HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) - Tenant associations continue to report a high demand for advice due to additional heating cost charges. This is the result of a survey conducted among tenant associations in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, and Frankfurt. Stefan Schmalfeldt, head of the legal department at the Hamburg association, stated: "Many tenants are surprised that they have to pay significantly more."
The tenant associations attribute the large number of inquiries to the expiration of energy price caps on gas, district heating, and electricity at the turn of the year 2023/24. Additionally, at the end of March last year, the temporary reduction of value-added tax on gas and district heating from 19 to 7 percent also came to an end.
According to the tenant associations, landlords usually send out the utility bills to tenants in October, November, and December. Landlords have until the end of the year to submit the service charge statement for 2024.
Of the tenant associations surveyed, only the Berlin association collects statistics on heating cost consultations: According to their data, there were 14,628 such consultations by the end of September. In the entire previous year, including the busy final quarter, there were 22,881. "The demand for advice remains high," said the association's managing director, Wibke Werner.
The need for consultation has increased in line with the rise in energy prices, which was particularly notable in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, there were 15,894 consultations on heating costs, according to the Berlin association. In 2019, the figure was still 9,417.
Homeowners' Association: Topic Is Being Discussed More Intensively Again
The homeowners' association Haus und Grund from Berlin stated that it could not specify exactly how many landlords sought advice on utility bills. "Through our local associations, however, we are aware that the topic--especially due to the increased energy prices--is once again being discussed more intensively in many places," said legal advisor Luisa Peitz.
District Heating Became Significantly More Expensive Last Year
According to a statement from Essen-based real estate service provider Ista, which says it has analyzed 1.5 million bills, heating costs reached an all-time high last year.
For a sample 70-square-meter apartment, the costs for district heating averaged EUR1,140, about a quarter higher than in 2023. Gas costs rose by five percent to EUR909. In contrast to the trend, heating oil customers paid EUR913, which is twelve percent less than in the previous period./lkm/DP/mis
