Here is the list of so-called "Nebenkosten" or "Umlagen" when renting in Germany on the basis of "Kaltmiete+Nebenkosten" (cold rent plus utilities).

1. Water consumption

2a. Drainage channel

2b. Surface drainage – sewerage system

3. Lighting, general electricity (if not included in the costs for heating)

4. Refuse disposal

5. The current public burdens of the property (i. a. property tax)

6. Street cleaning

7. Chimney-sweeper (if not included in the costs for heating)

8. Asset and third-party insurance

9. Housekeeper

10. Care of the garden

11. Shovelling of snow and salting in case of black ice

12. Passenger and goods elevator

13. Common antenna or broad spectrum cable connection

14. Washing machine

15. House cleaning and vernim control

16. Maintenance costs for fire extinguishers, protection facilities for tanks and leaks, lightning protection, gutter cleaning

17. Sidewalk cleaning

18. Heating 

19. Hot-water

20. Cleaning and maintenance of hot-water installations, heating on the floor and individual heaters

21. Checking and maintenance of the gas and electrical installations, smoke detectors as soon as domestic technical systems

Other utilities can be agreed upon but they must be within the regulations of the law. The law reference is "II. BVO" (Zweite Berechnungsverordnung).

Exceptions can be that #18 and #19 are not included. In that case the tenant must pay for these directly to the provider.

Electricity for own consumption is almost never included and has to be paid directly to the provider.

Same for Internet, phone and sometimes also cable TV. In some cases Cable TV is only included with the monthly basic fee, and the individual prisma of channels has to be paid directly to the provider.

Back to Article How to rent in Germany part 2

or send you questions or feedback to Article by using below form

 

Send us a feedback to the article

The information you send us via this form is 100% encrypted using modern encryption standards.