Photovoltaic system in 8 simple steps

Step by step – There are numerous solar calculators on the Internet that can be used to determine the approximate size of the photovoltaic system. This should help customers to estimate how large the system must be and how high the costs will be. However, many of these calculators do not take important factors into account, which is why property owners only receive inaccurate information. With our eight steps, you can calculate the individual size of the photovoltaic system you need for your home yourself. We take all factors into account and you can get a detailed picture of your investment.

Step 1 – Energy consumption per year

The primary goal of a photovoltaic system is to produce the required energy for your household without having to access the public grid. The size of your individual photovoltaic system is therefore first and foremost related to your personal energy consumption. How much electrical energy do you consume per year? You can answer this question yourself with your last electricity bill.

So the first step is to calculate your average electricity consumption in kilowatt hours (kWh) over the last 5 years (j). How has the price per kilowatt hour and the average electricity consumption changed? When calculating, you should also take into account future purchases, such as a heat pump or an electric car, i.e. everything that also consumes electricity and influences your overall consumption.

Example:
Family A has an average energy consumption over the last five years of 5,000 kWh. The acquisition of a photovoltaic system should be able to cover the majority of this energy.

Formula:
Your personal electricity consumption per year (SV)=______ kWh / j

Step 2 – Energy production of the photovoltaic system

In order for the photovoltaic system to cover your own consumption, it should supply at least 25 percent more energy than you consume over the year. The 25 percent is an empirical value that people like to calculate with. Excess energy can be ‘stored′ in a storage tank or you can feed it into the public grid. The self-consumption covered by solar energy is the part that you later no longer have to buy from energy companies, but simply produce yourself. The optimal amount of electricity production for your photovoltaic system is therefore 125 %.

Example:
Family A, which has an average energy consumption of 5,000 kWh, now calculates further with this value. Their optimal electricity production quantity is therefore 125 % x 5000 kWh = 6250 kWh

Formula:
Optimal amount of electricity produced by the photovoltaic system = 125 % x SV

Step 3 – the regional energy yield

Even if the sun does not shine 365 days a year in Germany, a photovoltaic system is still worthwhile. The prejudice that a photovoltaic system only pays off in southern countries can therefore be refuted, as global radiation averages 1,100 kilowatt hours per square metre (kWh/a) per year. The advanced technology also allows good cooling and self-cleaning of the systems, which reinforces their effectiveness.

The regional energy yield (RE) for your photovoltaic system is composed of the unit kilowatt hours per kilowatt peak and per year (kWh / (kWp x a)) and varies depending on the region. So that you can inform yourself about your region, we give here a small overview of the average kWh/m² for the individual federal states:

• Baden-Wuerttemberg: 1050-1175 kWh/m²
• Bavaria: 975-1175 kWh/m²
• Berlin / Brandenburg: 975-1050 kWh/m²
• Hesse: 975-1100 kWh/m²
• Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: 1000-1050 kWh/m²
• Hamburg, Bremen, Lower Saxony: 950-1025 kWh/m²
• North Rhine-Westphalia: 950-1025 kWh/m²
• Rhineland-Palatinate: 975-1125 kWh/m²
• Saarland: 1050-1100 kWh/m²
• Saxony: 975-1100 kWh/m²
• Saxony-Anhalt: 975-1050 kWh/m²
• Schleswig-Holstein: 950-1025 kWh/m²
• Thuringia: 975-1050 kWh/m²

Example:
Family A lives in North Rhine-Westphalia. This federal state has an average regional energy yield of: RE = 950-1025 kWh/m².

Formula:
Your regional energy amount RE = ___________ kWh/(kWp x a)

Step 4 – the conditions of the roof

The conditions of the roof play a major role in photovoltaic systems. The roof orientation, roof pitch and shading should be taken into account when choosing your solar cells. However, the preconceived notion that only south-facing modules deliver economic yields has been disproved in recent years and it has been shown that east, west and even north-facing roofs can also deliver reasonable yields. Depending on the roof pitch and orientation according to the points of the compass, a deviation value is therefore produced. You can easily find out this composition of values for your region.

