Court sides with naked landlord

Nude landlord no excuse for holding back rent, rules German court

Frankfurt judges said people would have to lean far out of window to see naked sunbathing in courtyard

A German court has said that a landlord sunbathing naked in the courtyard of his building was not a reason for his tenants to reduce their rental payments.

The case involved a building in an upmarket residential district of Frankfurt, which included an office floor rented by a human resources company. The company withheld rent because it objected, among other things, to the landlord’s naked sunbathing. In response, the landlord *sued.

The Frankfurt state court on Wednesday rejected the company’s reasoning, finding that “the usability of the rented property was not impaired by the plaintiff sunning himself naked in the courtyard”.

It said in a statement that it couldn’t see an “inadmissible, deliberately improper effect on the property”.

Judges were ruling on an appeal against a lower court decision that went in the landlord’s favour, and the tenant had only limited success overall. They found that the tenant had been entitled to reduce rental payments for three months only because of noisy construction work in the neighbourhood.

The court said that the spot where the landlord sunbathed could only be seen from the rented office by leaning far out of the window.

It also said the tenant failed to prove that he took the stairs to the courtyard unclothed. “On the contrary, the plaintiff stated credibly that he always wore a bathrobe which he only took off just before the sun lounger,” it said.

Source: Guardian

Spotlight on Vocabulary:

"The company withheld rent because it objected, among other things, to the landlord’s naked sunbathing. In response, the landlord sued."

- to take legal action against a person or organisation, especially by making a legal claim for money because of some harm that they have caused you (demandar)

• She is suing her ex-employer for unfair dismissal.
• If the newspaper doesn't issue an apology, he says he'll sue.
• The actress says she will sue for damages.
• He was sued for breach of contract.

#WOTD SUE - to take legal action against sb and try to get money from them because they have harmed you (demandar)
e.g. The actor SUED the newspaper FOR defamation.
e.g. She is THREATENING TO SUE the company for age discrimination. https://t.co/JG6YzRx8K6 pic.twitter.com/vbmdqqrNKd

— English in Madrid (@madteacher72) October 13, 2021

Synonyms: take/bring legal action (against sb), file a suit/lawsuit (against sb), take sb to court

a lawsuit - a problem taken to a law court by an ordinary person or an organization rather than the police in order to obtain a legal decision (una demanda, un pleito)

Confusing words - demand

(v) - to ask for something forcefully, in a way that shows that you do not expect to be refused (exigir)

• He demanded an explanation from the police.
• She demanded to speak to the manager.
• The union is demanding a ten percent pay rise.

(n) - a strong request (exigencia, reivindicación)

• The union is likely to call for a strike if the government doesn't agree to its demands.
• The demand for independence has grown steadily over the last few years.

Spain bullfighting: Thousands rally in Madrid to demand ban https://t.co/nkCOE6AcK6 - I was there...

— English in Madrid (@madteacher72) September 10, 2016

Rift over naturism laid bare by bar on Spain’s oldest nudist beach https://t.co/OMMI3dqa1n

— Guardian news (@guardiannews) August 13, 2021