The German Tenants’ Association warns against rising rents when replacing a heating system and calls for greater protection for tenants. “They run the risk of losing,” Melanie Weber-Moritz, federal director of the Union of German Tenants, criticizes the bill. “The document does not sufficiently protect the tenants and does not speak of their social support.”
According to the Tenants’ Association, the bill does not protect tenants from higher rents due to a replacement heating system, or high heating costs after switching to renewable energy. Although in the second case, heating costs should have decreased after reconstruction.
According to federal government plans, from 2024 every newly installed heating system (if possible) must run on 65% renewable energy sources, which will mark the beginning of the end for gas and oil heating. Existing heating systems will continue to operate and faulty equipment will need to be repaired. Boilers can only run on fossil fuels until the end of 2044.
Without taking into account the increase in heating costs
The German tenants’ association supports the goal of legalizing 65% renewable energy in new heating installations from 2024. But only if, at the same time, the social equality of all tenants is guaranteed in a way legally binding. Mandatory requirements for the replacement of heating systems will have to take into account the future heating costs of residents.
Currently, around 80% of all apartments are heated with oil and gas, so that a significant proportion of households are affected by the provisions of the Energy in Buildings Act.
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