2020

According to the study "The East German Housing Market after Reunification" by the German Institute for Economic Research, rents in eastern Germany have converged with those in western Germany over the past 30 years. Thus, a high increase in rental costs can be observed in eastern German cities. According to survey results, despite the rising gross cold rent, tenants are more...

Many home buyers decide to work with a developer. The advantage for buyers here is that both the construction work and the completion of the house as well as the rights to the land come from a single source via the developer. The developers must make advance payments for the construction work as well as for the acquisition of the developer's land. To realize this, take...

The study "Working after Corona - Why home office is good for the climate" commissioned by Greenpeace shows how many CO2 emissions could be saved if the trend of home office continues after the Corona pandemic. The sudden development in the field of mobile working and digitalization has shown the impact that flexible working structures have on the environment....

In 2016, a prospective buyer purchased an apartment building. Only after the purchase of the apartment building did the new owner discover the defect in the house. Specifically, it was a matter of lead pipes still being installed in the house, which was built in 1955. The new owner had the old lead pipes replaced and demanded that the previous owner pay the costs of approximately...

Anyone who wants to stay in their own home in old age will sooner or later have to deal with the issue of barrier-free living. Especially in houses with several floors, a solution for climbing stairs must be found. In addition to classic stair lifts or platform lifts, owners also have the option of installing a home lift inside the house or on the outside facade. What...

The study "Ground Floors 4.0 - Current Approaches for Project Developers and Urban Planners" by the independent analysis company bulwiengesa examines the difficulties and challenges in the use of first floors in urban neighborhoods. Thus, the leasing of first floors is not only affected by the impact of the Corona pandemic and the developments in the field of online retail...

Homeowners are responsible for ensuring safety in their own homes and are subject to the so-called duty of care. If, for example, there is damage to the house that poses a danger to others, this must be repaired by the homeowner. However, not only the property, but also the land must be free from sources of danger and is subject to the...

It is never too late to replace an old oil heating system with a modern and energy-saving heating system. The Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) and the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) share this view. That's why they offer attractive grants and loans to interested parties when it comes to energy-efficient renovation. While the BAFA subsidy in the...

The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled in a judgment (AZ VIII ZR 35/19) that purchasers of a house can already assert a notice of own need against their tenants after two years. According to Section 577 a (1) of the German Civil Code (BGB), the purchasers do not have to observe the three-year notice period if persons from the same family declare their own needs. This also applies if...

Many homeowners dream of their own winter garden, where they can enjoy a view of nature even on cold autumn and winter days. Thus, especially the large window fronts and the method of construction play an important role. Because who is the proud owner of a winter garden, would like to spend as much time as possible in it and make it particularly comfortable. Structurally, the...