Guide to heating and ventilation

Using energy consciously is worthwhile in every household. By following a few simple basic rules for heating and ventilation, you can increase comfort and well-being while simultaneously reducing energy consumption. On this page, you will find practical advice, easy-to-understand information, and everyday tips to help you use heat efficiently and create a healthy indoor climate.

* This page has been translated via Google's Cloud Translation API. HOWOGE does not edit the content.
How does underfloor heating work? Help services for payment difficulties Forms for adjusting operating costs Expert videos Checklist for heating failure Frequently Asked Questions and Answers Checklists and tips
Tip

Save money, turn it down!

Even just one degree less temperature in your apartment saves you 6 percent on heating costs!

Tip

Air in, mold out!

Shock ventilation is cheaper and healthier than tilting the window open.

Safety notice

Danger to life!

Never use gas cylinders or camping stoves indoors. Danger to life and limb from carbon monoxide (CO)!

Safety notice

Caution: Power outage

Do not use space heaters or radios. If too many devices are switched on, power outages will occur in the house.

How does underfloor heating work?

Underfloor heating provides comfortable warmth from below – but it works differently than a traditional radiator. By following a few simple tips, you can not only heat more comfortably, but often also save energy and money. In our video, we show you how to optimally adjust your underfloor heating, avoid common mistakes, and get the most out of your heat. Watch now and heat smartly!

Help services for payment difficulties

Do you need advice about rent arrears? Are you experiencing financial difficulties? Are you looking for help applying for housing benefit? Do you want to reduce your energy costs?
We want to help you. You can find all the support services on the HOWOGE social services pages. Just take a look!

All support services

Important forms for adjusting your operating costs

Our expert will answer your questions.

Check in 7 steps whether there is a heating failure!

  • 1
    room temperature
  • 2
    thermostat
  • 3
    Radiator Step 1
  • 4
    Radiator Step 2
  • 5
    Neighbors
  • 6
    Weather
  • 7
    Windows and doors

Did you measure the room temperature using a thermometer?

The room temperature must be measured in the center of the room at a height of approximately 1 meter. Please ensure sufficient distance from the door, walls, and windows. The temperature should be at least 20 degrees Celsius.

Illustration of a heater with an arrow pointing towards the thermostat

Have you turned the thermostat up to the highest setting?

Woman in front of heater

Is only ONE radiator in a particular room not getting warm?

multiple heaters in one illustration

Are all the radiators in your apartment not getting warm?

Two people are talking about the heating

Are the radiators in the neighbors' houses also not getting warm?

Day and night situation, a thermometer in the middle

A question about the weather: was the night and day temperatures cold enough?

Our systems are controlled by the outside temperature. Note: In very large buildings, it may take some time after the heating system switches on at night, for example when outside temperatures are below 15°C, before the heat is actually felt in the radiators of the tenants.

Living room with window and door

Do you always keep windows and room doors closed, and are radiators not covered by furniture or curtains?

It is important to keep windows and doors closed at all times to prevent unnecessary heat loss from heated rooms. Radiators should also be unobstructed and not covered by furniture or curtains.

There is a heating system failure (breakdown).

General note: In houses with underfloor heating and some towel radiators, you may hardly notice the heating effect on the floor or towel radiator because the flow temperature is below 36°C. The radiator or floor may not feel warm. However, the crucial factor is the measured room temperature of 20°C, not how warm the radiator or floor feels.

Weather-compensated heating systems measure the outside temperature hourly for the past 24 hours. An average temperature is calculated from these measurements. If this average falls below 15°C, the heating should switch on. In very large buildings, it can take some time before the heat from the heating system switching on at night, for example when outside temperatures are below 15°C, is actually felt in the radiators by the tenants.

FAQs Heating Cost Prepayment

Do you have questions about adjusting your HOWOGE heating cost prepayment?
We've answered the most frequently asked questions. Take a look at our FAQ.

You will receive the following information with your invoice:

  • Cover letter with a summary of the individual results and instructions for payment
  • if applicable, information about an adjustment of your future advance payments
  • Billing period and time of creation
  • Period of use
  • Summary of total costs
  • Specification and explanation of the allocation key
  • Calculation of the individual share
  • Deduction of advance payments set for the billing period
  • Explanation of the operating and heating/hot water cost billing
  • Declaration of household-related services according to EStG § 35a
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According to Section 556 Paragraph 3 of the German Civil Code (BGB), the statement must be prepared and sent to the tenant no later than one year after the billing period. At HOWOGE, the billing period usually covers the calendar year (January 1 to December 31).

