General

Urban development funding can have a remarkable leverage effect: One million euros in funding triggers investments of around 6.9 million euros. These figures emerge from a study commissioned by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development. The study also shows that the funding not only boosts local and regional...

In the fall and at other times of the year, it is particularly important to check roof tiles for displacement or damage after storms, heavy or continuous rain. The Association of Private Building Owners (VPB) points this out. Dipl.-Ing. Marc Ellinger from VPB recommends that not only roof tiles, but also gutters and downpipes should be regularly inspected and maintained in order to prevent façade damage caused by...

The Association of Private Building Owners (VPB) recommends that property owners have their heating system serviced in good time before the cold season begins. According to the Building Energy Act, regular maintenance is mandatory. However, how often this must be carried out remains undefined. Annual heating maintenance is nevertheless advisable. This is because it is not only important for the energy efficiency of the system, but...

The Cologne Fiscal Court recently rejected a test case against the new property tax assessment according to the federal model. In this case, the focus was on a condominium whose property tax value had been determined on the basis of a standard land value of EUR 2,280. The plaintiffs argued that the new valuation according to the federal model was unconstitutional, as it led to a significant increase in...

When planning a home, the integration of a study is a sensible consideration, not only because of the increasing trend towards home offices, but also because of the potential tax benefits. A well-designed study increases the functionality of the home and can help to increase its value in the long term. In view of the digital working world, a room like this can be used in a variety of ways and...

Heat pumps and photovoltaic systems (PV) can significantly increase the value of a property. This is the result of a study by an online platform for residential and commercial real estate. According to the study, buildings with installed heat pumps experience an increase in value of 43 percent. The integration of PV systems can increase the value of a property by up to 20 percent. Both technologies are particularly...

Retrofitting a balcony offers the opportunity to extend the living space and increase the value of the property. Existing buildings in particular can be fitted with different balcony systems such as front balconies, attached balconies or cantilevered balconies. However, the construction measures require careful planning in terms of statics to ensure that the structure of the building...

A guest WC should be both functional and inviting. A well thought-out design ensures comfort and makes the guest WC an attractive part of the home. Important aspects include the clever placement of elements such as the washbasin and toilet, sufficient lighting and space-saving solutions. These are necessary because the average size of a guest WC in Germany is...

If an owner builds a pool on his property and the leaves of 90-year-old oak trees fall into it from the neighboring property, he cannot demand cost sharing from the neighbor due to the increased cleaning effort. This was decided by the Frankfurt am Main Higher Regional Court (AZ: 19 U 67/23). In the case at hand, the plaintiff had purchased her property in 2016, built an unroofed...

Intelligent and ergonomic solutions that not only make cooking and living more pleasant, but also more efficient, are becoming increasingly important in modern kitchens. Volker Irle, Managing Director of the "Die Moderne Küche" working group, emphasizes that current innovations in the specialist furniture trade are aimed at making kitchen and living areas more...