General

According to the "Living in Germany 2023" study by the Sparda banks, the desire for home ownership is strong in Germany. For example, 74% of residents would like to own their own home. However, the home ownership rate has been below 50 percent for a decade, putting it at the bottom of the European league. More complex market conditions, rising construction costs and interest rates have led to increased uncertainty...

Innovative online kitchen planners offer consumers a quick and realistic way to visualize their dream kitchen and have long since replaced hand-drawn sketches. "Buying a new fitted kitchen must have been a matter of absolute trust in the past," says Volker Irle, Managing Director of AMK - Arbeitsgemeinschaft Die Moderne Küche. Whereas in the past...

If it is too hot in the apartment or house in summer, classic heat protection strategies can be used to cool it down, according to energy advice from the consumer advice center. These heat protection strategies include ventilation at night, the use of natural shade and the use of external heat protection on windows, such as blinds or shutters. Air conditioning and fans...

The Hanau District Court recently emphasized the indivisible unity of apartment and garage when renting a property at the same time. Despite two separately signed contracts, the court ruled that a separate termination of the garage lease by the landlord is not permissible. In the case in question, a landlady had signed an apartment rental agreement and a garage rental agreement with...

Philippe Dahlmann, garden consultant for the German Home Owners' Association (VWE), explains how to prune topiaries, prune tomatoes and scarify lawns in various short YouTube videos. Interested parties can also find information on other topics relating to species protection, climate protection and the sustainable use of resources such as rainwater. The VWE is a...

From preparing the building plot to interior design and electrics - many aspects can be decisive in making the construction of your dream home run smoothly. The experience of former clients is therefore a valuable asset for future builders. They can avoid mistakes when building a house. Former construction manager Marco Fehr has gathered the opinions of former builders and...

A home is a reflection of your own preferences and lifestyle. The kitchen plays a key role in this and the current trend is towards open-plan kitchen concepts. Up to 90 percent of all new builds are to be fitted with open-plan kitchens. Open-plan kitchens are modern, spacious and prestigious. The lack of walls creates a harmonious transition between the individual...

The Federation of German Consumer Organizations (vzbv) is calling for more intensive financial support for low-income households in the heating transition. The vzbv criticizes the fact that the planned state funding for the replacement of outdated heating systems by the federal government is inadequate. This position is supported in an updated statement on the proposed amendment to 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...

A study commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency has shown that temperatures above 26 degrees Celsius could increase the time spent in living rooms by more than half and in offices by around a quarter. This would have a negative impact on comfort and health. It is therefore increasingly important to protect buildings from overheating. As the number of hot days and tropical nights...