June 2022

In Germany, it was cheaper to buy a home than to rent in 2021. This is according to the Accentro Housing Cost Report 2022. Compared to 2020, the cost advantage of owning a condominium over a comparable rental apartment has increased by around three percent, according to Accentro. In almost all (399/401) of the German districts and independent cities surveyed, owners had to...

According to the "ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research", the shortage of materials on construction sites has reached its highest level since 1991. In May, 56.6 percent of companies in the building construction sector complained about material shortages, while 44.8 percent of companies in the civil engineering sector did so. The shortage of materials is due in particular to the war in Ukraine. Companies are currently particularly short of...

In a four-part series, the energy advice service of the consumer advice center informs private individuals about how they can save energy. In Part 1, consumers learn how they can "optimize heating". Part 2 deals with how energy can be saved through "Cost-effective measures that you can do yourself". In Part 3, private individuals learn more about how to "Save hot water"...

Are property owners entitled to Harzt IV benefits? This depends on the size of the property and the number of residents, as the Federal Constitutional Court (BVerfG) has now ruled (1 BvL 12/20). This is because "funds of the general public that are intended to help its needy members can only be used in cases of actual need", according to the...

During a virtual tour, visitors will gain insights into the architecture of the Center for Virtual Engineering ZVE of the Fraunhofer IAO in Stuttgart at Nobelstraße 12. During the tour on Friday, October 21, 10.30 a.m. to 12 noon, they will learn more about the ergonomic and energy considerations on which the building is based, among other things. The tour will also shed light on how...

Cushman & Walkfield's Life Science Report deals with the current situation of so-called life science properties, which combine production, laboratory and office space. According to Cushman & Walkfield, yields of between 4 and 4.5 percent can be achieved on life science properties with office space, while the figure for traditional office properties is 2.5 to 2.8 percent.

Building owners who value sustainability should look for test certificates for building materials. The Association of Private Builders (VPB) advises this. Certified recycled concrete, for example, can effectively reduce gravel extraction and carbon dioxide emissions. According to the VPB, builders can also contribute to sustainability if they ensure that as few different and good materials as possible are used.

Owners who buy or inherit a detached or semi-detached house must implement energy standards. The energy advice service of the consumer advice center points this out. The requirements that apply to residential buildings with regard to energy efficiency are regulated in the Building Energy Act (GEG). According to energy advice, the property must meet the requirements of the GEG within two years. So...

Building owners are not obliged to provide building contractors with so-called building contractor insurance. This was recently decided by the Higher Regional Court (OLG) Zweibrücken (Ref. 2 O 315/19). In the case in question, a dispute arose between a married couple of builders and a trades company regarding the quality of the construction services provided. The client couple refused...

How can tenants improve their home? What measures can they carry out on their own? When do they need the landlord's consent? The portal "schoener-wohnen.de" looks into these questions. The most important thing to know first: As a rule, tenants are allowed to make superficial changes that can be reversed. However, if the building fabric of the apartment is...