Overview

• Owners who live in their homes can receive a burden allowance that considers mortgage interest and repayment, a maintenance and operating-cost flat rate of €36 per square meter annually, property tax, administration, relevant insurance and certain heating costs, subject to income and asset checks.
• For property owners, reported asset limits are €60,000 for the applicant plus €30,000 for each additional household member, with the award determined by household size, total housing burdens and combined income.
• Eligibility is needs-tested by income, household size and local rent level rather than a single income cutoff, and official calculators provide estimates of likely awards.
• Recipients of Bürgergeld, basic income support in old age or due to reduced earning capacity, BAföG or vocational training aid are excluded, as the benefit targets households not already covered by those supports.
• The subsidy was raised by about 15 percent on January 1, 2025, with typical awards often between roughly €200 and €350, and official examples include around €250 for a single retiree with an €860 gross pension and a €335 cold rent.