Tenant rights activists suggest that landlords should cover a portion of their tenants' carbon dioxide expenses.
From the start of this year onwards, landlords have been covering the CO2 expenses related to buildings. As per the heating cost calculation for 2023, tenants are now allowed for the first time to request a portion of these costs, as stated by Consumer Center Bavaria. The engagement of landlords is aimed at promoting energy-saving renovations.
Generally, landlords directly receive the invoice from the supplier for buildings with central heating. The amount due includes the CO2 emissions and their corresponding charges. "For the heating cost calculation, landlords must separate their part of the CO2 costs and take it off," informed the Consumer Center.
In cases where tenants have a direct agreement with the energy provider, for instance, for gas heating, they must request the CO2 costs from the landlord. The Consumer Center Bavaria mentioned that they have six months from the receipt of the bill for this. If not done within this timeframe, the claim becomes null and void.
The landlord's share of the CO2 costs and their distribution mainly depend on the energy status of the building and the type of energy source utilized. "The better the condition of the property, the lower the landlord's share," explained the Consumer Center. Until last year, these costs in the building sector could entirely be passed on to the renters.
The Consumer Center Bavaria has created a free tool to calculate the amount of the CO2 tax and its division. This tool can be found at: www.verbraucherzentrale-bayern.de/co2rechner.
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- Energetic refurbishments, such as insulation and energy-efficient appliances, could potentially reduce the landlord's share of the CO2 costs, as suggested by Consumer Center Bavaria.
- Some consumer advocates argue that landlords should even cover the full CO costs, as they can benefit from the energy savings resulting from tenants' reduced energy consumption due to such improvements.
- If a tenant disagrees with the portion of CO costs allocated by the landlord, they can consult with consumer advocates and use the online CO2 calculator tool provided by the Consumer Center Bavaria to determine a fairer distribution.
Source: www.ntv.de
