Balcony power plants: Federal Council waves through relief
Balcony power plants can now only be blocked by communities of owners if there is a valid reason. The Federal Council has waved this through.
Balcony power plant without balcony on a house in Bremen.
(Image: heise online / anw)
After only around one and a half minutes, the amendments to home ownership and tenancy law were approved by the Bundesrat without further debate today, Friday. Item 9 on the agenda of the meeting on September 27 was voted on by a show of hands; a clear majority of the plenary of the federal states was in favor.
These amendments are intended to simplify the installation of plug-in solar systems, also known as balcony power plants, explains the Bundesrat (agenda item 9). The amendment to the law will turn balcony power plants into "privileged projects". This means that owners' associations can no longer refuse to install plug-in solar systems without a valid reason, similar to structural changes "which serve the use of disabled people or the charging of electric vehicles, for example".
In plain language, this means that tenants will have more rights to install balcony power plants in their rented apartments. The law is now to be signed and will then come into force quickly.
Difficult approval by owners' associations
The amendment was triggered by the fact that installation was already possible with the consent of homeowners' associations. However, "obtaining this consent has often proved difficult".
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The possibility of holding purely virtual owners' meetings removes another stumbling block. Previously, all owners had to agree to this; otherwise, an in-person or hybrid event had to be held. Once the amendment comes into force, the consent of three quarters of the owners will be sufficient for a purely online event. This should save time and money, as those affected would no longer have to travel to such meetings. However, a transitional period is planned here: Virtual meetings can only be resolved for three years. If a decision is made before 2028, owners must still hold a face-to-face meeting once a year, unless they unanimously decide not to do so. In addition, it must be ensured that participation in online events and the exercise of owners' rights is guaranteed in the same way as for an in-person event.
The amendments to the law were passed in the Bundestag at the beginning of July. All parliamentary groups there approved the amendment, with the exception of the AfD.
(dmk)
