heating and water pipes, typically found in basements, shafts, and behind walls. Deterioration with age can release fibers into living spaces.
Plaster, sealants, putty, and textured wall or ceiling finishes. These materials can contain asbestos and release fibers when sanded, scraped, or drilled.
Berlin’s six state-owned housing companies (“Landeseigene Wohnungsunternehmen”) manage over 350,000 apartments. Asbestos-affected units by company (as of December 2025): degewo: 23,883 (incl. suspected) · GESOBAU: ~15,089 (estimated by building age) · HOWOGE: 6,571 · Gewobag: 5,639 · WBM: 2,654 · berlinovo: 2,471.
Source — Written Parliamentary Question, Drs. 19/25 368 (December 2025)
Built before 1993? Asbestos may be present. Owned by degewo, HOWOGE, Gewobag, GESOBAU, WBM, or berlinovo? Your landlord likely has asbestos data on file — ask in writing. Original vinyl floor tiles (30×30 cm)? These may be asbestos-containing Floor-Flex tiles. Planning to renovate? Stop. Do not drill, sand, or remove any material until you know what it contains.
The Information Gap
Berlin’s state-owned housing companies have known about asbestos in their buildings for decades. A parliamentary inquiry in April 2000 confirmed 14,400 affected apartments at degewo alone. The official response at the time: “No tenant information necessary.” That policy has not fundamentally changed in 25 years.
Tenants are not systematically informed. Lease contracts contain no asbestos clauses. When tenants move out, apartments are quietly tested and, if necessary, remediated — but the incoming tenant receives no disclosure either.
degewo’s own PwC-audited Group Management Report (2017) identifies asbestos as a “material business risk.” The Deutsche Wohnen stock prospectus (2011) discloses asbestos-related rent reduction risk to investors. The same information is withheld from the tenants who live in the apartments.
Sources — degewo Konzernlagebericht 2017 (PwC); Deutsche Wohnen Börsenprospekt 14.11.2011, S. 170–171
The full investigation documents 25 years of institutional knowledge, concealment, and the legal battle of a single tenant who discovered the contamination by accident. Read the full story →
German Law
German tenancy law provides strong protections — even if you don’t speak German. Here are the key provisions that apply to asbestos in rental apartments:
If your apartment has a defect that reduces its usability, you are entitled to a rent reduction (“Mietminderung”) for as long as the defect persists. Asbestos contamination qualifies.
Courts have ruled: 20–30% reduction for confirmed asbestos in floor tiles (LG Berlin, Az. 66 S 212/18). In severe cases, courts have granted up to 100% reduction (AG Eutin, June 2018).
You do not need your landlord’s permission. The reduction applies automatically from the moment you notify your landlord of the defect in writing.
The Berlin Regional Court has ruled that landlords must inform tenants about known asbestos contamination — even if the materials are classified as “intact.” Failure to disclose constitutes a breach of the landlord’s duty of care.
This ruling is significant because many landlords argue that undamaged asbestos poses no risk and therefore requires no disclosure. The court disagreed.
If your landlord knew about the contamination and failed to disclose it, you may be entitled to compensation for damages — including costs for alternative housing, medical expenses, and legal fees.
The revised German Hazardous Substances Ordinance (December 2024) requires contractors to investigate for asbestos before any building work in pre-1993 buildings. However, it does not require landlords to proactively check whether their buildings contain asbestos. The gap between renovation safety and tenant information remains.
All official communication with your landlord about defects should be in writing and in German — or at minimum in both languages. A registered letter (“Einschreiben”) creates a legally valid paper trail. If you are unsure how to phrase your request, the organizations listed below can help.
Take Action
If you suspect asbestos, do not touch, drill, grind, sand, or break the suspected material. Asbestos is dangerous when fibers become airborne. Intact materials in good condition are not an immediate health risk — but any disturbance changes that. According to specialist literature, grinding asbestos-containing adhesive releases approximately 1.2 to 1.5 million fibers per cubic meter of air (Bossemeyer et al. 2015). This is invisible and odorless.
Photograph the suspected area. Note the location in your apartment, the condition of the material (intact, cracked, damaged), and the date. If you have your original lease, check if it mentions any renovation history or building materials. Keep all records — they may be critical later.
Send a registered letter (“Einschreiben mit Rückschein”) to your landlord asking whether asbestos-containing materials are present in your apartment. This creates a legally valid paper trail with proof of delivery.
A registered letter costs approximately €4–5 at any Deutsche Post branch. You can write in English, but adding a German translation strengthens your position. Keep a copy of everything you send.
If your landlord does not respond or denies knowledge, you can have a material sample analyzed independently. An accredited laboratory can test a small sample for asbestos. Cost: typically €30–80 per sample.
How to sample safely: Dampen the area with water first (this suppresses fiber release). Wear an FFP3 mask (available at any Baumarkt for ~€5). Break off a small piece (2×2 cm is enough). Place it in a sealed zip-lock bag. Send it to a laboratory — results typically take 3–5 business days.
Keep all correspondence (emails, letters, delivery receipts), photographs, test results, and your landlord’s responses. If your landlord later claims to have informed you, or if you need legal recourse, written evidence is everything.
This is especially important before moving out. Once you vacate, physical evidence of contamination may be lost during renovation.
If asbestos is confirmed and your landlord is not cooperating, seek legal advice. You may be entitled to rent reduction, compensation, or temporary relocation at your landlord’s expense. The organizations below can help — several offer advice in English.
Local Resources
Germany’s largest tenants’ association. Offers legal advice on tenancy disputes, including asbestos cases. Membership costs ~€9/month and includes legal consultations. Some advisors speak English.
The Berlin state authority responsible for asbestos regulation and oversight. They issue the guidelines that govern asbestos removal in Berlin. If your landlord is not complying with safety regulations, LAGetSi is the supervisory authority.
Offers independent advice on tenancy law, including disputes about building defects. Consultations available in German; some advisors speak English. Low-cost appointments available.
We document the systematic handling of asbestos contamination in Berlin’s state-owned housing. If you have information about asbestos in your apartment — or if you are a journalist or researcher working on this topic — we welcome contact.
E-Mail: [email protected]
German and English. All information shared is verifiable through official records.
This guide covers the practical basics. The investigation documents 25 years of institutional concealment — with parliamentary records, court files, and company reports.