Hartz 4 and renovation costs
Tenants and owners of apartments who move into Hartz 4 can share the renovation costs with the state. The relevant prerequisites for this are regulated by the Social Security Code.
The legislature recognizes Reside as the basic existential need of all people. The aim of basic security for job seekers who receive Hartz 4 benefits must therefore be to ensure adequate accommodation.
Accommodation expenses for the Hartz 4 recipient must be reasonable
- The social service provider pays accommodation costs on a permanent basis, insofar as they are reasonable (Section 22 SGB II).
- A distinction must be made between whether the Hartz 4 recipient is the owner of the apartment or its tenant.
Cosmetic repairs at the tenant cause renovation costs
- In the case of a tenant, it is about the obligation to make cosmetic repairs, which he must regularly undertake on the basis of the agreements in the rental agreement. The case law (Federal Social Court B 4 AS 49/07 R) recognizes that moving out, moving in and ongoing renovation costs are part of the accommodation requirement.
- To determine the appropriate costs the KDU must be filled out by the tenant.
- The appropriateness of the renovation costs incurred is determined, among other things, by whether and to what extent the tenant is actually obliged to carry out cosmetic repairs. The transfer takes place in the amount of the actual amount. In principle, the tenant is also obliged to do his own thing.
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The owner is concerned with the maintenance effort
- If the Hartz-4 recipient is the owner of the apartment, the maintenance costs that guarantee the habitability of the home are also considered as accommodation costs.
- The assumption of costs is based on the fact that the aim is not to increase the market value. Maintenance costs are therefore paid when necessary, if they are appropriate and necessary and serve to maintain the property.
- It must be taken into account that the maintenance costs are not provided as a monthly flat rate with the aim of building up reserves, but only covers acute needs.
- Since the apartment owner cannot evade the maintenance reserve, an exception can be made here. Here, too, the limit is to be seen in the pure preservation of value.
It is important that tenants and owners speak to their social service provider before carrying out any renovation measures and have the renovation costs approved. Without prior approval, you run the risk that the service provider will judge the takeover as inappropriate and reject it.
