2023

Lockdown: No right to compensation for hairdressers

Hairdressers that were closed during the first lockdown in spring 2020 are not entitled to compensation for loss of income. This was recently decided by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) (III ZR 41/22). In this case, a self-employed hairdresser had filed a lawsuit. She claimed compensation for the six-week closure of her business as part of the fight against the pandemic...

Parquet: industry struggles with declining sales

The German parquet industry is facing new challenges, also with regard to international trade. According to the Association of the German Parquet Industry (vdp), the turnover of member companies in Germany rose by 6 percent to 274.4 million euros in 2022, partly due to price increases in the supply chain. However, parquet sales fell by 11.7 percent to 7.7 million...

Residential real estate: Investors plan to increase

The expectations of real estate investors with regard to European residential real estate are high. A study by Savills and Savills IM shows that 42.6 percent of respondents expect a significant increase in the proportion of residential real estate in their portfolio by 2025. The study is based on the responses of around 70 investors who together manage more than one trillion euros. Currently...

Construction industry: more apartments completed in 2022 than in the previous year

In 2022, 1,900 more apartments were completed in Germany than in 2021 (+0.6%). According to the Federal Statistical Office, 295,300 new apartments were built. However, the 2020 level of 306,400 apartments was not reached. Of the completed apartments, 258,800 were new-build apartments in residential buildings. The differences in construction output varied depending on the type of...

Wind energy: turbines from the 3D printer

Quarter-axis wind turbines produced using a 3D printer are set to serve as a sustainable energy source for schools in the future. The Constructor University in Bremen-Nord is currently working on a corresponding research project together with the district of Friesland. The quarter-axis wind turbines are being produced using an industrial Delta 3D printer at the university. Afterwards...

Verdict: Extraordinary termination justified

A landlord may give extraordinary notice of termination to the partner of an original tenant if he conceals her death. This was decided by the Munich Local Court (AZ: 417 C 9024/22). In this case, the local court ordered an eviction period of several months and obliged the partner (defendant) to return the apartment. In 1975, the original tenant had...

Trend: Starry skies in the living room

According to the brigitte.de portal, the childhood dream of having your own starry sky in your room can be extended to an unexpected area - the living room. Modern projectors enable a magical play of light that satisfies the longing for the sky within our own four walls. Projectors are now so advanced that they can project the sky at the touch of a button....

Rents: Two-room apartments in demand

Two rooms, 63 square meters, 592 euros per month: according to immobilienscout24.de, this is currently the most popular apartment among Germans. However, the apartments available on the market are often larger and more expensive, which does not meet the needs of many prospective tenants. In cities such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne and Freiburg im Breisgau, competition for rental apartments is...

Biodiversity: knowledge-based action required

The Berlin Botanic Garden warns against blind actionism in species conservation. Thomas Borsch, Director of the Botanical Garden, emphasizes the need for sound knowledge about biodiversity and species protection. He argues that well-intentioned but uninformed actions such as the indiscriminate sowing of seeds can even do harm. The conservation of a species is more complex than generally assumed. The...

Amendment to the law: digital electricity meters across the board

An amendment to the law can significantly accelerate the spread of digital electricity meters - known as smart meters - in Germany. These advanced metering systems are to be used across the board in households and businesses by 2032. The law ensures legal certainty for the rapid installation of smart meters, responds to criticism from the Federal Council and...

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