General

More than half of the property buyers and prospective buyers surveyed (56%) rate the ability to purchase a property as "moderately" to "easily" achievable. This represents an improvement of 9 percentage points compared to the previous year, when fewer respondents felt that real estate prices were affordable. This is the result of a recent study by the Interhyp Group...

Building acceptance is a crucial milestone in any construction project, as it marks the transfer of legal responsibility for the building from the construction company to the client. This moment requires great care, as overlooking defects can have serious financial and legal consequences. It is therefore essential that the client does not carry out the acceptance procedure under pressure and...

Chinese researchers from Wuhan University and Northeastern University in China have developed a new method for recycling end-of-life solar modules. It is a method that is both energy efficient and takes into account the increasing demand for sustainable recycling methods. The innovative process is based on the use of a molten mixture of sodium and sodium carbonate to...

Legal costs incurred in an action for a resolution by a homeowners' association must also be borne proportionately by the victorious plaintiffs. This was decided by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) (V ZR 139/23). The ruling is based on the reformed German Condominium Act of December 2020, which states that all members of a community must contribute to the administrative costs of...

The exterior lighting of a house offers aesthetic and practical benefits. By using recessed or surface-mounted luminaires and wall luminaires, for example, impressive lighting effects can be achieved that emphasize the character of the house. Lighting under a canopy or roof overhang provides ideal orientation light, making the surroundings safer and more secure.

In most German regions, new-build apartments are significantly more expensive than existing properties - according to the "Postbank Housing Atlas 2024". The study by the Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI) shows that the price differences are particularly pronounced in the Bavarian districts of Miesbach and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, with a calculated price difference of 382,474 euros and 340,000 euros respectively.

From the end of August, it will be possible for commercial homeowners to apply for state subsidies for heating renovations. Applications for funding can be submitted until November 30, 2024 for heating renovations that have already been commissioned since the end of December 2023. Applications for funding can be submitted via the "My KfW" customer portal. The so-called...

The energy efficiency class of a building is decisive for its energy consumption and therefore influences both the environmental impact and the running costs. These classes range from A+ for very efficient buildings to H for the most energy-intensive. Classes A+ to B indicate new buildings with high standards such as passive houses. They are shown in green in the energy certificate, which indicates their...

The city of Lübeck has fought against the unauthorized use of residential space for tourist purposes - especially in the old town - but without success. Instead, the Schleswig-Holstein Administrative Court ruled in favor of the landlords (A 158/20). The decision took into account the so-called grandfathering, under which the use as a vacation apartment was legal at the time it was...

Small bathrooms appear larger and more inviting with the right design strategies. One key approach is to maximize natural light. To do this, anything that could block the window, such as a dark sunshade or large plants, should be removed. Bright, reflective surfaces such as mirrors and chrome fittings, on the other hand, help to distribute the light in the room and thus make the bathroom...