This deadline also applies if you move in or out during the billing year.

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Once a year, you will receive an operating and heating/hot water cost statement from us, in which the actual additional costs incurred are detailed by cost item and offset against your prepayments set for the billing period.

The billing period always covers the entire year being billed. This is usually January 1 to December 31.

The term "occupancy period" refers to the period of time during which you rented the apartment. The term therefore refers to the contractual period during which an apartment was rented.
It is irrelevant to what extent you as a tenant actually spent time in the apartment.

If you move in or out during the current billing period, the costs will only be billed pro rata. This may cause the billing period and the usage period to differ.

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When billing operating costs, several buildings or stairways can be combined into a single economic unit. An economic unit can be formed if the buildings are managed uniformly, or if the buildings are located in close proximity, have the same facilities, and demonstrate an unavoidable technical need for cross-building billing for individual operating costs (e.g., heating costs). The total amounts incurred are then allocated proportionately to the individual tenants.

In addition to the economic unit, there is the billing unit. The billing unit is usually smaller than an economic unit and refers, for example, to a group of tenants within the economic unit. Billing units are determined by affiliation with specific utility units (e.g., properties or garbage disposal sites).

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The distribution of operating and heating/hot water costs is stipulated in the rental agreement. To ensure the greatest possible fairness, different distribution systems are used depending on the type of cost and the use of the rental space.

Non-consumption-based operating costs are primarily billed based on living space (Section 556a, Paragraph 1 of the German Civil Code). Distribution based on the number of rental units is another possible allocation key for non-consumption-based operating costs.

Consumption-based operating costs (cold water), as well as consumption-based heating and hot water costs, are distributed proportionally based on consumption and proportionally based on area (Section 6, Paragraph 2 of the Heating Cost Ordinance). However, this requires that the entire economic unit is fully equipped with the appropriate recording devices. If this is not the case, the costs are distributed based on area due to the lack of comprehensive consumption recording.

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According to the legal definition in Section 1 of the Operating Costs Ordinance (BetrKV), operating costs are the costs that the owner incurs on an ongoing basis through ownership of the property or through the intended use of the building, its outbuildings, facilities, equipment, and the property. Administrative costs, as well as maintenance and repair costs, are explicitly excluded. Operating costs are divided into so-called "hot" and "cold" operating costs.

"Cold operating costs" are all operating costs according to Section 2, numbers 1 to 3 and 7 to 17 of the Operating Costs Ordinance (BetrKV), excluding heating and hot water costs. "Hot operating costs" according to Section 2, numbers 4 to 6 of the BetrKV are all heating and hot water costs and related costs (e.g., equipment rental for consumption recording, heating system maintenance, etc.).

The landlord is entitled to pass these running costs on to the tenants if a corresponding allocation agreement is included in the rental agreement.

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In certain cases, our tenants can influence the amount of operating costs.

Consistent and proper waste separation reduces the costs of residual waste collection. This avoids additional costs for waste container removal. Further information on waste separation can be found here .

Storing and subsequently removing bulky waste also incurs costs. So make sure you dispose of old furniture or other inventory you no longer need at a recycling center. Disposal is free in most cases. You can find more information here .

When purchasing new electrical appliances, such as dishwashers and washing machines, look for a high efficiency class to reduce water consumption.

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There are many ways to save on heating costs. To contribute to Germany's savings target, HOWOGE has slightly reduced the heating output in all buildings. This also saves money. You can find even more tips on how to reduce your heating costs in our expert video on the HOWOGE website.

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No, the costs will not be billed twice.

The costs for pure water consumption are billed via the operating cost item "Water costs (m³)". However, the costs for heating cold water are calculated within the hot water bill.

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Most of our apartments are equipped with wireless metering devices, so your consumption data is automatically transmitted to a data collector via wireless technology. This doesn't require an on-site visit to take meter readings.
In these cases, no meter reading report is created. Heat cost allocators are equipped with a memory function. You can read the consumption values for the previous period for an entire year and check them directly on the device. The heat cost allocator's display constantly alternates between the current year and the previous year.

If your apartment isn't equipped with wireless metering devices, the metering service provider will schedule a manual meter reading. The notice will be posted in the entrance area of your building. If you can't make the scheduled appointment, you'll usually be given another free appointment. If you miss both scheduled appointments and a meter reading appointment doesn't take place, your consumption will be estimated for your heating and water bill.

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No, the notification must be made in writing for documentation purposes and for your own security. Please send us a message by email to kundenzentrum@howoge.de or by mail, stating your rental agreement number and your request.

