FAQ

With the SEPA direct debit mandate, the tenant authorizes the beneficiary (landlord) to debit receivables from his account. By granting the direct debit authorization, the time required to keep an eye on the timely payments is saved and the administration isn’t burdened with administrative effort, such as correspondence, etc.

The tenant is not entitled to sublet the rented premises or any part of it nor to any other permanent transfer of use to third parties without the permission of the landlord. If, after conclusion of the rental agreement, the tenant has a legitimate interest in leaving part of the living space to a third party for use, he may request permission from the landlord to do so. This does not apply if there is any important reason concerning the third party, the living space would be excessively occupied, or the landlord cannot reasonably be expected to provide the property for other reasons. If the landlord can only be expected to provide the lease with a reasonable increase in rent, he can give the permission depending on the tenant agreeing to such an increase.

The tenant only must inform the property management company about this change if there is a SEPA direct debit mandate.

The handover of the apartment takes place at the beginning of the contract, and the acceptance of the apartment at the end of the contract. All meters such as electricity, gas, heat cost allocator and water are read to accurately calculate the tenant's consumption. This is relevant for the annual utility bill. In addition, the number of keys handed over is documented and the condition of the apartment is recorded in writing. If there are defects in the apartment, these will also be noted. When handing over the apartment, tenants receive a landlord's confirmation, which must be submitted to the residents' registration office for re-registration. Both, at the handover and at the final acceptance, the tenant must inform the electricity supplier about moving in/moving out. At the final inspection, all keys are returned to the property management. Access to the apartment after this appointment is no longer possible. The apartment must then be handed over in a contractual condition. The tenant’s new address must be noted for sending the pro rata utility bill and the accounting of the tenant’s deposit.

In this case, the tenant must immediately contact the property management. An attempt is made to find an individual solution. If the tenant does not pay the rent on two consecutive dates or only partially, so that the tenant owes the landlord a not insignificant part or if the tenant owes the landlord an amount that is as high as two monthly rents, the landlord has the right to termination without notice.

Of course! Simply hand in a copy of the identity card for that the landlord's confirmation of residence can be issued. Nevertheless, the ratio of the number of persons to the size of the apartment must be considered. Rule of thumb: One person more than there are rooms in the apartment. Example: three-room flat = four residents.

The tenant may keep pets, apart from small animals (cats, ornamental birds, etc.), only with the landlord’s consent. The consent is to be refused or can be revoked if the animals molest other residents or neighbours, the leased property is significantly damaged or an impairment of the tenants or the property must be feared.

• Do not turn off the heating. Reheating is more expensive than a lowered average temperature.
• Keep interior doors closed between differently heated rooms. Otherwise, moisture from warmer rooms condenses in less heated rooms.
• Ventilate properly. Open the windows completely several times a day (especially in the morning and evening) for five to 15 minutes (intense ventilation). The tilt position is ineffective and wastes heating energy.
• If the bathroom is inside without a window, ventilate via the shortest possible way (via another room e.g.). Keep the other doors closed.
• Try to get water vapour (e.g., due to cooking, showering or ironing) out of the apartment as soon as possible.
• If laundry is dried in the apartment, ventilate the rooms more often.
• Particularly if there are tight insulating glass windows the rooms should also be ventilated more frequently.

Furniture should not be moved too close to critical walls (cold walls). 5-10 cm minimum.

The tenant must register at the registration office with the landlord's confirmation, which he receives from the property management when handing over the apartment. The tenant has a period of two weeks to do so. If this deadline is exceeded, a fine will be due.

The additional costs are billed in the annual utility statement according to consumption, size of the apartment and/or the number of people. This results in either an additional payment or a credit balance for the tenant. Most landlords base their utility bills on a period from January 1st to December 31st each year. The billing period may not exceed 12 months.The landlord has a period of 12 months to prepare the statement and send it to the tenant.

• Costs gutter cleaning, gutter heating
• Costs maintenance smoke / heat extraction systems
• Costs maintenance (including radio maintenance) smoke detector plus rental costs.
• Costs maintenance of fire extinguishers
• Costs maintenance and operation of ventilation systems
• Costs drinking water test for legionella
• Costs cleaning/rinsing drainage pipes
• Costs maintenance/ cleaning of pump system
• Costs Cleaning floor mats, glass roofs, light wells, garbage containers and roller shutters
• Costs maintenance of doors and gates
• Costs maintenance and testing electrical system
• Calibration costs of all measuring instruments
• Costs for fire protection measures, e.g. maintenance of fire doors
• Costs various insurances
• Costs pest control
• Fees under the copyright act
• Costs for the testing of lightning rod systems
• Test costs / maintenance / monitoring of playground
• Costs maintenance of video surveillance
• Costs underground parking (electricity, ventilation, cleaning, garage door, video surveillance)
• Costs maintenance/ testing of barrier system
• Costs common areas according to BetrKV (German regulation on operating costs), as well as cleaning of the rooms
• Costs waste management and herewith related services
• Costs street cleaning
• Costs ongoing public charges concerning the property
• Costs warm water supply
• Costs heating supply
• Costs drainage
• Costs passenger and cargo lifts
• Costs garden maintenance
• Costs lighting
• Costs chimney sweeper
• Costs caretaker
• Costs operation of the community antenna system
• Costs broadband cable network
• Costs laundry facilities

If, after conclusion of the rental agreement or during the tenancy, new ancillary costs arise that were not foreseeable when the lease was concluded, the landlord can pass them on to the tenant. The costs must be reasonable, and the landlord must inform the tenant in writing, stating the reasons. The costs can then be settled with immediate effect during the ongoing calendar year. This also applies to operating costs the legislator decides upon in the future.

The rental deposit amounts to the triple of the monthly rent excluding service charges.

The “gross rent“ or “warm rent” is composed of the so called net rent and the ancillary costs. The cold rent is only intended for using the living spaces. The ancillary costs are again split up into heating and operating costs. Heating costs are costs incurred by heating the apartment. Operating costs are the management costs incurred by the property. The electricity costs must always be paid separately by the tenant "on top". The contract is concluded with the supplier the tenant chooses himself.

The tenant may demand the repayment of the deposit from the landlord at the earliest after termination of the tenancy. After moving out, the landlord has the right to withhold the deposit paid including interest for up to 6 months. This is the so-called review and consideration period to review existing claims incurred by the lease. Upon termination of the contract, the pro rata utility bill will not be delivered before the following year. Therefore, it is possible that a security retention will be deducted from the deposit. This is offset against the result of the final accounting statement.

The rent must be paid monthly in advance, at the latest on the third working day of a month. The timeliness of payment does not depend on the dispatch, but on the receipt of the money.

The electricity costs must always be paid separately by the tenant "on top". The contract is concluded with the supplier the tenant chooses himself.

The statutory notice period of 3 months to the end of the month after next applies. The notice of termination must be submitted in writing until the third working day of each month.

As a rule of thumb, the gross warm rent should not exceed 1/3 of the net income.