Example:
Family A has a roof that has a pitch of 30 degrees. In addition, it deviates by 40 degrees from the south. The deviation value for family A is therefore AW = 97.5 %.

Formula:
The deviation value of your property: AW= _______%

Step 5 – Avoid module shading

The location of the solar cells should be carefully considered. Shading can significantly reduce the performance of your system. This can already include general things such as the shadow of a tree, a neighbouring house, a chimney or an antenna. If such causes cast a shadow on the plant, the performance of all modules of a power string is reduced. However, pay attention to when the shadow hits your house. Since most energy is generated in the months between March and October, a shadow that hits the property only in winter is therefore less of a hindrance to performance than a shadow that hits the modules in the summer months. Depending on the type of shade, a 1-5 percent discount should be included in the calculation to account for lower power production.

Step 6 – Adjust regional energy yield

If your roof is not optimally located, so that the deviation value is not 100 percent, the deviation must be included in the regional energy yield. This is because a non-optimal roof reduces the yield somewhat.

Example:
Family A has a deviation value of 97.5 %, which must now be adjusted to the regional energy yield of North Rhine-Westphalia. Family A therefore calculates for their property: 97.5 % x 950 kWh/ (kWp x a) = 926.2 kWh/ (kWp x a)

Formula:
Personal regional energy yield (PE) = deviation value (AW) x regional energy yield (RE) = ______kWh/ (kWp x a)

Step 7 – the size of your individual photovoltaic system

With all the values you have found out, you can now determine the size of your individual photovoltaic system. For this we need the unit from step 2, i.e. your optimal electricity production quantity of the photovoltaic system and the calculated personal energy yield. If you have a larger roof area, the construction of a larger system can be considered. Planning a build? See our construction guide. Please refer to our guide on the subject of solar energy.

Example:
Family A now calculates the size that your photovoltaic system must have at least. You calculate for this: 6,250 (kWh/a) / 926 (kWh/(kWp x a)) = 6.74 kWp. Your system can therefore have a size of 6.74 kWp.

Formula:
Size of photovoltaic (PV) system = electricity production / personal energy yield [PE] = _________ kWp

Step 8 – the required roof area

The last step is to calculate the required roof area. Now that you know what the minimum size of the photovoltaic system must be to cover your energy consumption, you only need to find out how much roof area you need to install the system. A typical photovoltaic module measures 1.67 m x 1 m (= 1.67 m²) and thus has an output of 300 Wp. To now calculate the roof area, we need a factor of 7 m²/ kWp, where certain open spaces have already been taken into account.

Example:
Family A has now reached the last step of the calculation. So you calculate: 6.74 kWp x 7 (m²/ kWp) = 47.25 m². Family A therefore needs 47.25 m² of their roof surface to install a photovoltaic system to cover their energy consumption.

Formula:
The required roof area (DF) = size of the photovoltaic (PV) system x 7 (m²/ kWp)

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Legal regulations – heating, insulation and solar energy

Of course, when it comes to saving energy and especially energy-efficient houses, there are some legal regulations. It is now even mandatory to build energy efficient. But what exactly does that mean? This includes two important points in particular. The correct and contemporary insulation of the house but also the correct heating of the house. At first it sounds more difficult than it is, because an energy-saving house not only helps the environment, but also your wallet in the end.

Heating and hot water – this must be considered when building an energy-saving house

Heating and hot water play a crucial role in energy efficiency, as both consume the majority of energy in the home. Today, gas and oil heating systems are very efficient, but it is unclear how prices and security of supply for these energy sources will develop in the future.

So what are the alternatives? Probably the simplest is the energy of the sun, which is almost free. You catch it through large south-facing windows and can use complementary heat pumps, solar thermal and pellet boilers to do the rest. Your house will not only be heated in an energy-saving way, but you will also do something good for the environment and reduce your costs.

