The German government has launched a groundbreaking law for the building sector: the cabinet approved the new building type E, which will be established as the standard for climate-friendly construction. This decision marks an important step towards greater sustainability and energy efficiency in the construction sector and is intended to pave the way for Germany’s…
Fortis Gebäudeservice Leipzig GmbH is entering a new era: with its full integration into the FOCUS Group, the company will in future operate under the name FOCUS Gebäudeservice GmbH. In addition to the name change and the affiliation to the FOCUS Group, there is another important change: Mr. Benjamin Bannas takes over the management of…
The dream of owning a home is an important life goal for many, but financing it is often a challenge. How much you have to earn gross to be able to afford a property depends on several factors: the property price, the amount of equity, the financing costs (such as interest rate and repayment) and…
In Germany, housing is becoming more expensive for many people, and this is by no means only due to rising rents. A major cost factor for tenants are the so-called ancillary costs or “second rent”, which are rising continuously and now have a significant impact on the monthly burden for many households. But why are…
The business community is concerned about GDPR 2.0 and the NIS 2 Directive because both regulations bring additional requirements and challenges that may lead to significant adjustments. These new regulations aim to strengthen data protection and cybersecurity, but they create new responsibilities, costs and risks for companies. In detail: 1 GDPR 2.0 The GDPR (General…
With the passing of the Bureaucracy Relief Act IV (BEG IV) in the Bundestag, far-reaching changes are imminent for commercial leases. These reforms relate in particular to the formal requirements for rental agreements and aim to relieve companies of unnecessary bureaucracy. The decisive innovation: in future, text form will be sufficient for commercial leases –…
From 2025, new regulations on the depreciation of real estate are expected to come into force, affecting both property owners and investors. Depreciation for wear and tear (AfA) plays a central role in real estate taxation, as it enables the gradual deduction of the acquisition and production costs of a property over its useful life….
Yes, tenants can deduct household-related services for tax purposes, even if they do not own the apartment. This applies to certain services that are related to the home or building and are provided by third parties. Here are the most important points: 1 What are household-related services? Household-related services are work that could normally be…
Whether tenants are obliged to paint the apartment depends on the agreements in the rental contract and the legal situation. Here are the most important points: 1. cosmetic repairs in the rental agreement Landlords usually try to transfer the obligation to carry out cosmetic repairs (e.g. painting walls, doors or window frames) to the tenants…
Yes, as a landlord you can increase the rent, but there are strict legal requirements that you must observe. Tenant protection is very strong in Germany, which is why you are only allowed to increase the rent under certain conditions and within a regulated framework. Here are the most important points: 1. rent increase up…
A tenant self-disclosure is a document that potential tenants must fill out to provide the landlord or property management company with information about themselves and their financial situation. This information is an important part of the rental process as it helps the landlord to check the creditworthiness and suitability of the tenant. Here are the…
Yes, as a tenant you can reject a rent increase, but there are some important points you should bear in mind. Refusing a rent increase can have different consequences, depending on whether the rent increase is legal or not. Here are the key aspects: 1. check the legality of the rent increase Before you reject…
As a landlord, you cannot simply terminate a tenant’s tenancy without further ado. German tenancy law protects tenants to a high degree and there are strict rules on when and how a landlord can terminate a tenancy. Here are the most important points: 1. reasons for termination Ordinary termination is only possible if there is…
From 2025, an important legal change will come into force in Germany that will affect many homeowners: certain fireplaces and stoves may no longer be operated from this date if they do not comply with current emissions regulations. Anyone who owns an older fireplace or stove should take action to avoid fines and possible restrictions…
Selling a property can be very complex without the support of an experienced real estate agent. But how do owners find the agent who is the best fit for them and achieves the best result for the seller? There are clear criteria that sellers can use to recognize a competent estate agent. To avoid mistakes…