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German Tenant Groups Report Surge in Advice Requests Over 2024 Heating Bills

Record 2024 heating bills followed the expiry of price caps plus a VAT rollback.

Overview

  • Tenant associations in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne and Frankfurt report sustained high demand for help with annual heating-cost settlements for 2024.
  • The Berlin tenants' association logged 14,628 heating-cost consultations through September 2025, after totaling 22,881 in the prior full year.
  • Industry firm Ista, analyzing 1.5 million statements, found 2024 costs at a record, with district heating averaging 1,140 euros (about +25% year over year), gas 909 euros (+5%) and heating oil 913 euros (-12%).
  • Associations cite the end of energy price brakes around the 2023/24 turn of the year and the March 2024 end of the temporary VAT cut on gas and district heating as key drivers.
  • Landlords typically issue annual utility statements in October to December with a year-end deadline, while owner group Haus und Grund reports broad discussion of the issue without precise figures.