General

Has the introduction of new subsidies for replacing heating systems led to an increase in demand for heat pumps? The answers from the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Robert Habeck, and the heating industry differ. "The subsidies, especially for heat pumps, are being accepted more and more," the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs told the Rheinische Post newspaper. The Federal Association...

Building owners have a period of five years after building acceptance to assert claims for defects. This warranty period allows builders to demand rectification in the event of defects that are attributable to planning or execution errors. Even if almost five years have already passed since acceptance and moving in, the construction company must still pay the costs for...

Screening elements such as a bamboo privacy fence or textile balcony coverings increase privacy on the balcony. They effectively shield you from prying eyes and contribute to a cozy atmosphere. Bamboo privacy fences or balcony coverings can be found in any DIY store. They are easy to attach to the balcony railing. An alternative option is the use of...

The housing industry faces the challenge of providing adequate housing for older people. Despite the increasing demand for age-appropriate housing, not enough companies have yet developed strategies for this target group. One of the reasons for this is that other issues dominate day-to-day business on housing markets that are in high demand. This is the conclusion of a study by...

Careful cost calculation and setting a realistic budget are crucial when building a house in order to avoid additional financing. Ancillary building costs must also be taken into account. To avoid unpleasant surprises during the construction process, builders should not only plan for obvious expenses such as materials and tradesmen's costs, but also...

A milestone has been reached in a project to develop a grid-supporting photovoltaic storage system. Under the coordination of the Center for Applied Energy Research (CAE), an innovative converter-storage unit is entering the demonstration phase, which is designed to smooth out power fluctuations in photovoltaic systems caused by cloud movement. After a three-year development phase, the...

If tenants want to barbecue in their garden or on their balcony, they should definitely take a look at the house rules and the tenancy agreement beforehand. The regional association "Haus & Grund Rheinland Westfalen" points this out. In some cases, barbecuing is completely prohibited. In residential complexes, barbecuing is often only permitted with electric barbecues to prevent fires....

Working mother of three Becky Rapinchuk has developed a "Simply Clean" method for house and apartment cleaning. She recommends cleaning for 10 to a maximum of 15 minutes every day to keep the home continuously clean. This strategy is designed to prevent lengthy cleaning sessions and maintain cleanliness in the long term. A distinction is made between daily, weekly and...

The housing crisis in Germany is coming to a head as the completion of over 220,000 new-build apartments has been delayed. This deficit is particularly affecting the A cities. These are large metropolitan areas where demand is highest. This is according to the Bulwiengesa study "Residential Developments in Germany", which was commissioned by a real estate agency. Between 2013 and...

Researchers at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft have developed innovative processes in the field of building refurbishment. The aim is to increase the renovation rate in order to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in the construction sector. Currently, the renovation rate is around one percent per year. According to the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, "it would take around one hundred years to refurbish the entire building stock" if the...