General

In Germany, the installation of smoke alarms in new buildings is mandatory. This is because they alert the occupants of a house or apartment as soon as a fire starts. Fire alarms must also be retrofitted in older buildings. The building regulations in the respective federal states provide information on whether owners or tenants are responsible for installing the smoke alarms...

Thermography is a proven method for detecting energy leaks in new and old buildings. A special thermal imaging camera takes colored pictures of different surface temperatures and can thus provide information about the air tightness in old buildings and detect thermal bridges and damage. The thermographic method is also suitable for new buildings...

The janitorial costs are part of every operating cost statement and are paid by the tenants on an annual pro-rata basis. A janitor is primarily responsible for general control and monitoring activities on the property. This includes, for example, checking the escape and rescue routes, the proper functioning of the technology and lighting of common areas or the control...

A kitchen floor must not only withstand a lot of wear and tear, but also look good. After all, modern kitchens are often connected to the living and dining areas, which is why appearance plays an increasingly important role in addition to function. When dishwater overflows or frying fat splatters, the stains on the kitchen floor should be easy to wipe off. Also falling knives or kitchen tools...

The January 2020 issue of the trade magazine "DW Die Wohnungswirtschaft" focuses on the housing market and its developments in rural areas in Germany. Even though the population in Germany has increased overall, the population figures in rural areas are decreasing rapidly. On the one hand, the ever-developing urbanization and migration of young...

To help property owners plan modernization and renovation measures, the Association of Private Building Owners (VPB) compiles an individual renovation roadmap to help owners maintain the value of their property. The individual renovation roadmap includes a list of construction measures that are adapted to the owners' respective living situations. To...

Even if spring has not yet arrived, it is worth thinking about a balcony extension with solar parapet. Because such a balcony not only looks chic and saves energy costs annually, but the solar parapet also stores abundant solar energy, which can be used in the household. To generate a particularly high energy yield, it is recommended that the...

A flat-sharing community (WG) consisting of four persons in an apartment in an old building in Berlin submits an application to the main owner and landlady to sublet premises to two further persons. The landlady agrees in principle to the subletting, but demands a subletting surcharge of 25.56 euros per month. She justifies her demand with a...

If you want to protect yourself and your property from burglars, you would be well advised to equip your house with motion detectors. Because if the property lights up, this deters intruders and increases security. Whether in front of the house entrance, at the garage entrance or at the entrance to the basement, care should be taken when installing the motion detectors that they are high...

Anyone who wants to convert their home to make it suitable for the elderly will receive financial support from the state. This year, the Federal Ministry of the Interior has increased subsidies for conversion measures from 75 million to 100 million euros. The Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) subsidizes barrier-free conversion measures and age-appropriate modernization measures with up to 6,250 euros. As of January 3,...