Thermal insulation – the most important thing on the way to an energy-saving house

The technology of thermal insulation is constantly being improved and changed. For example, today’s double-glazed windows have a 50-60 percent higher insulating effect than windows from the seventies. But what types of insulation are modern?

Nowadays, the exterior surfaces of the house and the roof also have insulation against heat loss through improved insulation. Insulation materials such as polystyrene insulation boards and wood fibre insulation materials are used for this purpose, which reduce energy loss enormously. Anyone who skimps on insulation when building their house will lose out on funding opportunities under the current Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV 2009) or have to pay a fine. But also house owners, must invest afterwards again and again into the insulation of their real estate. However, it does not remain with the insulation of the outer surfaces and the roof. All pipes for heating and hot water should also receive insulation, which is ensured by insulating hoses. But if you don’t want to do without anything, the roller shutter boxes should also be insulated, as this is a spot that is often neglected. A small effort, but also reduces energy consumption.

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Energy-saving house – the various models and their differences

Due to the current Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV 2009), when building a house, the question is no longer about an energy-saving house or a normal house, but how much energy you want to save in your new house. This is not only important for the later costs for energy but also for the financing of the house needed in advance. Our mortgage comparison covers all options. So you should inform yourself about the different models of the energy saving house in advance.

The KfW Efficiency House – features, differences and legal standards

The term KfW Efficiency House is primarily to be understood as a quality term for particularly economical energy-saving houses. In addition to this function, it is also important for the financial support from the KfW development bank. This model is divided into 3 different standards that indicate how energy efficient the house really is and how far the house falls below the specifications of the current Energy Saving Ordinance. The KfW efficiency house standards 40, 55 and 70 show: The smaller the number, the better the energy efficiency of the house and the higher the subsidy from the KfW development bank.

However, the KfW 40 efficiency house standard prescribes even more standards: It must consume 60 percent less energy than a comparable new building according to the KfW 100 standard. In addition, no wood may be used in the construction of the windows; instead, triple-glazed windows made of PVC-5 must be used. The house must be airtight and use renewable energies.

The passive house – insulation is the be-all and end-all

A passive house is not a specific type of building. The designation passive house simply shows that the house has such good thermal insulation that it does not require classic heating. It therefore has passive heat recovery combined with a ventilation system. The aim is to keep heat loss through transmission or ventilation as low as possible. The insulation is particularly good in areas such as the roof, the building envelope, windows and also in the basement and is therefore impermeable to air. Fresh air is provided by the ventilation system, which can also heat it at the same time using the energy of the exhaust air.

When planning a passive house, more than any other, care must be taken to ensure that the insulation is good and that there are no leaks. Triple glazed windows, must be and these are best oriented to the south. Glass fronts or surfaces that face east or west can quickly lead to the undesirable incubator effect in summer. By the missing heating you save enormously at costs and do also the environment a pleases. The passive house offers not only a constant temperature in the house, but also a very compact building services. Unfortunately, the construction of such a house is very time-consuming and therefore more costly.

The PlusEnergy house – energy producer and ideal case

The PlusEnergyHouse definitely lives up to its name. It is a veritable mini power plant and combines the techniques of passive and zero-energy houses. It produces more energy in the summer over the year than it can consume. How can something like this work and why aren’t all houses PlusEnergy houses yet?

The PlusEnergy house combines the techniques of good insulation, a modern heating system and a disproportionately large photovoltaic system. This combination ensures that the house covers its own needs and still has other energy available, which it can use freely, for example, to feed electricity into the local supply network. The owner even receives a small additional income for the fact that his house produces energy. Ecologically, this house is the optimal case, not only for its owner, but also for the environment. But what exactly is a disproportionately designed photovoltaic system and what exactly does it do? This question is quite easy to answer, because a photovoltaic system is nothing more than a solar system. So, it uses the solar energy to generate electricity and supply the house with it. However, due to the good insulation and the modern heating system, the house does not need as much solar energy as the photovoltaic system supplies and therefore Storm is left over.

