As of: February 22, 2024, 5:10 a.m
By: Anna-Lena Kiegerl
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If the utility bill arrives in the house, there could be a risk of high additional payments.
However, a deadline could save you from this.
Munich – It comes up every year and causes unrest for many tenants: the utility bill.
Some will get a payment back from the landlord, while others may be faced with a hefty additional charge.
However, there is a legal deadline that can protect tenants from paying if the landlord misses it.
In this case no refund is required.
One year after the end of the billing period: Additional costs must be presented to tenants
There is a legal requirement that the billing of additional costs must be submitted no later than one year after the end of the billing period.
This is how the consumer advice center explains it.
The billing period usually starts on a predetermined date, such as the move-in day, although it is often based on the calendar year.
It ended a year later.
As a result, the billing for 2023 must be available by December 31, 2024.
The actual costs incurred, which were passed on to the tenants in advance, must be presented in a transparent form.
If the landlord misses the deadline, no additional payment is necessary.
© Imago/Arman Zhenikeyev
The portal
deutschesmietrecht.de
states that landlords cannot make additional demands at the end of the lease if the legally specified deadline is exceeded.
In contrast, the tenant still retains the right to proper billing and to the payment of any credit balances by the landlord.
Additional payment: Vote.
Often there are errors in utility billing: additional payments should be checked
The consumer advice center points out that it is crucial to carefully check the utility bill, as errors can often creep in.
After receiving the statement, you have a window of 30 days to make the payment and check the statement at the same time.
If discrepancies are discovered, you have up to 12 months to object to factual and content-related errors.
Despite such an objection, it is advisable to pay a requested additional payment “with reservations”, as the objection has no suspensive effect.
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