Tenants have to prepare for high additional payments this year. This can lead to disputes between landlords and tenants.
According to the German Tenants’ Association, operating costs remain the most common topic of dispute between tenants and landlords. More than a third of the advisory topics (37 percent) at the association last year related to operating costs including heating costs, as the tenants’ association in Berlin announced. “This is not surprising, especially given the significantly increased energy costs,” explained Federal Director Melanie Weber-Moritz. “Unfortunately, the expiry of the energy price brakes, the energy prices remaining at a high level and the rising CO2 price will probably mean additional payments in the three-digit range for many tenants this year too.”
Operating costs were followed in 2023 by the other consulting topics of housing defects (18.2 percent) and general contractual matters (12.4 percent). According to the tenants’ association, the latter include questions about rent controls, graduated or index rents, shared apartments, but also the question of whether animals are allowed in the apartments or whether solar modules can be installed on the balcony.
The need for advice on the topic of “rent increases (comparative rent)” has increased compared to the previous year. While the share was 7.9 percent in 2022, it grew to 9.2 percent in 2023. “This increase suggests that the pressure on tenants in existing tenancies has increased,” said Weber-Moritz.
In total, the lawyers from around 300 local tenants’ associations in Germany carried out around one million legal consultations in 2023. Over 98 percent of the cases were concluded out of court.
Source: Stern
