General

The German Bundestag has passed important amendments to the Federal Building Code (BauGB) that will make a significant contribution to legal clarity when drawing up development plans in outdoor areas. The focus is on the introduction of Section 215a of the Building Code (BauGB), a "repair provision" that replaces the previous Section 13b BauGB. This step follows a ruling by the...

Properties with high energy efficiency will achieve up to 33 percent higher market prices in 2023 compared to properties with low efficiency. This applies to both new builds and energy-efficient refurbished homes. These are the findings of a study conducted by ImmobilienScout24 on behalf of the German Energy Efficient Building Envelope Association (BuVEG). The average value advantage of...

Losses from the rental of properties with a living space of more than 250 square meters cannot be automatically offset against other income of the taxpayer. This applies in particular to luxury properties whose market rent does not adequately reflect the high residential value and the associated costs, which often makes it impossible to cover the costs of letting. The Federal Fiscal Court (BFH) has...

How can older people live independently in their familiar surroundings for as long as possible? The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) explains this in the brochure "Living at home for longer". The brochure encourages older people to make their own homes more age-appropriate, whether through structural changes or technical improvements.

Permission may be required for the construction of bicycle garages in some regions. The Association of Private Builders (VPB) points this out. Those who already have an existing garage or tool shed usually have no problems. It is permissible to use these. However, according to the VPB, building owners who wish to erect a new bicycle garage should familiarize themselves with the respective...

In September 2023, residential construction in Germany reached a new low: according to the German Construction Industry Association, the number of building permits fell by 29.7 percent to 19,300 apartments - the lowest rate since 2013. Chief Executive Tim-Oliver Müller expressed his concern about this continuing decline. He emphasized that neither political summits nor previous...

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology IEE and their industrial partners have made progress in the development of photovoltaic power converters in the "PV-MoVe" project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK). The aim of the project was to use innovative technologies to reduce the size, weight and cost of PV power converters...

A buyer cannot always demand a refund of the purchase price from the seller if it later transpires that there is no building permit for the property (AZ: 6 U 210/22). This was recently decided by the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main (OLG). The buyer had purchased an apartment in Frankfurt's Nordend district for 330,000 euros. However, the purchase contract contained an exclusion of liability for material defects...

Which floor covering is the right one for your apartment or house? It depends not only on the room in which it is laid, but also on personal requirements and appearance. In a series of pictures, the portal "schoener-wohnen.de" shows various floor coverings and also breaks down the advantages and disadvantages of the different variants. Parquet flooring, for example, is considered...

Mainz has maintained its position as the most dynamic city in Germany in the current 2023 city ranking (1st place) and has therefore developed the best over the past five years. Berlin and Leipzig are in 2nd and 3rd place in the dynamic ranking, while Munich has made it to 1st place in the level ranking, which reflects the economic strength of the cities. Mainz is in 2nd place in this ranking, Stuttgart in 3rd...