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Why the building inspection is so important for builders!

The building inspection is a matter that many builders simply forget about or accept without knowing it. In many cases, the construction is considered accepted by the client even though no proper construction acceptance has taken place. This is the case, for example, when the contractor sets a deadline for acceptance in a construction contract, but the client lets it pass. Such cases happen more often than one might think and most of the time the builders are so stressed that they no longer know that a proper acceptance is necessary.

Acceptance of construction – an important legal act

Many construction companies dismiss the building inspection as a mere formality and play down its importance. In fact, however, the building inspection is an important legal act that can have far-reaching legal consequences. Errors that are not recognized during the acceptance process can be very costly for the building owner. In general, the acceptance refers to the handover of the finished building to the building owner. With the decrease the owner recognizes thus that all was executed contractually and no lack of on the part of the building firm are to be found. With the decrease then also at the same time the requirement for fulfillment expires opposite the building firm and warranty claims can be made valid. It becomes already clear, how devastating a not accomplished building acceptance for the owner can be. Once the acceptance has taken place, the burden of proof is reversed. This means that prior to acceptance, the contractor is responsible for proving the defects to the owner and once acceptance has taken place, the owner must prove the defects to the contractor and prove that they were not caused by the contractor. Explained by an example this means that in case of a defect like a warped parquet the parquet layer has to prove before the acceptance that this defect is not caused by his bad wood or a defect of his work but has another origin. After acceptance, however, the builder is responsible for proving that the defect was the fault of the craftsman and not, say, his own fault. This can be difficult for builders, as it is difficult to prove the origin of a defect after the fact. So after acceptance, defects are the builder’s problem, not the contractor’s. All builders should therefore exercise caution and have the acceptance carried out in detail in order to avoid such risks.

Building inspection – all this is part of it

In order to be on the safe side when it comes to the building inspection, you should pay attention to a few things right from the start. It is best to stipulate directly in the building contract that a formal building inspection will take place upon completion of the property. The formal building inspection is absolutely necessary in order to have a claim for the improvement of possible defects. Tips and costs: home renovation. For the building inspection itself, you should definitely bring your own surveyor. Since most builders don’t really have much expertise on the substance, it’s worth bringing in someone who has experience and can spot potential faults that you wouldn’t have seen. At the time of acceptance, a so-called acceptance protocol is drawn up. This lists all defects that were found on the day of acceptance, but also those that were identified earlier and have not yet been rectified. It is advisable to make a tour of the house with the expert on the day before the acceptance in order to examine everything in detail in peace and without time pressure. Experts often find faults, as they know exactly where to look through experience. The builder must make a reservation for all defects that are detected during the acceptance, otherwise he loses the right to have the defects remedied. Building owners can, however, also refuse acceptance of the building in certain situations and should definitely do so, especially in the case of serious defects. If serious defects are discovered during acceptance, such as a non-functioning heating system or canopies that have not yet been installed, the builder should refuse to sign the building acceptance protocol in any case, even if the builder urges him to do so. In any case, the protocol should only be signed when all defects have really been eliminated. The promise to remove the defects in the near future should not be sufficient for the builder and with such important formalities you should take it very carefully! Insist therefore with contract production absolutely on an acceptance and accomplish this carefully. Observe all formalities so that you really have a right to have the defects rectified afterwards.

Acceptance of construction – what happens with the defects?

