General

In Germany, the proportion of people living alone is significantly higher than in many other European countries. In 2023, 20.3% of the German population lived in single-person households. This is well above the EU average of 16.1%. In an EU comparison, there are only fewer people living alone in Estonia (21.5%), Denmark (23.5%), Sweden (24.1%), Lithuania (24.6%) and...

When building your own home, there is considerable potential for savings by doing the work yourself. Builders can save around 15 to 20 percent of the total costs if they are heavily involved in the construction of the house. These savings relate to labor costs, which usually account for 60 percent of the total costs. Material costs account for around 40 percent. When...

Many balcony solar systems lose a lot of power in the shade. This is shown by a recent study by Stiftung Warentest. Of eight systems tested, none generated electricity when partially covered. Only one system achieved an overall rating of "good". There were problems not only with the performance under suboptimal conditions, but also with the inclination of the panels and the stability...

Tenants must pay for monitoring the correct separation of waste. This is the result of a ruling by the Federal Court of Justice (BGH; AZ: ZR 117/21). In the case in question, a residential real estate company in Berlin had passed on the costs of waste separation and smoke detector maintenance to its tenants. The tenants objected to the statement of operating costs and demanded a refund.

Modern air purifiers are playing an increasingly important role in households. They not only ensure fresh air, but also better hygiene. Air purifiers are particularly effective at removing unpleasant odors from the air, but also allergens, viruses and bacteria, for example. These properties make them a valuable addition to kitchens, bedrooms and even...

In some parts of Germany, buying a home has become more affordable thanks to falling prices and rising incomes. According to the Hamburg Institute of International Economics, the national average annuity rate has fallen by 5.1 percentage points to 19.4%. This shows that more buyers can afford to buy property without having to strain their budget with regular interest and repayment...

In Germany, all old lead water pipes in buildings must be replaced by 2026. This measure is urgently needed due to the harmful effects of lead, which can damage the nervous system even in the smallest quantities. Young children are particularly at risk as they are more sensitive to the toxic effects. Replacement is often time-consuming, as many...

Turning waste into ecological cement and thus making production more environmentally friendly - this is what Trier University and several partners are researching. The project aims to use mining waste and industrial raw materials as a substitute for conventional Portland cement. This could significantly reduce CO₂ emissions during cement production. The...

In future, landlords will be able to retain the deposit for longer than six months in the event of damage. This is the case if damage has occurred to the rented property and the landlord could have asserted the claim for damages before the expiry of the so-called "six-month limitation period". The landlord must also be able to prove the damage. The Federal Court of Justice has...

Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) wants to simplify housing construction. He has presented a draft bill to this end. His aim is to simplify housing construction by relaxing certain comfort standards. This measure is intended to save up to ten percent of construction costs and concerns standards that do not affect the safety of the building. The draft proposes to...