House rules: How to keep the stairwell clean

When many people live under one roof, conflicts are not uncommon. The house rules, or rather their enforcement, frequently become a point of contention in apartment buildings with multiple units – whether among tenants because one doesn't clean thoroughly enough for another, or with the landlord because no one feels responsible.

Hiring a cleaning person is of course the cleanest solution, but it also carries the potential for conflict, as they ultimately need to be paid.
If the rental agreement or the accompanying house rules state that the tenant must regularly clean the stairwell, they are legally obligated to do so – generally when the cleaning schedule specifies, not a week earlier or later.

However, if there are no house rules in or attached to the rental agreement that regulate stairwell cleaning, landlords cannot demand this service from the tenant. Many landlords therefore include the house rules in the rental agreement as a separate clause or have the tenant sign them.

If there are no house rules, things get tricky. Landlords can unilaterally issue them retroactively, but only with regulations concerning orderly coexistence or the use of the rented property. Locking the front door in the evening, using the laundry room, closing the windows in the stairwell when it's cold – all these regulations can be stipulated in retroactive house rules.
However, regular cleaning of the stairs is not included, as this constitutes the imposition of additional duties and requires a contract amendment for which the tenant's consent is necessary.