Status: 05/02/2022 09:37 a.m
Landlords are increasingly pushing for higher ancillary cost prepayments due to rising energy prices. The tenants’ association is calling for a moratorium to rule out terminations due to late payments of sharply increased heating costs.
The sharp rise in energy prices is a source of discussion between tenants and landlords. In order to be able to pay oil, gas and district heating bills, the first landlords are already pushing for higher monthly advance payments in the current accounting year, according to the German Tenants’ Association (DMB). The desire for higher discounts is being asked more and more often by tenants.
The owners’ association Haus und Grund registered in its consultations that the high costs are a concern for landlords: “In our associations, too, there are more and more inquiries about rising energy prices – for example about the question of when advance payments can be adjusted.”
“Who can, should withhold money”
The extent to which higher advance payments have already been agreed is unclear. “The request is at least increasingly being approached by the tenants,” explained tenants’ association spokeswoman Jutta Hartmann. So far we have no knowledge of major conflicts.
Hartmann emphasized: “Landlords are not entitled to demand higher advance payments during the year. The landlord is only entitled to the payment of increased advance payments for ancillary costs after the statement has been submitted.” But the expert advises due to the current situation: If you can, you should put money aside so that you can also pay.
DMB demands termination moratorium
“For everyone else, we need state support for the duration of the energy crisis,” the tenants’ association demanded. A moratorium on layoffs is also necessary. It should ensure that nobody who cannot pay their utility bills on time due to sharply increased heating costs may be terminated. Rental households should be given at least six months to settle their debts. Actually it’s 30 days.
A few weeks ago, consumer advocates warned that the real “hammer price” in terms of ancillary costs would not reach households until next year. Energy expert Udo Sieverding from the North Rhine-Westphalia consumer advice center told the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (NOZ) that many price increases last year were comparatively moderate. The big turnaround in electricity and gas prices happened at the turn of the year. This means that for many households it will only become expensive when the bills are paid next year.
Government intervention not required?
The landlords do not want to be responsible for the tenant’s consumption-related costs, as is the case with house and land. “From our point of view, there should not be a moratorium on dismissals,” said the association’s managing director, Alexander Wiech. “First of all, however, tenants and landlords should seek talks in order to come to a solution – especially about higher advance payments.”
The first corona lockdown showed that solutions are possible between both sides without state intervention. Back then, more people were unemployed and hundreds of thousands switched to short-time work. According to the landlord, the rents continued to be paid reliably.