Vonovia reserves the right to terminate tenants during the energy crisis

thermostat of a heater

Due to rising energy prices, utility bills for tenants are expected to skyrocket.

(Photo: dpa)

Frankfurt Many tenants in Germany are burdened by sharply rising electricity and heating costs. The SPD sees an urgent need for action. But the largest housing group Vonovia is open to terminating tenants in the event of drastic payment arrears. “Last resort: sending out the eviction notice,” says documents for an investor day that Vonovia presented on Tuesday. In the event of a delay in payment, the Dax 40 group proceeds according to a stage model. If the sum owed by the tenant corresponds to two months’ rent, the contract could be terminated.

Millions of tenants of the Bochum-based company, the largest private landlord in Germany, cannot feel safe in winter when they can no longer pay their bills. However, the group emphasizes that termination is only the last resort.

Before that, the company will contact affected tenants to find out the reasons for non-payment. If the tenant can get help from the state, Vonovia will inform him how he can get it so that he can pay.

If the tenant still fails to meet his obligations despite an offer of individual solutions from Vonovia, the Group will send him a formal payment request. If the arrears added up to the value of two months’ rent, the last step would be an eviction action. After that, the affected apartment can be rented again.

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More tenant protection called for

The SPD insists on more tenant protection for this winter. A few days ago, the legal policy spokeswoman for the SPD parliamentary group, Sonja Eichwede, spoke out in favor of reducing the burden on tenants and preventing terminations due to payment arrears.

Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD) also wants to better protect tenants from terminating their contracts due to arrears in view of the rapidly increasing electricity and heating costs. “In the case of ordinary terminations due to rent arrears, we need the possibility that the amount due can be paid by the move-out date in order to cancel the termination,” Geywitz recently demanded. So far, the grace period has only applied to terminations without notice.

Parts of the housing industry have already signaled concessions in terms of protection against dismissal. “As in the course of the corona pandemic, the socially oriented housing companies will not terminate their contracts due to late payment of utility bills during the energy crisis,” Axel Gedaschko, President of the Federal Association of German Housing and Real Estate Companies (GdW), recently said.

Nobody should lose their apartment because of crisis-related payment problems. Installment payments should be arranged in consultation with the tenants. However, Gedaschko also emphasized that the consequences of the energy crisis could not be solved by means of tenancy law. The government should introduce a gas price cap.

More: Heating with gas: What additional costs consumers have to be prepared for.

source site-11