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A blanket comparison of billing results is not meaningful. The results of the utility and heating/hot water billing depend on various factors. For example, individual consumption, the size of the apartment, the length of use (e.g., moving in or out during the billing period), and the prepayments determined for the billing period all have a significant impact on the billing result.

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In principle, you have time within the payment deadline specified in the invoice to review and settle any additional payments you may have to make. If there are any uncertainties, you can pay with reservation and object in writing.

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In principle, the additional payment from the operating and heating/hot water bill is due within the payment period specified in the billing letter. If you file a justified objection within the statutory period, a distinction must be made between objections to the formal accuracy or objections to the substantive/material accuracy.

If there is an objection to the formal correctness (e.g. incorrect billing period, missing information on the allocation key, etc.), HOWOGE will suspend the due date until the objection has been processed.

If your concerns relate to content-related or material issues (calculation and/or typographical errors), the additional payment is due within the notified payment period. In such cases, we recommend that our tenants initially pay the requested additional payment subject to the accuracy of the invoice. It's best to note this reservation in the purpose of your transfer and inform HOWOGE of the payment subject to reservation along with your written objection.

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If you experience financial difficulties due to the new advance payment, our customer service and social management teams are available to advise you. Please contact us immediately at kundenzentrum@howoge.de with the reference "Heating Cost Advice" or write to us.

Have you thought about it?
You may also be entitled to a rent subsidy in the form of housing benefit (note: this does not apply if you receive social assistance, unemployment benefit II, or BAföG). Please check your basic eligibility atwww.kurzelinks.de/wohngeldrechner . If you are eligible, contact your local Berlin housing office/housing benefit office. You will need a rental breakdown certificate to submit for eligibility verification. You can request the rental breakdown certificate here .
Assistance with the application process is available from numerous advisory centers, such as Caritas, the Social Welfare Association, tenant associations, or even the housing benefit authority itself. Don't hesitate to contact them and take advantage of these support services.

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If you receive benefits from a public body, please submit your bill to them immediately so that your benefits can be adjusted accordingly and your rent payment is guaranteed on time.

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Typically, the amount of advance payments is determined at the beginning of the tenancy agreement and then, if necessary, adjusted as part of a completed utility and heating/hot water cost statement. HOWOGE, as the landlord, may increase advance payments for future periods without the tenant's consent. However, this may only be done within reasonable limits and with justification. Legitimate reasons include increased consumption compared to the previous year, as well as price increases or tariff changes by utility companies or service providers. You can also find an explanation for adjusting advance payments in your utility and heating/hot water cost statement.

The recalculation of advance payments will be based on the actual costs incurred for your rental unit plus expected changes and price increases.

The adjusted advance payments should ultimately cover costs for the following billing periods.
If you would like to increase your advance payments as a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of additional payments in future bills, you can easily submit your application here .

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If you have detailed questions or objections regarding specific operating costs, please send them to us by email to kundenzentrum@howoge.de or by mail. For general questions about your operating and heating/hot water cost bill, please contact the Operating Cost Management department of HOWOGE Wohnungsbausgellschaft mbH, which you can reach by phone via your local customer service center. You can find out which customer service center is responsible for you here or you can find the information in your billing letter.

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Since 2023, the Carbon Dioxide Cost Allocation Act has regulated the allocation of CO2 costs resulting from a building's heating energy consumption. These costs are allocated as part of the utility bill.

Details on the allocation of the tenant and landlord share can be found in your bill under the heading "CO2 tax: Classification of the residential building".

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We're currently working on a solution that will make consumption data from various service providers available to each tenant in one app. This will give you, as the tenant, the option to receive all correspondence digitally.

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Since 2021, landlords have been required to provide their tenants with an overview of their consumption data throughout the year, even monthly. This is a standardized list of the average consumption of all tenants in the same housing category. This allows you to better monitor your energy consumption and provides assistance in saving energy. The monthly consumption information includes remotely readable, wireless hot water meters and heat cost allocators.

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As HOWOGE, we are legally obligated to provide our tenants with monthly consumption information. Within our housing portfolio, we work with various meter reading service providers.
The most cost-effective option for you as a tenant is the standardized, postal delivery of this information to all households.

Furthermore, due to the sharp increase in energy costs, it is particularly important to us that every tenant has immediate access to their monthly consumption data without any potential digital hurdles.

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For comparability, the usual units are given in kWh. This is the legal requirement.

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Please read our information on heating costs .

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We can only calculate the costs after the end of the billing year, when the annual bills from the suppliers are available. Furthermore, the disclosure of costs in the monthly consumption information is not required by law.

