The gas crisis is coming to a head.
Some landlords also want to lower the maximum temperature in the apartments in Frankfurt.
But they don't have a free hand.
Frankfurt/Giessen - In view of the rapidly increasing gas prices - also in Frankfurt - many housing companies are considering how energy can be saved in the coming heating period.
According to the
FAZ
, for example, ABG Frankfurt Holding wants to adjust the systems in its approximately 34,000 centrally heated apartments for the next heating period so that it gets a maximum of 20 degrees during the day and a maximum of 18 degrees at night.
Meanwhile, Vonovia manages around 27,000 apartments in the Rhine-Main area, as the newspaper also reports.
Here the temperature is to be lowered to 17 degrees at night.
During the day, however, the group does not want to impose any restrictions.
Based on a number of court rulings, the tenants' association in Gießen is evaluating the previous proposals, which are hotly debated not only in Frankfurt but throughout Germany, from a legal and energy perspective and advises all tenants to set aside reserves for the "very high additional payments from the upcoming ancillary cost bills". fnp.de reported.
+
The Gießen Tenants' Association believes that tenants should urgently create reserves in view of gas prices.
© Marijan Murat/dpa/symbol image
Basically, the following applies under tenancy law: If the landlord is responsible for heating the apartment, he must ensure that the minimum temperature specified in the tenancy agreement is guaranteed by setting the heating system accordingly.
A contractual temperature of 18 degrees is not enough, according to the Giessen Tenants' Association.
A tenancy agreement that stipulates that a minimum temperature of 18 degrees between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. is considered contractual is also invalid.
If there is no provision in the contract, a temperature of at least 20 to 22 degrees will be considered sufficient.
Gas crisis in Frankfurt: landlord has obligations - differences between summer and winter
However, according to the Gießen Tenants' Association, the landlord is not obliged to make this average temperature available around the clock.
He fulfills his obligation if he ensures sufficient heating during the normal hours of the day (7 a.m. to 11 p.m. or midnight).
Therefore, an apartment should have the minimum temperature between 6 a.m. and midnight.
In winter cold periods, the landlord may be obliged to keep the heating on continuously, i.e. also at night, after which a temperature of 17 degrees must be maintained between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
18 degrees must be reached at night despite the reduction.
This must also apply to rental contracts without a fixed daily heating period.
Frankfurt am Main in pictures: A city full of surprises
Frankfurt am Main in pictures: A city full of surprises
“If, for example, the major landlord Vonovia wants to lower the heating temperature to 17 degrees at night for its 250,000 apartments in Germany that are heated with gas, that’s still acceptable.
However, it ignores the fact that people also have different temperature perceptions.
Elderly people or infants would need it warmer in the rooms.
Others, on the other hand, work in shifts or are active at night,” explains the Gießen tenants’ association.
In addition, the greater night-time reduction means that a larger amount of gas energy is required in the morning to reach the minimum temperature (20 degrees) again in the cooled rooms.
In addition, if the room temperature is too low, the risk of mold growth increases.
Gas prices are also rising in Frankfurt: "Everyone should definitely create reserves for additional payments"
Tenants are also generally entitled to a 24-hour supply of hot water.
The landlord must ensure that the water can reach a minimum temperature of 40 to 50 degrees.
If the temperature is lower, there is a defect that entitles the tenant to a reduction in rent.
Urgent advice from the chairman of the tenants' association, Stefan Kaisers: »Tenants would do well to take advantage of every opportunity to save energy themselves, because the next bill will make many people's eyes overflow.
Everyone should definitely create reserves for additional payments.«
According to the FAZ, other companies than ABG Frankfurt Holding and Vonovia have not yet decided how to deal with the gas crisis in the apartments they rent.
For example, at GWH Wohnungsgesellschaft Hessen, which manages around 26,000 apartments in Frankfurt and the region, it is said that they want to save gas.
On the other hand, certain rules would also have to be observed at night.
Among other things, reference is made to shift workers, people in need of care or families with small children.
(fd/mo/pm)
List of rubrics: © Marijan Murat/dpa/Symbolbild
