In 2024, luminaires made of various materials such as metal, paper and glass are in vogue. Some of the lights can not only provide light, but also fulfill other functions. For example, there is a table lamp that can charge smartphone batteries. Very eye-catching lights are also in demand. These are available in a spherical shape, sculpture-like or with a...

A joint analysis by immoverkauf24 and ImmoScout24 shows clear regional differences in the supply of age-appropriate apartments in Germany. According to the study, the shortage of such apartments is most pronounced in eastern Germany. This contrasts with federal states such as Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg, where there is a wider range of age-appropriate properties for sale....

The GdW Federal Association of German Housing and Real Estate Companies points out that a current legal opinion by Prof. Stefan Leupertz sheds light on the possibility of using simpler standards in construction contract law to build more cheaply without compromising the quality of living. According to the GdW, the current strict DIN standards often lead to unnecessarily high construction costs. The report recommends...

From 2024, the Building Energy Act (GEG) will require the use of renewable energies for new heating systems, with hydrogen being considered as a possible alternative to natural gas. Despite the compatibility of hydrogen with existing heating technologies and gas networks, there are currently no heating systems that can be operated exclusively with hydrogen. The energy consultancy of the...

A tenant is not in default of payment if the landlord fails to make agreed donations to pay the rent. This was decided by the Frankfurt am Main Higher Regional Court (AZ: 2 U 115/22). The specific case concerned a non-profit foundation that operated a museum in a rented commercial building. The landlord made a donation with which the charitable foundation paid the rent...

Older property owners are often faced with the question of what to do with their property. A free online lecture entitled "Renting out your property - turning your house into money?" from the consumer advice center now offers help and shows, among other things, different types of property retirement. The presentation covers topics such as selling with usufruct or renting back,...

75 percent of people in German households are reconsidering their housing situation due to financial aspects. In urban areas, 25 percent of respondents state that they spend more than 40 percent of their income on housing costs. As a result, there is an increased preference for living in rural areas. Satisfaction with housing also appears to be particularly high there at 76%....

Information on construction contract law is provided by the Association of Private Builders (VPB) in a free PDF document. Construction contract law in Germany has undergone a significant reform, which has been effective since 2018. This change represents a significant step in consumer protection, especially for those who invest in the construction or purchase of a property as a layperson. According to VPB, choose...

The "Energetic Neighborhood Quarter Fliegerhorst Oldenburg" (ENaQ) has won the ODH-Quartier Award 2023 in the "Integration" category. The project, led by the Oldenburg information technology institute OFFIS, has been recognized for its progressive energy concept in the Helleheide residential district.ENaQ is characterized by modern technologies such as PV systems, heat pumps and electrical and...

A wildlife camera on a property can violate the personal rights of neighbors. This was decided by the local court in Munich (case no.: 171 C 11188/22). The local court thus confirmed a temporary injunction prohibiting the owner of the camera from setting it up on her property if she could use it to record the neighbor's area or give the impression of doing so. Although the camera...