There are quite a lot of costs for landlords which can be passed onto the tenant („umlagefähige Betriebskosten“, i.e. running costs where the burden can be transferred). See the bullet point list in the middle of this (German) page: https://www.mietrecht.com/umlagefaehige-betriebskosten/ translated with DeepL:
* Property tax
* Insurance (property and liability insurance)
* Drainage
* Hot water and heating
* Garbage disposal, street cleaning, building cleaning
* Garden maintenance
* House electricity (hallway, basement, common rooms), lighting
* Elevator costs
* Cable connection, antenna, television (if available and used)
* Costs for janitor
* Washroom
* Other operating costs
You have heating and your individual electrical power already as a separate flat rate here.
Your Betriebskostenpauschale includes fresh water (because it is not part of the other flat rates), the heating of hot water (maybe included in the „Strompauschale“ if you have a „Boiler“), and drainage (yes, you have to pay for water twice: when you get it and when you dispose of it, and usually the latter is more expensive). You pay for basic cable or antenna even if you don‘t have a TV. Also for cleaning of the street (this means the rare occasions when the city drives by your house and cleans the actual road, not cleaning the footpath – that would be either part of the janitor costs or can be burdened on the tenants as well). And you pay the insurance and property taxes for your landlord. And possibly more, see list above.
Welcome to Germany 😬!
Anything maintenance-related can be expensed as “Betriebskosten”. How big is your place and how well is it equipped? Depending on your location, 400 EUR seems like quite a steal
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There are quite a lot of costs for landlords which can be passed onto the tenant („umlagefähige Betriebskosten“, i.e. running costs where the burden can be transferred). See the bullet point list in the middle of this (German) page: https://www.mietrecht.com/umlagefaehige-betriebskosten/ translated with DeepL:
* Property tax
* Insurance (property and liability insurance)
* Drainage
* Hot water and heating
* Garbage disposal, street cleaning, building cleaning
* Garden maintenance
* House electricity (hallway, basement, common rooms), lighting
* Elevator costs
* Cable connection, antenna, television (if available and used)
* Costs for janitor
* Washroom
* Other operating costs
You have heating and your individual electrical power already as a separate flat rate here.
Your Betriebskostenpauschale includes fresh water (because it is not part of the other flat rates), the heating of hot water (maybe included in the „Strompauschale“ if you have a „Boiler“), and drainage (yes, you have to pay for water twice: when you get it and when you dispose of it, and usually the latter is more expensive). You pay for basic cable or antenna even if you don‘t have a TV. Also for cleaning of the street (this means the rare occasions when the city drives by your house and cleans the actual road, not cleaning the footpath – that would be either part of the janitor costs or can be burdened on the tenants as well). And you pay the insurance and property taxes for your landlord. And possibly more, see list above.
Welcome to Germany 😬!
Anything maintenance-related can be expensed as “Betriebskosten”. How big is your place and how well is it equipped? Depending on your location, 400 EUR seems like quite a steal