I rented a basement room recently. I have lived here for just 2 days and I already feel extreme depression setting in because of almost no natural light. I don’t mean sunlight just the normal light from outside. It feels really suffocating.

[There’s just this really small 25in/63,5cm sized window.](https://imgur.com/a/jGogUtS) I lived in another temporary room for past month, which had a normal sized window and even on days where it was raining or no sunlight for entire day, it still felt normal and I never felt depressed. Again I know there’s no light in winter, but like I said I am not talking about sunlight, I am talking about being able to see outside. I won’t be able to move out for another 3 months so till then is there any suggestion to create artificial light?

[If I open window it feels bit less suffocating but then it gets really freezing cold](https://imgur.com/a/mC2ZPdH)

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P.S: I know I should have checked everything before finalizing the contract. I was running out of time for registration and had no other options. Luckily the rent contract is open contract which means I can either transfer the contract or inform 3 months before I move out . I will be inform the landlord on Jan 1st that I want to move out. I wish I could move out asap but I really need to complete my registration asap and I have project submission in January and exams in February and I can’t spend time searching and moving out/in.

But till then any suggestion on how to deal with it? Specifically just light doesn’t matter sunlight/artificial light.

by Adam_44_99_

5 comments

  1. We have these grids in our basement to, but that is not living space. Ours can be opened and also completely removed.

  2. A basement with such a tiny window is from a legal perspective not a living space (have a look at the Landesbauordnung of your state). Your landlord is most likely breaking the law, so you really don’t need to inform him in advance.

    Honestly, there’s only so much you can do. Spend as little time as possible in the basement, spend 1 hour outside everyday regardless if the sun is shining or not (1pm-2pm would be ideal), maybe get a daylight lamp.

    Edit: https://www.grundriss-butler.de/keller-wohnraum#Fenster here’s a summary on how large windows in the basement have to be to be considered a living space

  3. Oh dear.

    Maybe you could get a daylight lamp? I have a daylight alarm clock and it’s among the reasons I don’t go nuts in winter. (Not more than usual at least.)

    Also yes, ask your landlord if the grid can be taken off. They can’t do anything more than say no, and asking doesn’t hurt.

    Good luck!

  5. Hello, a German here and we love our rules!

    I almost suspect that your room is not approved as a living space anyway. Actually, your landlord is not allowed to rent out this room.

    Of course, you can’t tell exactly via the Internet without measurements.

    How large should the window area be?

    In almost all federal states, the rule is that the light-permeable area of a window must be at least 1/20 of the floor area of the relevant interior space. For the total width of all windows, the legislation often speaks of 1/10 of the total width of all room-bounding walls (or 55% of the interior width).

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    “(2) Recreation rooms must have windows leading directly to the outside of such a number and quality that the rooms receive sufficient daylight and can be ventilated (necessary windows). The structural dimension of the window openings must be at least one eighth of the floor area of the room; a smaller dimension is permissible if there are no concerns about the lighting conditions

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    http://sinnvollbauen.de/index.php?page=article&artid=125

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