Can I store things in the stairwell?
As a rule, no. The stairwell is the building's escape and rescue route and must stay clear for fire-safety reasons. Personal items like shoe racks, cabinets, boxes, bikes, rubbish or plants may in principle not be stored there permanently — set by the state building code, fire-safety rules and the house rules. In many places prams, rollators and walking aids are tolerated if a sufficiently wide passage stays clear and no one is obstructed. A doormat right at your flat door is usually fine.
📋 The rules
- Stairwell = escape route → must stay clear (fire safety)
- No permanently stored cabinets, shoes, boxes, bikes, rubbish
- Governed by the state building code and house rules
- Prams/rollators often tolerated if the passage stays clear
- Landlord/fire brigade can demand removal
🔓 Exceptions
- Prams and walking aids if there's no reasonable alternative and the path stays clear
- Brief placing while loading/unloading is unproblematic
- A more generous arrangement may be expressly allowed by the house rules/landlord
⚠️ Penalties & fines
It's about safety and harmony, not classic fines. The landlord can warn you and demand removal of the items; persistent blocking of the escape route risks termination in extreme cases. If the fire brigade/fire inspection finds blocked rescue routes, it can order immediate clearing — and in a fire you're liable for damage caused by the blocked route.
📎 Official sources
- German Tenants' Association · What may go in the stairwell? →
- Haus & Grund · Keeping stairwells and escape routes clear →
- Model Building Code (MBO) · Requirements for rescue routes →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I put shoes or a cabinet in the stairwell?
Usually not. The stairwell is an escape route and must stay clear. Shoe racks, cabinets, boxes or plants may not stand there permanently — fire safety and house rules require it.
Are prams allowed in the stairwell?
Often they're tolerated if there's no reasonable alternative and a sufficiently wide passage stays clear. The same goes for rollators and walking aids. A blanket ban in the house rules isn't always enforceable here.
Can my bike stand in the hallway?
Mostly not. Bikes belong in the cellar, the bike room or outside. In the stairwell they obstruct the escape route and can be prohibited. Check whether the building provides a storage room.
What can the landlord do?
They can warn you and demand removal of the items. If you permanently block the escape route, termination is possible in extreme cases. The fire brigade can also order immediate clearing at an inspection.
Is at least a doormat allowed at the door?
Usually yes. A doormat right at your flat door is mostly permissible as long as it obstructs no one. Larger items, furniture or decoration that narrow the path are off-limits.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “store things stairwell allowed”
- “pram stairwell allowed”
- “bike in hallway store”
- “shoes outside flat door house rules”
- “keep stairwell escape route clear”
- “landlord clear stairwell”