Can the landlord inspect the apartment during the coronavirus pandemic?

The landlord's right to inspect the apartment remains even during a pandemic, but it must be exercised under certain conditions. The landlord can enter the apartment if there is a legitimate reason - for example, repairs, maintenance, or insurance assessments are needed. However, during Corona lockdowns and periods of high infection rates, inspections sometimes had to be postponed if they weren't urgently necessary. The exact rules depended on the respective federal state and the infection situation.

What's important is that the landlord has to give notice beforehand - just showing up isn't allowed. He usually needs a written notice with reasonable advance notice (typically a few days). If you or someone in your household belonged to a risk group or had been sick, during the pandemic you could argue that a home visit was too dangerous and should be postponed.

These days in 2026, the topic is less pressing, but the principle remains: a landlord has rights, but has to act reasonably and can't just constantly come into the apartment. If you want to decline an inspection, write to the landlord in writing explaining why - that's more important than refusing over the phone.