High additional payments on heating costs are likely to become a major burden for tenants.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin According to estimates by the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZBV), tenants and homeowners are threatened with significant additional payments in view of the sharp rise in energy prices. “The increase in heating costs, especially for natural gas, is dramatic and there is no end in sight,” said Thomas Engelke, head of the energy and construction team at VZBV, the Handelsblatt.
“High additional payments this year or next will be a major burden for private households.” Engelke assumes that households with low incomes will no longer be able to shoulder the additional costs.
Last Wednesday, the federal cabinet decided on a second relief package for citizens. Among other things, the energy tax on fuel is to be reduced for a limited period of three months. Employed persons who are subject to income tax are to receive a one-time lump sum of 300 euros gross to compensate for the high energy costs.
Meanwhile, consumer advocate Engelke is convinced that even the federal government’s second relief package is not enough for the group of low-income earners. In addition, the flat-rate energy price would not reach pensioners and mini-jobbers, for example. “This needs to be improved,” demanded the VZBV expert.
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Engelke warned that the federal government must increase subsidies for low-income households and quickly introduce energy allowances for all households. In addition, energy cuts would have to be suspended “so that households are not cut off from the energy supply in the event of insolvency”.
Landlords want higher ancillary cost deductions
Further state aid may soon be necessary. According to the German Tenants’ Association, the first landlords are already urging higher monthly advance payments in the current accounting year in order to be able to pay oil, gas and district heating bills. The desire for higher discounts is being asked more and more often by tenants.
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The Haus und Grund owners’ association registers 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.”
The extent to which higher advance payments have already been agreed is unclear. “The request is at least increasingly being made to the tenants,” explained tenants’ association spokeswoman Jutta Hartmann. So far we have no knowledge of major conflicts.
At the same time, Hartmann emphasized that landlords had no right to demand higher advance payments “during the year”. “The landlord only has a claim to the payment of increased ancillary cost advance payments after accounting,” she said. Anyone who can should put money aside so that they can also pay.
For all others, state support is necessary for the duration of the energy crisis, the tenants’ association demanded. A moratorium on layoffs is also required. 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.
More: Up to 890 euros less taxes: That’s how much savings the federal government’s relief packages bring