Quick answer
Important
1. The ongoing ownership budget
Separate predictable monthly costs from irregular large repairs. A low mortgage payment does not fund a roof, heating replacement or special WEG levy.
- Mortgage payment and refinancing risk
- Grundsteuer and municipal charges
- Building insurance and situation-specific liability cover
- Electricity, heating, water, waste and other utilities
- Routine maintenance and long-term repair reserve
- For apartments: Hausgeld, reserve contributions and Sonderumlagen
2. Reformed Grundsteuer
The post-reform system applies from 2025. The tax is based on the property-tax value/model, a tax measurement figure and the municipality’s Hebesatz. State models and municipal multipliers mean there is no honest Germany-wide amount.
Owners receive assessment notices and should check property data and local payment instructions. Use the state tax portal and municipality for the actual calculation.
3. Homeowner insurance
Wohngebäudeversicherung protects the building against insured risks under the policy and is commonly required by mortgage contracts, but specific legal and lender requirements must be checked. Haus- und Grundbesitzerhaftpflicht may be relevant where owner liability is not already covered.
Do not buy every optional policy by default. Check exclusions, insured value, natural-hazard cover and overlapping liability cover.
4. Apartment ownership and the WEG
Hausgeld covers shared operating and administration costs and often reserve contributions. Review annual statements, budgets and resolutions. The reserve belongs to the association, and a Sonderumlage can still be required for a major project.
5. Renovation and energy decisions
Planning permission, condominium approval, heritage rules and energy law may restrict work. Use qualified experts for structural, heating and energy decisions and check grants before signing contracts.
6. Frequently asked questions
It varies materially by property, state model and municipal Hebesatz; use the official assessment and local information.
Not universally in one standard form, though a lender may require it and it is commonly important risk cover.
An additional payment approved by the apartment owners when normal funds or reserves are insufficient.
Official information
Rules and amounts change. Always verify current requirements using official sources.
Related guides
Amounts and legal requirements can change. We verify this information against official sources and show when each figure was last checked, but always confirm important requirements with the responsible authority before you apply.
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