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With the amendment to the Heating Cost Ordinance, Germany is implementing the provisions of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive regarding consumption recording and billing, as well as the use of interoperable devices and systems, into German law. Tenants should receive greater consumption transparency, be able to better understand their own energy consumption, and thus receive assistance in saving energy.

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The consumption information provided during the year will generally also include values that correspond to the consumption of average tenants in the same apartment category, either standardized or determined through comparative tests. Please note that these values are compiled by the responsible metering service provider and are intended as a guide only.

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Due to the legal obligation, no exceptions are permitted and HOWOGE, as landlord, must fulfill its obligation to provide the rent.

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According to Section 7 Paragraph 2 of the Heating Costs Ordinance, the costs arising from the monthly notification of consumption values are part of the apportionable operating costs of the central heating system and are billed via the annual heating/hot water cost statement.

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According to the Heating Cost Ordinance, HOWOGE is legally obliged to provide you with monthly consumption information if remotely readable, radio-enabled hot water meters and heat cost allocators are available.

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If you feel that your heating is staying cold or not heating your home sufficiently, you can find out by answering a few questions in our advice section on heating and ventilation whether there is a heating failure, a defect or another issue.

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We strongly advise against the use of radiators and fan heaters in apartments, as this overloads the power grid and could ultimately lead to a total power failure in the entire house.

Tip: Instead, use cost- and energy-saving household remedies such as blankets, warm clothing or hot water bottles.

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The sealed windows in your home prevent air exchange. If the windows are permanently closed in the fall and winter, the warm, moisture-saturated air remains in the home. The warm, humid indoor air then settles on the colder window glass as condensation. The result is foggy windows.
Therefore, you should ventilate at least twice a day during the heating season, preferably in the morning and evening. If possible, open all windows and doors wide for at least 10 to 15 minutes each time to ensure a significant exchange of air throughout the entire apartment. So-called "shock ventilation" by briefly opening individual windows or ventilating through tilted windows is not sufficient. In addition, please take a cloth and wipe the windows dry in the morning. Otherwise, mold can quickly form on the window joints or even on the wallpaper.

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Mold can be identified by black, white, yellow, or green spots in the home. Mold thrives particularly well in cold and damp conditions. Near open windows, in cold rooms, or on exterior walls, the air cools, causing condensation and mold growth. In large concentrations, mold can cause respiratory illnesses, allergies, and infections. It should be removed from bedrooms, especially.

You can prevent mold by balancing heating and ventilation.

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The rule of thumb is: the cooler the room temperature, the more often you need to ventilate. And the colder it is outside, the shorter the ventilation times need to be. In the morning, you should completely exchange the air in your home. It is best to open at least one window in each room until any fogged-up windows clear again. If possible, you should ventilate several times a day. However, if you are away all day, it is sufficient to completely exchange the air in the morning and evening. After cooking, showering, ironing, mopping the floor, or drying laundry, you should ventilate briefly – that is, open the windows and close the doors. This is the quickest way to get the moist air outside. During the heating season, you should avoid constantly ventilating by leaving the windows tilted, as open or tilted windows result in greater heat loss than targeted short bursts of ventilation.
You can find these and other tips in our videos .

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Please first inquire as to when this situation began. We are currently experiencing a very high volume of inquiries, so processing your request will take some time. Therefore, we would like to ask you to help yourself first by simply placing a blanket over the drafty area. Please ensure that neighbors keep their front doors closed, so less cold air enters the hallway and ultimately the apartments.

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There are many ways to save on heating costs. To contribute to Germany's savings target, HOWOGE has slightly reduced heating output in all buildings. This also saves money. You can find even more tips on how to reduce your heating costs in our expert video on the HOWOGE website.

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HOWOGE does NOT regulate the water temperature downwards, as the same flow temperature must be maintained due to the risk of legionella.
Therefore, in order not to endanger our health, the temperature for hot water remains unchanged.

Tip: Of course, you can also save energy and therefore costs on hot water by, for example, showering less frequently or for a shorter time.

Attention: You should draw hot water from the tap every 72 hours to prevent Legionella infestation.

More information on Legionella can be found at www.howoge.de/trinkwasser

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A consistent reduction in the average room temperature by 1 degree Celsius can result in savings of up to 6 percent.

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The CO2 Cost Allocation Act ( CO2 KostAufG) has been in effect since January 2023. It stipulates that landlords must contribute to the costs. The law is intended not only to relieve tenants' burdens but also to provide an incentive for landlords to invest in energy-efficient renovations of residential buildings.

