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Ελληνικά📚 Glossary — 220 German official terms explained
220 German official terms — simply explained
24 terms found
Betriebskostenabrechnung (operating costs settlement)
Annual settlement of all reimbursable operating costs (heating, water, waste, property tax) — another term for ancillary cost statement.
The operating cost statement must be delivered within 12 months after the end of the settlement period.
Housing
Eigenbedarfskündigung (termination for personal use)
Termination of rental agreement by the landlord because he wants to use the apartment for himself or close relatives.
The landlord issued a termination for personal use because his son wants to move in.
Housing
Energieausweis (energy certificate)
Document that assesses the energy efficiency of a building — must be provided when renting or selling.
Before concluding the lease agreement, the landlord showed me the energy certificate.
Housing
Grundbuch (Land register)
Public register at the district court documenting property ownership, mortgages and encumbrances of real estate.
When buying a house, the new owner is entered in the land register.
Housing
Hausordnung (House rules)
Rules for living together in a rental building — quiet hours, stairwell cleaning, trash, pets.
According to the house rules, quiet hours are between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Housing
Heizkostenabrechnung (heating cost settlement)
Part of the operating cost settlement — consumption-based billing of heating and hot water costs.
The heating cost settlement is divided by consumption (50–70%) and living area (30–50%).
Housing
Kaltmiete (net rent)
Net rent without additional costs (heating, water, waste) — total rent including additional costs is called gross rent.
The net rent is 700 €, with additional costs I pay 950 € gross rent.
Housing
Kaution (Deposit)
Rental deposit — security payment of up to 3 months' net rent, deposited upon move-in.
The deposit is held in a separate account and returned upon move-out.
Housing
Makler (Broker)
Immobilienvermittler — seit 2015 gilt das Bestellerprinzip: Wer den Makler beauftragt, zahlt die Provision.
Der Makler hat eine Provision von 2 Monatsmieten verlangt.
Housing
Mieterverein (tenants' association)
Association that provides legal advice and representation to tenants — membership fee approximately €60–90 per year.
The tenants' association helped me object to an excessive utility bill settlement.
Housing
Mietpreisbremse (rent price brake)
Legal cap on rental prices for new tenancies — rent may not exceed more than 10% above the reference rent in tight housing markets.
Thanks to the rent brake, landlords cannot arbitrarily increase rent for new tenancies.
Housing
Mietspiegel (rental market index)
Overview of local comparative rental prices — serves as guidance for rent increases and rent price brake.
According to the rent index, the average rent in Hamburg is €11 per square meter.
Housing
Mietvertrag (lease agreement)
Contract between landlord and tenant — regulates rent amount, additional costs, security deposit, notice period.
Sign the rental agreement only after you understand all clauses.
Housing
Nachzahlung (top-up payment)
Obligation to pay a difference amount — e.g., when the operating cost advance payment was too low.
The operating cost surcharge was €350 due to high heating costs.
Housing
Nebenkostenabrechnung (utility cost statement)
Annual settlement of operating costs (heating, water, waste, etc.) — additional payment or refund.
The operating cost statement must be delivered no later than 12 months after the billing period.
Housing
Selbstauskunft (Self-disclosure)
Questionnaire for prospective tenants with information about income, employer, and rental history — required by the landlord.
During the apartment viewing, I had to fill out a self-disclosure form.
Housing
Umzugsbeihilfe (Moving allowance)
Financial assistance from the Jobcenter or social services for moving costs — must be applied for and approved before the move.
The Jobcenter approved a moving allowance of €500 for me.
Housing
Vermieter (landlord)
Owner or property management that offers an apartment or house for rent.
My landlord increased the rent by 5%.
Housing
Warmmiete (warm rent)
Total rent including utilities (heating, water, waste, etc.) — also called gross rent.
The total rent is €950 — of which €700 is base rent and €250 is utilities.
Housing
Wohnberechtigungsschein (WBS) (housing certificate)
Certificate entitling one to rent a public housing apartment — income limits apply.
With a WBS, I can rent an affordable public housing apartment.
Housing
Wohngeld (housing allowance)
State subsidy for rent for low-income households — application submitted to the housing allowance office.
Since the 2023 reform, significantly more households are entitled to housing allowance.
Housing
Wohnungsgeberbestätigung (landlord confirmation)
Written confirmation from the landlord of the move-in — mandatory since 2015, required for registration.
Without confirmation from the landlord, I cannot register.
Housing
Wohnungsübergabe (flat handover)
Documented handover of the apartment to the tenant (move-in) or back to the landlord (move-out) — defects are recorded in the protocol.
During the apartment handover, we documented all scratches in the handover protocol.
Housing
Übergabeprotokoll (handover protocol)
Written protocol during move-in and move-out — documents condition of the apartment, meter readings, keys.
When moving in, take photos of everything and record it in the handover protocol.
Housing