Koln_Bonn City Guide

Page 7

Köln and Bonn City Guide

Housing

Registration with the Utility Providers

Electricity

The local electricity company should be contacted to state the move-in date and check whether

the previous owner or tenant has cancelled his registration. When registering, there may be a

fee. Normally, a pre-payment amount will be charged every one or two months, and these are

adjusted at the end of the year according to usage. The easiest forms of payment are direct

debit or standing order.

Water, sewage and garbage collection (see below)

The tenant normally pays for water, sewage and garbage collection to the landlord. In case he

has to register directly, the tenant must call the respective local utility company himself.

Snow clearing and cleaning of communal areas

According to house rules which are attached to the lease agreement or put in the communal

staircase, tenants are sometimes held responsible for the cleaning of the communal areas of

the house and for the snow and ice removal during the winter. It is advisable to ask your

landlord if you are responsible for snow and ice clearing. If the tenant is required to be

responsible for snow removal during the winter, then he is liable for any damage which may

be caused by his neglect to remove the snow.

Telephone registration (see also separate chapter)

In order to arrange for the telephone to be connected, one provider is

Deutsche Telekom

(Tel:

0800-3 30 10 00). The connection should be made within approximately 14 days. It helps to

be able to give the name and number of the previous tenant.

TV/Radio registration

In Germany all TV sets and radios, including those in cars, have to be registered with the

GEZ

(

Gebühreneinzugszentrale).

This fee is mandatory. Children who live with their parents but

have their own income must also register their own radios and TV sets. Registration forms for

the GEZ can be obtained from all post offices and banks, downloaded from the internet:

or via fax: 0180-5 82 10 10. The mailing address of the GEZ is: GEZ 50656 Köln.