TLDR;
I just got this letter from my downstairs neighbor mentioning that I always leave the windows tilted open also in winter (especially today it’s minus degrees) and it makes her apartment not warm. Is it possible?

For context, I have been living here for about 2 years. I live on the top floor (9th floor) without a balcony and her apartment is right below mine (8th floor). I usually leave the bathroom’s window and the kitchen’s window tilted due to the smell. I close them from time to time, but usually they’re tilted open. The living room and the bedroom’s windows are usually closed.
Today, I left my bedroom’s window tilted for a while since my dog pooped in my bedroom(a one time thing cause he got sick, so I wanted to get rid of the smell).

A bit more detail, it’s not the first time I got these notes. The first notes were about my dog’s hair in the hallway, which I now try to pick up everytime I see it on the floor. The other time was about the dirt “my dog and I” brought upstairs, she asked me to clean the hallway on her floor and mine (along with other dirt), anyway I apologized and did without a question right away. And I didn’t hear back about these problems again until today.

Anyway, now I feel like I’m being watched. I want to know if it is possible that I cause the building or at least her room to be cold, I will then apologize to her. Otherwise, I wanna talk to her and let her know that I feel uncomfortable.

by treesakul

5 comments

  1. You never leave windows tilted. If you have smell there this bad you have to clean. You do Stoßlüften to retain the heat, stop the walls from cooling down too much and to stop mold.

    And yes it could affect them as they are heating your apartment. Did you also disable your heating?

  2. How to say that you have no idea of physics without saying that you have no idea of physics.

  3. This could obviously be a case of a typical annoying German neighbour, but she isn’t wrong about the issue in itself.

    Leaving the windows tilted all day is very energy-inefficient, it definitely contributes to rooms cooling out faster and requiring more energy and therefore money to heat. Especially in Winter you are better off leaving your windows closed for most of the day, but then open them up completely for ten minutes two or three times a day to get fresh air in and let the moisture out.

  4. Don’t let this bother you. She is right that she is indirect heating the floor but it’s minimal and none of your concerns.

  5. Leaving your windows tilted is a cardinal sin in Germany.

Leave a Reply