Service charges and other extras connected to accommodation

Service charges include utility consumption charges such as heating, water, electricity and gas, as well as costs that are not incurred by the rented apartment alone but by the property as a whole, which is why they are shared by every apartment in the building. These extras include rubbish collection services, waste water, maintenance of lifts/elevators, where applicable, caretaker or cleaning costs, etc.

 

So please check, when looking for accommodation, whether the rent is inclusive or exclusive of service charges (so-called "Warmmiete" or "Kaltmiete" - also referred to simply as "kalt" - respectively), to enable you to compare the rental rates. It is also a good idea to find out exactly which utility consumption charges are actually included in the "warm" rent and what extras you may be expected to pay. Another important point to bear in mind is that the monthly utility and service charge - especially for the long-term rental of unfurnished accommodation, but sometimes for furnished flats, too – is a basic amount normally paid in advance and subsequently balanced with your actual consumption once a year, which may incur either additional payments or a refund. In the case of furnished flats, particularly for short rental periods, the quoted service charges and "warm rent" rate are usually fixed sums. As a rule of thumb, utility and service charges in Munich are usually in the region of 2 - 3 euros per square metre of rented space, but may be slightly higher or lower.

Telephone and Internet charges and the TV licence fees (payable to the GEZ Fee collection centre of public-law broadcasting institutions in the Federal Republic of Germany) are not included in the utility and service charges and normally have to be paid on top of these costs. They are sometimes included in the overall rent for furnished accommodation, however.

Heating

It is important to differentiate between gas and central heating.

If the flat is fitted with gas heating and gas consumption is not included in the utility and service charges, you will have to calculate a higher outlay for gas. If gas is included in the service charges, the total utility and service charge will be higher than the normal rate.

Electricity and Gas

If these utility and service charges are not included in your "warm rent", you must contact a utility provider of your choice and register there. To do so, you need to have the up-to-date meter reading taken on the day you move in, which you can obtain from your landlord.

Once you have registered, the provider will stipulate a monthly or quarterly charge, which is generally based on the previous tenant's average consumption. These charges consist of a base rate and actual consumption figures. The advance payments are then balanced with your actual consumption at the end of each accounting period (once a year). You will be sent an annual statement containing details of any additional charges or refunds.

Between 20 and 45 euros is what one person can expect to pay per month for electricity, depending on individual consumption and the choice of provider.

Price comparison websites are a good way to check out providers and relevant prices, such as:

• www.verivox.de
• www.preisvergleich.de

Telephone and Internet

Most flats have telephone and Internet access but they are not always connected. You need to get in touch with the provider of your choice, select the desired tariff and have the connection activated. There are various options from which to choose. Before signing a contract, please take note of any minimum terms and stipulations regarding notice of termination as well as the different rates available. There are several price comparison sites that provide a useful overview of the price and service categories offered by different providers:

• www.dsl-flatrate-abc.de
  
• www.tariftip.de

Telephone and/or Internet connections may already be activated and ready for use in the case of some furnished apartments. The landlord usually charges separately for usage unless it is included in the total rent.

It is also possible to make national and international telephone calls from the numerous call shops and Internet cafés which are available in most areas of the city. Please click here for a complete list.

If you already have a telephone extension at home, you can also use international dialing cards. These cards allow you to do international calls from your land line or mobile phone at low rates. Most of the Dialing Cards ask you to call a national phone number. After identifying yourself by entering a code printed on your card you can dial the international phone number that you want to call. The calling rates will be deducted from the credit balance of your calling card. On your regular phone bill the fee for the local connection will be charged only. An example for a rechargeable International Dialing Card is GoBananas (please see http://www.gobananas.de).

There are also several providers of mobile communication services. For further information on mobile phones please click here.

You can also use the Internet free of charge at your desk, with your private laptop on the TUM campus, in the libraries and in diverse computer rooms. For further details please click here.

GEZ

The GEZ (Fee collection centre of public-law broadcasting institutions in the Federal Republic of Germany) is responsible for collecting the radio and TV rental charges. In principle, everyone who lives in Germany and is in possession of a fully operable receiver is required to pay these fees. This includes TV sets, radio/wireless receivers and computers with Internet access and, as international telephone calls can be very expensive, we recommend that you take advantage of the services offered by various call shops and Internet cafés. Click here here for further information.

The fee depends on the number of receivers you own but not how much you use them. Current tariffs are set out here here.

Applications forms, tips on termination of contract and other terms are available here here.

Under certain circumstances, you may be exempted from payment of the fees. See here here for more information.

contact: accommodation@zv.tum.de