General

Residential properties with an inefficient energy balance are becoming increasingly unattractive on the market and are recording rising price discounts. This is according to an analysis by JLL for the first quarter of 2023. The asking prices for apartment buildings in the worst energy classes G and H are on average around 28% lower than those in the best energy classes (A/A+)....

The legal implications of building acceptance should not be underestimated by builders. The Bauherren-Schutzbund points this out in an article. This is a decisive milestone in the construction process. The client confirms that the work is essentially complete and free of defects. This confirmation marks the end of the contract fulfillment stage and...

Together with partners, the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA has developed a bivalent furnace that can switch flexibly between electricity and gas, thereby reducing energy costs in the production of cast parts. The innovative approach is designed to enable companies to react to fluctuations in electricity prices and manage their energy supply more efficiently.

Certainly, you can also sell your property privately - but for that you usually pay a high price. Rely on the experience and value-added commitment of a real estate agent to ensure that the property transfer meets your expectations - and that the buyers are satisfied, too. There are good reasons to hire a real estate agent. There are numerous aspects that you...

An "outer area island", which is part of the settlement area, may be included in an inner development plan in accordance with Section 13a BauGB. This applies to undeveloped open spaces within a local area that were previously used as green spaces. This was decided by the Federal Administrative Court (BVerwG) (AZ: BVerwG 4 CN 5.21). In the present case, the applicant was the owner of...

For many employees, working from home has become an integral part of everyday working life. The challenge often lies in creating a quiet and ergonomic workplace within their own four walls. The German kitchen industry offers numerous solutions for creating a home office in the kitchen, for example. Special tall units, for example, are illuminated,...

According to the "Living in Germany 2023" study by the Sparda banks, the desire for home ownership is strong in Germany. For example, 74% of residents would like to own their own home. However, the home ownership rate has been below 50 percent for a decade, putting it at the bottom of the European league. More complex market conditions, rising construction costs and interest rates have led to increased uncertainty...

Innovative online kitchen planners offer consumers a quick and realistic way to visualize their dream kitchen and have long since replaced hand-drawn sketches. "Buying a new fitted kitchen must have been a matter of absolute trust in the past," says Volker Irle, Managing Director of AMK - Arbeitsgemeinschaft Die Moderne Küche. Whereas in the past...

If it is too hot in the apartment or house in summer, classic heat protection strategies can be used to cool it down, according to energy advice from the consumer advice center. These heat protection strategies include ventilation at night, the use of natural shade and the use of external heat protection on windows, such as blinds or shutters. Air conditioning and fans...

The Hanau District Court recently emphasized the indivisible unity of apartment and garage when renting a property at the same time. Despite two separately signed contracts, the court ruled that a separate termination of the garage lease by the landlord is not permissible. In the case in question, a landlady had signed an apartment rental agreement and a garage rental agreement with...