After acceptance of the finished house, this must be paid in full to the building contractor. However, if defects have occurred during the acceptance, the builder has the right to withhold part of the money until the defects have been repaired. The builder is allowed to withhold twice the amount expected to be needed to repair the defects from his final payment. He should definitely do this to ensure that the defects are actually repaired. Unfortunately, defects are regularly due on building inspections and so have not been uncommon for a long time. Should defects become visible during the acceptance of your house construction, set a date with the building contractor directly in the acceptance protocol, on which all defects found must be eliminated. On this day, a second acceptance should take place to check whether the defects have been removed in accordance with the contract. If defects can still be found on this date, you can set a new date by which the defects must be removed. Contractors generally cannot refuse to accept the finished property. In order to avoid trouble and discussions, specify everything in the building contract and agree with the company in advance so that you do not have to argue about such minor details afterwards. It is also important for you that the construction company only has to have completed what has been stipulated in the contract on the acceptance date. So it is better to be precise and detailed, especially with regard to the contents of the building contract. If something is not specified in the building contract and you have agreed it for example only verbally with the building contractor, you have no legal claims on it at the building inspection. The same applies if the construction company has installed additional things that are not listed in the construction contract. They have then no obligation to pay this extra also. For the protection of all, a detailed construction contract makes the most sense.

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Apartment handover protocol – content, handover & damage

The apartment handover protocol is an advantage for all parties involved. It records the condition of the rented property and any defects, damage or renovation work. An apartment handover protocol is made both when moving out and when moving in, to protect all parties involved. Especially when it comes to the topic of defects, it often comes to disputes, because the perspectives do not remain neutral. To prevent this, the protocol should record exactly how the condition of the object is to eliminate misunderstandings.

The content – What all belongs in the apartment handover protocol?

In an apartment handover protocol, however, not only defects in the property are recorded, but also important criteria that could later lead to disputes. So that no misunderstandings arise here, there are the most important points that should absolutely appear in the protocol:

• The number of all keys (front door, apartment door, mailbox, cellar, attic, …)
• The functionality of all electrical devices (taps, shower, toilet flush, heaters, … )
• The exact readings on electricity meters, water meters and radiators
• The condition of walls, wallpaper, doors, locks, windows, carpets, tiles and parquet floors
• Watch for mold, especially in the bathroom and on the walls (including wet spots).

In the context of a move-out, however, the handover protocol should also contain other points. For example, promised repairs or renovations on the part of your landlord should be listed. You can also find out from the rental agreement how you have to hand over the apartment. This includes, for example, white painted walls or a broom-clean handover. It is important for you to adhere to these specifications, as otherwise part of the deposit can be withdrawn.

The handover – you should pay attention to this

The problem with handover protocols is that they are neither mandatory nor regulated by law. If your landlord does not make one at the handover and you discover a defect afterwards, you have no proof that it was not caused by you. Therefore, you should not only insist on an apartment handover protocol, but also prepare for it properly. Since a smooth handover is also in the interest of the landlord, it should not be a problem for him to make a handover with protocol. Since planning rarely does any harm, you should therefore give some thought to the implementation in advance and think about a few things.

First of all, it is important that the handover of the apartment takes place in an empty and renovated condition. The landlord should therefore, if possible, have previously carried out the handover with the old tenant or do this together with them, so that he can check whether the landlord has left the apartment as agreed in the lease. If your landlord refuses to carry out a handover with a protocol, you can also carry out the procedure alone with a neutral witness. This way you are on the safe side and in the right. Take a lot of time for the handover to really find all the defects, even if the other party is pushing you. Insist on a thorough handover. If there are any defects, record them with photos and in the protocol. After the inspection is completed, both parties receive a copy of the protocol, which should be signed by both parties. This way all parties have security on their side.

The defects – Which cosmetic repairs you have to take over and which not

Cosmetic repairs are an art in themselves, because nowhere is really recorded, what exactly falls under it. Everyone has a different idea and also in the Civil Code (BGB) is no exact definition. So what does it include and which ones do you have to do and which ones do your landlord have to do? The German Tenants’ Association has tried to come up with a definition and writes on its homepage: “Under cosmetic repairs or renovation is understood everything that has worn out over time in normal living and can usually be renewed with paint, wallpaper and some plaster. This includes: wallpapering walls and ceilings, painting or whitewashing walls and ceilings, painting radiators, including heating pipes, painting doors inside the home, painting the inside of windows, and painting the inside of the door to the home.” In short, according to this definition, everything that the tenant himself has “worn out” falls under the term cosmetic repairs.

