Tenants Check District Heating Bills in Germany

Many tenants in Germany face the question of whether their district heating bill is correct and whether they are entitled to a refund. This guide explains step by step how you as a tenant can check consumption values, billing items and the application of the Heating Costs Ordinance. It shows which documents are important, how to check meter readings and which deadlines apply when demanding additional payments or refunds. The information is easy to understand and cites relevant legal bases such as the BGB^[1] and the Heating Costs Ordinance^[2], so that you can better assess your rights in the tenancy and, if necessary, prepare evidence for a housing claim or a request to the local court^[3]. Act early.

What to check

Before making claims, collect and check the most important documents. Focus on consumption, allocation keys and meter readings.

• Collect documents (documents): Tenancy agreement, last heating bill, reading records and annual statements.
• Check meter readings (evidence): Your own reading logs, photos of the meters, comparison values from previous years.
• Check billing items (rent|payment): Advance payments, prepayment calculations and allocation keys for housing units.
• Document correspondence (notice|form): Reminders, emails and all messages regarding heating costs.

How to verify consumption values

Compare the billed consumption values with your recorded meter readings. Watch for plausibility: large deviations from previous years or comparable apartments indicate errors. Request the calculation method and reading proofs from the landlord in writing.

• Create a comparison (records): Annual values for the last three years and your current meter reading.
• Check technical plausibility (repair|heating): Were there malfunctions, maintenance works or other outages that could affect consumption?
• Write to the landlord (notice): Request documents and an explanation of the cost distribution.

Forms and templates

There is no uniform statutory template for refund requests, but for court steps you may need complaint forms from the competent local court or information on procedural processes. Request a written bill and set a deadline for explanation or correction (e.g. 14 days).

• Complaint form / guidance (form): Information and forms are available at the competent local court or on the justice portals of the federal states.
• Set a deadline (deadline|within): Give the landlord a clear deadline for correction or repayment.

If the landlord does not respond

If there is no response or the landlord disputes the claim, check your legal options: rent reduction, formal payment request or as a last step a claim at the local court. Professional advice (e.g. tenant association or lawyer) can be useful if amounts are high or the situation is technically complex.

FAQ

How do I recognize an incorrect district heating bill?

Compare meter readings, check allocation keys and request proof of reading times from the landlord.

Which deadlines matter?

Replies and objections should be made promptly; set a written deadline (often 14 days) and respond before payment deadlines expire.

When should I go to the local court?

If the landlord does not respond or an agreement is not possible, a payment claim at the competent local court may be appropriate.

How-To

1. Collect documents: tenancy agreement, recent bills, reading records and meter photos (documents).
2. Check and document meter readings: create a comparison with previous years (records).
3. Write to the landlord: request explanation and correction within a set deadline (notice).
4. Monitor the deadline: note deadlines and act before payment dates expire (deadline).
5. If disputed: file a claim at the competent local court (court).

Help and Support

• Local court (court): jurisdiction for civil tenancy disputes and filing claims.
• Gesetze im Internet (documents): access to BGB and the Heating Costs Ordinance as official legal sources.
• Federal Court of Justice (court): case law and precedents on tenancy issues.

1. [1] Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) — Gesetze im Internet
2. [2] Heizkostenverordnung (HeizKV) — Gesetze im Internet
3. [3] Informationen zu Amtsgerichten und Verfahren — justiz.de