June 2021

Sound insulation: minimum requirements and guidelines

When it comes to protecting a building from sound, the regulations from the state building ordinances must be observed in Germany. These describe the technical standards and minimum sound insulation that buildings must have. Noise emanating from buildings must be contained in such a way that it does not constitute an unacceptable nuisance or cause other disturbances.

Test: LED lamps

In order to find the right lighting for different occasions and to achieve low energy consumption, Stiftung Warentest has tested LED lamps. Modern energy-saving lamps are characterized by a good eco-balance and have a long service life. On the Stiftung Warentest website, consumers can also find helpful information about the different models and...

Judgment: Claim for damages after termination of the rental relationship

In 2006, a commercial hall was handed over to a tenant. She planned to use the hall as a workshop for the manufacture of plastic products and as a warehouse. With the conclusion of the lease agreement, a monthly rent of 100 euros plus statutory value added tax was agreed. In addition, a transfer of use was agreed. The tenant was to carry out conversion work to the value of approx...

Style of living: Maritime home

If you want to bring a touch of vacation home, you can furnish and decorate your living room or even your whole apartment in a maritime style. The dominant colors in this interior style are blue and red and a lot of white. Shades like water blue, cloudy white and sand and wood colors reflect the natural environment and bring the feeling of nature right into your home. Also copper, gold,...

Living in old age: What to do with too much living space?

Once the children have moved out of the house, parents often have more living space available than they actually need. According to the LBS Bausparkasse information service and figures from the TNS Trend Indicator 2020, around 81 percent of property owners in Germany nevertheless wish to remain in their property in old age. On the LBS website, interested parties can find...

Advantages of a prefabricated basement

Anyone building a house is faced with the decision of whether the house should have a basement or just a floor slab. Even though a house with a basement is more cost-intensive than a house without a basement, builders should consider other aspects. Above all on small properties a basement offers additional living space, which cannot be built afterwards. Likewise, a...

Recycling of construction waste to obtain building materials

In May 2021, the German cabinet agreed on a nationwide regulation for the handling of mineral construction and demolition waste in a jacket ordinance. To ensure that construction waste can be better recycled in the future, the same rules and standards are to apply throughout Germany. Until now, each federal state had its own regulation on how construction waste is recycled and freed from pollutants. In addition, the...

Ruling: Completeness clause in rental agreement allows counter-evidence

In a commercial lease of business premises used as a day care facility, the completeness clause "Oral ancillary agreements do not exist" was agreed under §14 Miscellaneous. This completeness clause is the point of dispute in court proceedings between the defendant tenant of the business premises and the landlord (AZ XII ZR 92/19). Between April 2016 and...

Tip: How to set up your reading corner

A reading corner is not only an ideal retreat when it's uncomfortable outside and you spend a lot of time indoors anyway, in a reading corner you can also make yourself comfortable outside. After all, what's wrong with setting up a cozy corner for reading and relaxing on your balcony or patio, too? An outdoor armchair or outdoor sofa will give the outdoor area the same...

Study: New hotel construction in Germany

The real estate project developer Benchmark Real Estate has published the study "Hotel New Construction in Germany" in cooperation with the analysis company Bulwiengesa. Based on the impact on the hotel real estate industry caused by the Corona pandemic, the experts examine, among other things, developments in the city and vacation hotel sector, the construction of serviced apartments, the...

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