The term “cosmetic repairs” does not include things such as the replacement of carpeting, the sanding of parquet floors or the renovation of basements, balconies or terraces. These are all things that are demonstrably not the tenant’s fault. However, the landlord cannot set any deadlines for you. No landlord can force you to paint the entire apartment again after you have already done so in the previous year. But what exactly do you have to do in terms of cosmetic repairs and what is the landlord responsible for?

Cosmetic repairs, which must be taken over by the tenant:

• Painting the doors, windows and apartment door (inside)
• Wallpapering and painting walls and ceilings
• Closing of drill and dowel holes
• Painting the heaters and heating pipes

Cosmetic repairs, which do not have to be taken over by the tenant:

• Painting of terrace, balcony, cellar, utility and common rooms
• Carpet replacement
• Painting of windows and apartment door (outside)
• Sanding and sealing of parquet floors
• Damage demonstrably not caused by the tenant

Defects detected only after the protocol – what you can do

Most defects are obviously visible, but there is always the case that defects are detected too late and therefore do not appear in the protocol. But do not worry, because in the case of serious defects you are not stuck with the costs. You can report these late detected defects to your landlord and they have to be taken over by him. These include, for example, heating that does not work properly, defective pipes, but also mould.

If you find such a serious defect after moving in or after the handover with protocol, you must immediately report this to your landlord and then also grant him a corresponding period of time so that he can have the mark removed. Set your landlord a deadline, which should be sufficient in particularly urgent cases that could be harmful to health, such as mold but may also be shorter. If nothing happens within the specified period on the part of the landlord, you can think about a rent reduction if necessary.

If you notice a minor defect only after the handover report, i.e. so-called marginal damage, the landlord is not obliged to repair it. This includes defects such as a broken tile or a defective towel rail. However, always report this mark to the landlord anyway, otherwise you could be held liable for it.

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Rental deposit – amount, transfer and deductions

The rental deposit is a not inconsiderable expense, especially for the tenant, and represents security for the landlord. Since it usually involves large amounts of money, it is important to be precise and avoid disputes. To protect landlord and tenant, there are therefore some rules that you can follow.

Tip 1 Apartment handover protocol – check for defects when moving in

The first step before moving in is to insist on a handover protocol when handing over the apartment. As a rule, there is one anyway, as it ensures security of both parties. In this all lack, which exhibits the object are noted. Take enough time during the handover to have a close look at the property. In this way, you can prevent any defects of the previous tenant from falling back on you, which could later reduce your deposit. Find out more about the handover protocol!

Tip 2 individual accounts – deposit separate from assets

In order to ensure the safety of your money, landlords are legally obliged to invest the rent deposit separately from the other assets (BGH, decision dated 9.6.2015, VIII ZR 324/14). If the deposit is handed over in cash, it is usually invested in a savings book which is created especially for this purpose. Here it is also noted that the deposited sum is only used as security for the lease and cannot be used otherwise by the landlord. This prevents misuse by the landlord and protects you and your money. To have peace of mind, have the landlord provide you with a copy of the account documents. During the tenancy, the landlord is also not allowed to touch your deposit without further ado and use it for other things (BGH, ruling dated 7.5.2014, VIII ZR 234/13).