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CO2 costs are a tax that increases the price of climate-damaging fuels. The law applies only to fuel-fired heating systems and district heating connections (e.g., gas heating, oil heating, coal heating, district heating). Electric heating systems, such as heat pumps or night storage heaters, are not covered by the CO2 Costs Tax Act.

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Since emissions of climate-damaging CO2 gas (carbon dioxide) must be significantly reduced in Germany in the coming years, the federal government has adopted a climate package. This package stipulates that fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and district heating, which emit large amounts of CO2 , will become more expensive through a CO2 price. This is because increasing CO2 concentrations cause more heat to be retained than necessary, causing the Earth's temperature to rise. CO2 accounts for over 50% of the human-caused greenhouse effect.

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On January 1, 2023, the law regulating the allocation of CO2 levy costs between landlords and tenants – the Carbon Dioxide Cost Allocation Act ( CO2 KostAufG) – came into force. It is staggered across 10 levels: Depending on the building's emissions level, tenants pay a share of between 5 and 100 percent (for highly efficient buildings) of the CO2 pricing for their apartment, while the landlord pays the remainder.

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The allocation will be made for the first time with the billing of operating and heating costs for 2023 (only billing periods beginning on or after January 1, 2023), i.e. during the course of 2024. CO2 costs incurred through fuel consumption and billed before January 1, 2023 will not be taken into account.

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In 2021, this price was 25 euros per ton of CO2 . The CO2 price will increase steadily until 2025, although the planned increase on January 1, 2023, has been postponed by one year due to the energy crisis.

01/01/2021 €25.00/ton CO2

01/01/2022 €30.00/ton CO2

01.01.2023 30.00 €/tonne CO 2 , as increase suspended

01/01/2024 €45.00/ton CO2

01/01/2025 €55.00/ton CO2

01/01/2026 €55.00-65.00/ton CO2

Starting in 2027, a European emissions trading system will be introduced for CO2 emissions from transport and building heating. This means that there will no longer be a fixed CO2 price, but rather a price determined by the market.

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The CO2 costs, for all billing periods beginning January 1, 2023, will be shared proportionally between landlords and tenants according to a tiered model. The percentage distribution is based on the annual CO2 emissions of the rented building in kilograms per square meter of living space. The higher the CO2 emissions of the respective building, the greater the share of costs we as the landlord must bear. In short: If the building itself produces little CO2 , then the landlord's share is smaller and yours as the tenant is larger. And vice versa: If the building produces a lot of CO2 , then the landlord bears the majority of the costs.

In non-residential buildings, a 50:50 split applies until 2025.
A 10-stage model applies to residential or mixed-use buildings (see figure)

Landlords receive the necessary information for the building's classification annually as part of the annual bill from the heating supplier. Based on these values, the billing company commissioned by the landlord can determine the building's carbon dioxide emissions ( CO2 emissions kg/m²) as part of the annual heating bill and thus determine the cost allocation between landlord and tenant.

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Exceptions are listed buildings. In some cases, this may mean that walls cannot be insulated, meaning the landlord cannot improve a building's energy performance. In such cases, the landlord's share of the costs is halved or eliminated entirely.

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If tenants supply their own heating or hot water, the landlord must reimburse them for the corresponding portion of the carbon dioxide costs. Tenants must proactively request this from the landlord in writing.

In cases where tenants supply themselves with heat and hot water, for example, heat from a gas central heating system and purchase the gas directly from the provider, they are responsible for applying the tiered model themselves in accordance with Section 5 Paragraph 3. In these cases, tenants do not calculate the specific carbon dioxide emissions of the building, but those of the apartment. The annual carbon dioxide emissions are divided by the living space of the apartment. In these cases, tenants further apply the specific carbon dioxide emissions of the apartment to the tiered model (see table above) and thus determine the relevant allocation ratio. The carbon dioxide emissions of the apartment are to be used as the basis in the cases referred to in Paragraph 3, because neither the landlord nor the tenant have the opportunity to know the carbon dioxide emissions of the entire building.

Special feature: If a tenant uses fuels not exclusively in systems for generating heat for heating or for heating and hot water, but also to operate their own appliances for other purposes (e.g., a gas stove), their reimbursement claim is reduced by five percent. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK) has released a calculator for sharing CO2 costs between tenants and landlords. Click here to access the federal government's calculator.

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Checklists

Proper heating and ventilation

We have compiled a checklist for you containing the ten most important tips and tricks for proper heating and ventilation.
Drinking water testing and Legionella

What are Legionella bacteria and what can I do as a tenant? You'll find the answers here.