General

A review mechanism for foreign investments that prohibits the acquisition of regional companies classified as strategic by foreign groups is not compatible with European Union law. The European Court of Justice recently came to this conclusion (ECJ, C-106/22). In the case at hand, the Hungarian concrete element manufacturer Xella...

The "Celestial Look" makes it possible to bring the heavens into your own four walls. The look is characterized by star charts, depictions of the night sky and astrological symbols. These elements can set subtle accents as well as serve as striking eye-catchers and, according to the portal "brigitte.de", can be integrated into the living environment in a variety of ways. For the...

Satisfaction with the housing situation depends largely on home ownership. This is the result of a survey commissioned by immoverkauf24 and ImmoScout24. The survey shows that homeowners are happier with their homes than tenants. Gender also plays a role in this context: women who live in a home of their own feel particularly happy with their...

Additional costs can be incurred when building a house. This is described by a couple on the website "wirbaueneinhaus.info". The couple originally started with a cost forecast of around 730,000 euros in 2022. However, the actual expenses later increased by almost 54,000 euros. This was due to various miscalculated or unexpected costs. For example, the land charge fees increased to...

A so-called ThermWin system from Huber SE, which recovers energy from wastewater, is used for heating and cooling in the Haus der Bayerischen Geschichte in Regensburg. The ThermWin system works by means of a specially developed wastewater heat exchanger in conjunction with a heat pump. The efficiency of the system is enhanced by a fully automatic self-cleaning...

The Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main (OLG) recently ruled that restaurant owners cannot be held responsible for recognizable unevenness on their patio areas. In the case in question, a guest tripped on a natural stone terrace after leaving the toilet and injured himself. He sued for damages and compensation for pain and suffering. However, the...

Solid wood furniture is known for its stability, durability and aesthetics. However, its lasting beauty depends heavily on proper surface care. Three conventional methods of surface care - varnish, oil and wax - each offer unique advantages. According to the Initiative Pro Massivholz (IPM), it is crucial that the method suits both the taste of the buyer and the...

People in need of care in Germany are increasingly under financial strain. This is the result of a study by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (vdek). The costs for new arrivals in care homes are rising particularly sharply. Their co-payment has risen by an average of 348 euros per month compared to 2022. Even for those who have been living in a care home for some time, the...

The Frankfurt am Main Higher Regional Court (OLG) recently sentenced the city to pay damages of 6,500 euros for neglecting to maintain and inspect a street tree (case reference: 1 U 310/20). In this case, a broken branch had caused total damage to a Fiat 500 in a residential area. The OLG ruled that the city was liable for the damage due to inadequate inspection.

The Association of German Engineers (VDI) has published new guidelines to help ensure the professional planning and installation of heat pumps in single and multi-family homes. The VDI guideline 4645 is aimed at experts such as planners, system manufacturers, tradesmen and operators involved in the installation and operation of hot water heating systems that work with...