July 14, 2026, 4:57 am | Read time: 4 minutes
In the living room, IPTV is running, one child is gaming online, another is streaming music, and a video conference is happening in the home office. With a traditional DSL or cable connection, things often get tight at such times, especially in the evenings. This is where fiber optics show their strengths. But for those who rent, the question quickly arises: Who actually decides here? And how does the connection even get into the apartment?
Does the Landlord Have to Provide or Allow a Fiber Optic Connection?
A heating system, as well as electricity and water connections, are part of the “rental property.” Does this also apply to fiber optics? In recent years, the legal situation has changed in many areas in favor of tenants, such as with cable TV connections. For fiber optics, the Telecommunications Act (TKG) is decisive. Section 134 TKG stipulates that the landlord must tolerate the installation of a house connection and cannot prohibit it. If the house is in a development area and the network operator wants to lay a house connection there, the landlord must accept it.
The house connection usually ends in the basement or ground floor. From there, the lines must still be laid into the individual apartments, the so-called apartment connection. This is where the real problem lies: There is currently no general obligation to tolerate cabling within the building. A tenant from North Rhine-Westphalia also had to learn this, as reported first by the portal “Teltarif“: In April 2026, a district court dismissed his lawsuit against the landlord. The tenant, an IT specialist with a high proportion of home office work, argued that his existing cable connection was insufficient for video conferences and large file uploads. However, the court did not see this as a particular hardship that would justify a claim for installation. It also emphasized the landlord’s interest in developing the house uniformly rather than gradually cabling individual apartments. A supreme court decision on this issue is still pending. Until then, the only option is to have a direct conversation with the landlord.
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How Does the Fiber Optic Connection Get Into the Apartment?
The first step is to check whether a connection is even possible at the exact address. Sometimes the cable is only on one side of the street. A call to the local network operator, often the municipal utilities in smaller cities, provides certainty.
Before signing a contract, it’s worth talking to the landlord. Perhaps he is already planning the fiber optic expansion for the entire building. Or other tenants in the house also want to connect, which makes things easier. If the landlord shows no interest, a simple argument often helps: A fiber optic connection increases the apartment’s attractiveness for future tenants and thus the property’s value.
If discussions are unsuccessful, a formal letter can help. Section 554 of the German Civil Code (BGB) states that a landlord cannot generally refuse structural changes if the tenant has a legitimate interest. This argument can be pursued further. The local tenants’ association is also a good point of contact.
Important: As the aforementioned court ruling shows, such structural changes must be “reasonable,” and courts decide this on a case-by-case basis. It may also be worthwhile to involve the network operator. They can write to the landlord and point out Sections 134 and 145 of the TKG.
Important to know: Tenants can refuse the fiber optic connection. Those who are not interested do not have to use it.
How Long Does All This Take?
There is no blanket answer. If the landlord does not obstruct the project and the house is already connected to the fiber optic network, it often takes only a few weeks. Then only the end device needs to be installed.
It takes significantly longer if the house first needs to be connected, meaning cables must be laid from the distributor to the building. This can take several months.
During this time, the duration of discussions with the landlord or, in the worst case, a legal dispute is added.