Snow chaos in NRW: Who is really liable for winter service?

In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), specific rules apply to snow and responsibility is both for landlords and tenants. According to RuHR24 responsible, while private paths in principle have to be cleared by landlords or property owners. These have the option of contractually transferring the obligation to clear the snow to the tenants. However, a regulation in the house rules alone is not sufficient. Tenants should therefore check their lease to clarify their obligations.

The clearing times in North Rhine-Westphalia are subject to strict requirements: on working days, the areas between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. must be cleared, while on Sundays and public holidays the times apply from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. With continuous snowfall, those responsible are obliged to clear several times a day. Areas to be cleared includes the sidewalk in front of the house, which must be at least one meter wide, as well as access to garbage cans and garages that should be cleared at least 0.5 meters wide. 1.5 meters can also be cleared on main traffic and business roads.

duties in winter service

like the State Transport Wacht NRW , homeowners must ensure that sidewalks are snow-free in order to avoid accidents. However, winter service obligation can also be transferred to tenants if this is anchored in the rental agreement. In the event of accidents, those responsible are liable who do not meet their duty. Owners who cannot carry out winter service themselves should organize a representation.

The use of adequate stray has been particularly important, since road salt is prohibited in almost all cities in North Rhine -Westphalia. Instead, sand, granules or grit should be used. In the case of black ice, there is an immediate scattering obligation. Furthermore, the residues of strays must be removed after the thaw. Interestingly, there are currently no classic fines for non-rooms in NRW. In other federal states, such as Hamburg or Brandenburg, the punishments can be considerably higher. Information on the clearing and scattering obligations is available from the respective cities or municipalities.