Heatwaves in Germany are becoming longer, hotter, and more frequent, leaving tenants struggling in sweltering apartments. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has now stated that building laws need to be amended to address the issue.
Darya, a resident of Bochum, returned from a holiday in Turkey on June 26 to find her attic apartment at 31°C (87.8°F) — hotter than the 29°C she experienced at the Turkish seaside. Outside, temperatures soared to 39°C. She describes her flat as a “thermos” in summer.
Her south-facing apartment lacks external blinds or air conditioning. She bought blackout curtains and a fan, but they only circulate hot air. In winter, triple-glazed windows and insulated walls keep the cold out, but in summer, these features become liabilities.
The EU’s Copernicus climate monitor reported June 2026 as the hottest June on record in Western Europe. Germany’s Robert Koch Institute estimated 5,120 heat-related deaths in 2026 so far, nearly double the 2,600 deaths in all of 2025.
Trinidad Fernandez of the Fraunhofer Institute argues that heat protection must be treated as a health measure. “We need to move from emergency response to prevention by design,” she says, calling for heat resilience in housing and urban planning.
Over half of Germans rent their homes — the highest rate in the EU. Yet, according to lawyer Michael Selk, tenants have a right to warm rooms (20–24°C) but no right to cooling. This stems from Germany’s historical climate.
A 2023 study found that 75% of Germany’s housing stock was built before 1990, failing modern heat protection standards. Landlords are only required to meet standards from the time of construction.
Selk doubts tenancy law will change soon. Only a Federal Constitutional Court ruling citing health protection could force landlords to upgrade to modern standards, as happened with PCP toxins and lead pipes in 1998.
Chancellor Merz said at a July 15 press conference: “We cannot stop climate change from within Europe. A second major challenge will be to live with it — reflected in building codes, healthcare, and protection of vulnerable groups.”
Families like Darya’s are resorting to air-conditioned hotels, but as heatwaves become more frequent and prolonged, such temporary escapes are becoming less affordable and accessible.
Source: www.dw.com