Tip 3 Installments – Pay the deposit in installments

Some legal facts about the rental deposit that you probably did not know. You are not obliged to hand over the entire rental deposit to the landlord at once, even if the landlord asks you to do so. The law requires that you can pay the deposit in three equal monthly instalments. For this, the first of the three payments must be made at the beginning of the tenancy. The other two instalments are due in the next two months together with the rent payments (§ 551 para. 2 BGB). Also, a landlord may not require a deposit from them that is higher than three months’ rent (Section 551(1) BGB). This method is easier for many than raising the entire deposit amount at once. After paying the deposit, whether in instalments or all at once, insist on a statement of account in any case, as explained in tip 2. This way you are sure that the landlord cannot use your deposit for any other purpose.

Tip 4 Guarantee – deposit not from savings book

Normally, it is common to take the deposit for the landlord from a savings account or separate from the saved. After all, the money is not lost, just not available to you for your rental period. This method has long been the only way to cover the deposit when you move in. However, in recent years it has become established to also consider a rent deposit guarantee, if the money is nevertheless sometimes scarce when moving. For this purpose, there are financial investments that are significantly more attractive for the tenant due to higher interest rates than the variant of the savings book. Our home financing covers all options. These include, for example, call money or deposit accounts at a bank. But also the rent deposit guarantees represent a suitable alternative. With such a deposit, the rental security can be deposited without cash and in return, an annual contribution is due from you. For this variant you need the consent of the landlord, but this variant gives no disadvantages for him, so it should not be a problem.

Tip 5 Deductions – Look for defects

Deductions from the rent deposit are not good for any tenant. But pay attention, because the landlord is not allowed to deduct something from your security deposit for every little blemish when you move out. Thus, only certain defects constitute grounds for keeping the deposit. Generally speaking, normal signs of use cannot be deducted from the security deposit because they are covered by the rent. These include, for example, a small hole in the wall or a small abrasion on the carpet. Defects caused by them, on the other hand, can be deducted from the deposit. This includes, for example, burn holes from cigarettes in the carpet or a blocked drain pipe that got into this condition through improper use. In such cases, the landlord is allowed to deduct the professional repair from your rental deposit and use it for this purpose.

Tip 6 Cosmetic repair – deduction of the deposit

Another reason that can lead to a reduction of the deposit are cosmetic repairs. Here, however, some rules also apply. The cosmetic repairs to which the landlord can oblige the tenant amount to trifles, such as a fresh wall paint when moving out. However, these obligations may not unreasonably disadvantage the tenant or exempt the landlord from maintenance work. These remain the responsibility of the landlord. However, such obligations for cosmetic repairs are only permissible if they are expressly mentioned in the lease. If they are not, compliance can also not lead to a deduction of the deposit! When moving out, therefore, orientate yourself on your rental contract and comply with the specified cosmetic repairs in order to avoid a reduction of the deposit.

Tip 7 Repayment – handover protocol when moving out

If the tenancy has ended, you should hand over the rented property in the “agreed” condition. If cosmetic repairs have been agreed in the tenancy agreement, you should carry them out. If damage has occurred during the rental period that is attributable to you, you should repair it. It is best to hand over the apartment in the same condition as you received it so as not to jeopardise the repayment of the entire rental deposit.

Do not forget the handover protocol when you move out, so that the landlord cannot hold you responsible for damages afterwards. Both parties should sign and receive a copy of the protocol and thus document the condition of the rental property. After the protocol and the handover has taken place and all existing or non-existing defects have been documented, there is nothing to prevent the payment of your deposit, which, if you have done everything correctly, should be credited in full to your account.

Tip 8 End of the guarantee – repayment of the rent deposit

Disputes also often arise over the repayment of the rent deposit. The landlord has the right to a so-called inspection and consideration period, which he can claim. This means that he can retain the rental deposit to inspect the rental property for defects and faults before returning the deposit. This period can last up to six months, which can cause problems for the tenant. However, if the two parties agree at the time of transfer that there are no defects or outstanding debts, the deposit must be returned quickly. According to case law, this is assumed to be within a few days. In this case, the tenant receives the entire deposit plus interest. However, the landlord also has another right here. He can retain a small part of the rent deposit even after the end of the tenancy for a still outstanding service charge account.

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