Always check billing: Your administration should not pass on these additional costs to you.

Additional costs allowed

• Heating costs and hot water
• water and wastewater
• Service subscriptions for heating, elevators or other appliances
• rubbish
• Janitor (wage, general cleaning, environmental work)
• stair cleaning
• general electricity
• Washing machine (power and water consumption only)
• TV or cable connection fees
• Winter services such as snow removal
• Administrative costs related to additional costs

Unacceptable additional costs

• Heating, elevator, washing machine or repairs to the building
• Spare parts of machines
• Investments or payments into the renewal fund
• Conversions, renovations
• New plantings or redesigns in the garden
• property taxes
• Building insurance premiums
• Public sector charges not directly related to consumption and operation (e.g. road development)

Owners or managements are only allowed to bill expenses if these items are clearly listed in the lease. In general formulations such as “other operating costs” tenants are not required to cover them. Basic charges for water, for example, are controversial here. If these are not included in the lease, the courts have repeatedly ruled that giving them to tenants is unacceptable.

Additional costs of vacant flats should not be passed on to tenants. Homeowners are allowed to claim additional costs retroactively for up to five years.

access to evidence

You can request to see receipts to check for additional costs. If billing is incorrect, ask for a discount. If the landlord does not respond, the tenants’ association will advise or the arbitration authority will assist.