Overview
- Most NRW municipalities place the duty to clear and grit adjacent sidewalks on property owners, with typical requirements from 7:00 to 20:00 on weekdays and from 9:00 on Sundays and holidays, and no need to clear continuously during ongoing snowfall.
- Landlords may transfer clearing tasks to tenants by lease clause but must supervise performance, and condominium owners must organize shared plans or hire a service.
- A Federal Court of Justice ruling from August 6, 2025 (Az. VIII ZR 250/23) holds a renting condominium owner liable to their tenant if an owners’ association’s contracted winter service performs inadequately.
- Owners are advised to monitor hired services and document shortcomings with photos, to seek recourse if needed, while costs for professional winter service can be passed on as operating expenses if agreed and claimed as a household-related tax deduction.
- Slip-and-fall incidents can trigger compensation claims typically handled by private or property-owner liability insurance, whereas heavy-snow collapses and frozen-pipe damage often require additional elementar or specific cover and insurers may deny claims if preventive measures were neglected; many cities restrict road salt in favor of sand or grit.