Old Building (Altbau)
What qualifies as an Altbau (old building) in Germany? Definition, typical characteristics, and what buyers and tenants should look out for.
Property
Also known as: pre-war building, period building, historic building
In Germany, buildings constructed before 1949 are typically classified as Altbau (old buildings). In some regions, the cutoff is set at 1945 or 1960 - there is no uniform legal definition. Typical features include high ceilings (from approx. 3 m), wooden beam ceilings, stucco, casement windows, and solid exterior walls. Old buildings are frequently subject to special requirements regarding energy efficiency (retrofit obligations under the German Building Energy Act, GEG) and historic preservation.