Correctly create the distribution key for the additional costs for billing
As the lessor of rental units, you pass the ancillary costs on to your tenants. Create a corresponding distribution key for this.
Basic information on the distribution key for ancillary costs
- As a landlord, you must explain to your tenants how the extra costs put together for the individual tenant how it comes to the sum.
- Costs are usually billed according to sqm, cbm or according to the respective exact consumption. You can distribute the effort according to the respective square meters of living space or according to the number of people per residential unit. Also suitable are the cubic meters per enclosed space or the consumption according to the ratio of the vacant space rent. Design the distribution key here accordingly.
You have several options
- You always use the living space as a basis for billing when you use the rental contract have not agreed otherwise. The tenant then transfers the costs to you proportionally according to the number of square meters of his apartment.
- However, there is an exception to this rule when it comes to consumption-dependent operating costs such as waste water and garbage disposal. Appropriate measuring devices are usually available here. And that's why you bill here exactly according to consumption.
- As the landlord, you are obliged to change the distribution key according to "good faith" if this is "grossly unreasonable". This applies if individual tenants are treated unfairly as a result.
- You can distribute the agreed ancillary costs among your tenants according to the living space or the corresponding number of people. Both variants have advantages and disadvantages, but are permissible.
Ancillary costs and distribution key - useful information for tenants about billing the hot water costs
A landlord cannot arbitrarily transfer the incidental costs to the tenants ...
Correcting the allocation distribution
- You cannot unilaterally change your distribution key once it has been contractually agreed. To do this, all contracting parties must unanimously agree to a change.
- However, you can change the distribution key after installing the corresponding water meters and then bill the water consumption directly. A new distribution key is always possible if you have the water- or be able to bill waste costs closer to consumption.
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