A full lookup for heating costs is imminent: how to save money and other answers
Created: 05/18/2022, 08:54
By: Lisa Fischer
Because of the increased prices for gas and oil, many consumers expect significantly higher heating bills.
Experts recommend putting money aside if possible.
© Petra Nowack/Imago
In view of the increased prices, the next heating bill is likely to be significantly higher.
How high the inflation is likely to be and what can be done.
Munich - Almost 90 percent of households in Germany heat with gas, oil or district heating.
Many tenants dread the next heating bill.
Given the soaring gas and oil prices, how much will the back payment be?
Some housing companies expect additional payments of up to two months' rent.
Answers to the most important questions on the topic:
.
What additional payments should tenants expect in the coming year?
As a spokeswoman for the Bavarian Association of House, Apartment and Land Owners (Haus und Grund) reports, there are already great fears "that the great awakening for tenants will arrive at the end of the year".
But not only tenants, but also owners in their own four walls are affected.
For gas, for example, tenants have to reckon with an average of 11.84 cents per kilowatt hour, according to the German Tenants' Association (DMB), with reference to figures from the Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries.
An increase of 83 percent compared to the previous year.
New contracts tend to cost even more.
According to the comparison portal Verivox, the costs for heating oil also increased by 75 percent compared to the previous year.
Because almost 90 percent of households in Germany are heated with gas, oil or district heating, almost all tenants are affected by the price increases, according to the DMB.
The association recommends that anyone who wants to know what costs they will incur can use the
Stiftung Warentest
's surcharge calculator .
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Heating costs are rising: In many cases, it is not enough to dress warmly
Do tenants have to follow the landlord's demands and immediately make a higher advance payment for the additional costs?
The DMB says: No.
The landlord must first send the tenant a statement of the ancillary costs that is correct in terms of form and content.
If there is a balance at the expense of the tenant and it can be assumed that the previous advance payments are not sufficient, the landlord may demand payment of higher advance payments.
Possible increases in advance payments are already being discussed with the landlords of the Landesverband Haus und Grund, says a spokeswoman.
"We advise the members to contact the tenants now and to address a possible increase."
The German Tenants' Association, in turn, advises tenants to have the basis for the increase explained to them.
In any case, an adjustment is only possible once per accounting year.
In addition, landlords are obliged to choose the cheapest possible provider, i.e. to act economically.
Attention: Anyone who does not pay or is only able to pay the increased advance payments at all or only partially is threatened with termination without notice.
According to the DMB, if the amount in arrears is more than one month's rent.
Should tenants save money better for the coming year?
The Landesverband Haus und Grund recommends owners who live in their property and therefore expect a heating bill to put money aside every month.
The DMB also advises tenants to save some money now in order to be able to settle the additional costs in the coming year.
However, tenants could also voluntarily agree an increased advance payment with the landlord this year in order to prevent a high additional payment.
German citizens are encouraged to save energy.
How to easily reduce heating costs:
Heating bills: meet the deadlines, otherwise there could be a risk of termination
What options do tenants have if they cannot bear the costs?
In this case, the DMB advises in any case to seek talks with the landlord at an early stage.
There is the possibility of agreeing on a repayment modality, such as payment in installments.
In addition, tenants could inquire about government support from their tenant association.
Aid such as housing benefit or other grants could help through the financial bottleneck.
"We advise our landlords to accept this in any case when tenants approach them," says the spokeswoman for the state association Haus und Grund.
The most recent general meeting showed that there are already talks between the two sides.
How long do tenants have to settle the utility bill?
If the invoice is correct, tenants usually have up to 30 days to settle the balance after receipt.
Any ambiguities or errors should be reported to the lessor immediately within the deadline, the DMB reports.
However, in order not to risk termination, they should first pay the bill with reservations.
If tenants have doubts about the correctness of the utility bill, they have the right to check it.
Can tenants be evicted if they don't pay on time?
This has not yet been clarified by the Supreme Court.
Nevertheless, tenants should be careful.
Judgments by district and regional courts show that unpaid back payments have already led to terminations, according to the DMB.