Germany's Federal Court of Justice has ruled that condominium owners can generally demand permission from their homeowners' association to install split-system air conditioning units on their balconies, setting a precedent likely to affect thousands of residents as demand for cooling rises.
The Karlsruhe-based court held that such installations must be approved provided they do not unreasonably impair the rights of other owners and are professionally fitted. Crucially, the justices determined that operating noise from the units does not in itself constitute grounds for denying approval.
The case originated in Berlin, where a family's request was rejected at an owners' meeting in December 2023. The Landgericht Berlin had already sided with the family, and the BGH upheld that decision. The ruling arrives amid surging demand for room climate units, with sales climbing from roughly 260,000 in 2023 to 320,000 in 2025.