What are Nebenkosten?
Nebenkosten are shared building costs, for example:
Heating (if central)
Hot and cold water
Garbage collection
Building cleaning and maintenance
Gardening, snow removal
Building insurance
Lighting in common areas
Building caretaker (Hausmeister)
They do not always include:
Electricity in your flat
Internet and phone
TV licence (Rundfunkbeitrag)
Advance payments and annual statement
You pay a monthly advance based on estimated costs. Once a year, you receive a Nebenkostenabrechnung (service charge statement) that shows:
Actual costs for the building
Your share based on flat size, consumption, or other rules
Whether you get money back or need to pay extra
Always read this statement carefully and compare it to previous years.
Reasonable levels of Nebenkosten
The exact level depends on:
Size of the building
Type of heating
Condition and insulation of the building
Services included (elevator, caretaker, etc.)
Compare Nebenkosten between different listings and watch out for extremely high numbers without explanation.
What if you disagree?
If you believe your statement is wrong:
Check the calculation and the list of included services
Ask your landlord to show the underlying invoices if necessary
Seek advice from a tenants’ association if you’re unsure
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