Check District Heating for Tenants in Germany

As a tenant in Germany, unexpected high supplementary payments for district heating can strain your household budget. This practical guide explains in clear language how you as a tenant can check your district heating bill, review consumption data and detect errors or incorrect allocations in the operating cost statement. You will learn which deadlines apply, which proofs to collect and how to respond formally to the landlord — from objections to filing a lawsuit at the local court. The text refers to relevant regulations such as the Heating Costs Ordinance and shows practical steps and sample forms so you can review possible claims and enforce your rights as a tenant in Germany. At the end you will find an FAQ, a step-by-step guide for filing objections and information on official forms and legal avenues.

Why check district heating?

District heating is often billed as a flat rate or proportionally by consumption; inaccuracies in meter readings, allocation keys or reading data often lead to excessive additional charges.^[1] As a tenant you should check whether the bill complies with the Heating Costs Ordinance and whether consumption figures are plausible.

Gather important documents

• The landlord's heating bill including allocation key and total costs.
• Reading protocols, meter readings and metering service invoices.
• Proofs of your payments (transfers, direct debits, receipts).
• Lease agreement and any agreements on ancillary/operating costs.

Spotting errors in the bill

Watch for typical mistakes: incorrect or missing meter readings, unclear allocation keys, or items not listed in the BetrKV. Compare current values with previous years and check whether allocations to apartments were calculated correctly.^[2]

Short checklist

• Do meter readings and reading dates match your records?
• Were total costs allocated correctly (consumption share vs. basic costs)?
• Were deadlines and billing periods observed correctly?
• Are there items that do not qualify as allocable operating costs?

How to file formal objections

Write a formal, dated objection to your landlord. Specify the incorrect items and attach copies of your supporting documents. Request a written correction or a comprehensible explanation.

When court action is necessary

If the landlord does not respond to reasonable objections, tenants may file a claim at the local court to review the bill or demand reimbursement. Tenancy claims are based on provisions in the BGB; in disputes the local court decides, with appeals to the regional court or the Federal Court of Justice.^[3]

FAQ

What should I check first on my district heating bill?

Check billing period, meter readings, allocation key and whether all items are allocable. Start with obvious calculation errors.

Which deadlines apply?

Objections should be raised promptly after receipt; legal deadlines may vary. For court actions, the deadlines of the Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO) apply.

Which documents are most important?

Reading protocols, payment receipts and copies of the bill are central. Without evidence, enforcing claims is harder.

How-To

1. Collect all relevant documents: bill, meter readings, reading protocols and payment receipts.
2. Compare totals, allocation keys and your consumption with previous years for plausibility.
3. Draft written objections with evidence and request correction within a reasonable deadline.
4. If the landlord does not respond, consider court options at the local court and seek legal advice if needed.

Help and Support / Resources

• [1] Heating Costs Ordinance (HeizKV) — gesetze-im-internet.de
• [2] Operating Costs Ordinance (BetrKV) — gesetze-im-internet.de
• [3] Federal Court of Justice (BGH) — bundesgerichtshof.de

1. [1] Heizkostenverordnung (HeizKV) — gesetze-im-internet.de
2. [2] Betriebskostenverordnung (BetrKV) — gesetze-im-internet.de
3. [3] Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) §§ 535–580a — gesetze-im-internet.de