Discovering Germany

For utility costs, such as electricity, water, and gas, the tenant often has to sign his own contract with the utility providers. In most cases the tenant pays in monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly instalments and once a year receives a balance according to actual usage. Minor Repairs ( Kleinreparaturen ) There is a special clause in rental contracts stipulating that certain minor repairs on fixtures and fittings have to be paid by the tenant, but only under certain conditions. While the amount the tenant has to pay can differ from contract to contract, the total amount should not exceed approximately 8-10% of the year’s net rent. Renovation Work ( Renovierung ) Renovating/Painting a property has become a complex topic in

Germany. Landlords can pass on some costs to tenants regarding painting and renovation of the property. Some landlords insist on a newly painted property at move-out. New rules have recently been introduced by the High Court, however, not all landlords adhere to these. There is also conflicting advice from lawyers, so this can be a cause of conflict.

During the Lease ( Schönheitsreparaturen ) The tenant is sometimes required to undertake refurbishing at his own costs (renewal of wallpaper, painting and plastering of walls and ceilings, floor/parquet/carpets, radiators and pipes, the inner doors, windows and outer doors on the inside, skirting boards) in a professional manner when needed, normally at the following intervals. If this clause is included with no further referral to other renovation clauses, then this clause is valid. The intervals may differ from lease to lease. + Bath, kitchen, toilet: every three years + Living room, dining room, etc.: every five years Smoke Detectors In general, landlords have the obligation to install smoke detectors in their properties in Germany. At least one smoke detector should be in all rooms and hallways. Sometimes old buildings are excluded or will join this regulation at a later date. The landlord is responsible for the installation of smoke detectors. They are legally allowed to pass on all charges related to smoke detectors to the tenant in the annual associated lease cost invoice ( Nebenkostenabrechnung ). The landlord is also allowed to pass on the responsibility for the maintenance to the tenant. Waste Disposal Regulations Waste disposal and waste separation is an issue of great concern in Germany and since 1991 has been following a strict policy. The Packaging Ordinance of 1991 placed the responsibility for minimizing waste on manufacturers. They are therefore obliged to take back the packaging of their goods and reuse or recycle it. As a result, the Green Dot System ( Grüner Punkt ) was introduced. It is a way to facilitate the industry’s compliance with German regulations concerning waste management. Two objectives were fixed: one for gathering waste and the other for separating it.

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Discovering Germany