Millions of tenants are likely to receive unexpected bills this month as the full costs of heating their properties last year are calculated.
According to a report in Bild, around 900,000 of these additional cost calculations are set to be sent out in the coming days - and many of them will contain nasty shocks for tenant.
In Germany, bills for rental households are calculated at the start of the year based on estimated prices and usage. If usage or prices go down, tenants are given a rebate, but if either of these factors increases against the previous year, households are hit with bills for back payments.
In 2024, services provider Ista tracked a significant rise in energy prices - particularly for households heating with either gas or district heating (known as Fernwärme in German).
Most dramatically, district heating customers face an eye-watering 27 percent surcharge on their energy costs compared to 2023.
For a 70-square-metre home, this means average costs of €1,055 for hot water and heating throughout the year - an increase of €255 compared to the year before. Single households in 50-square-metre flats can expect to owe a back payment of around €160, while families in 120-square-metre flats could see surcharges of around €387.
READ ALSO: How will heating and electricity costs change in Germany next year?
For those with gas heating systems, prices rose less dramatically last year, but these households are still likely to be hit with some bills for back payments.
Price increases of around 7.9 percent mean could mean an extra €53 a year for tenants in 70-square-metre properties, while families in large flats may need to shell out an extra €91.
For those in smaller flats of around 50 square metres, there could be a surcharge of around €38 per year.
Amid the gloom of rising prices, there is some good news for tenants with oil heating systems. This group can even look forward to savings this year - paying an average of 12.4 percent less compared to 2023.
READ ALSO: How German households can save on their electricity bills
For tenants of a 70-square-metre flat, this means a reduction of €127, while those in a 120-square-metre property could save €217.
Singles with oil heating systems could also get an unexpected boost to their bank balance, paying €90 less than in 2023.
The exact cost differences will be based on previous estimates and the terms of the contract tenants have with their landlords. In cases where the difference is dramatic, landlords may also announce an increase or decrease in warm rent for the rest of the year.
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