Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- What is important when terminating a lease agreement?
- What is my rent composed of (operating and heating expenses)?
- What is a "Wohnberechtigungsschein" (WBS)?
- Which expenses occur when renting an apartment?
- May I have pets in my apartment?
- Where do I get additional keys for my apartment?
- Who is my contact person when I want to report any defects?
- What is a credit investigation/SCHUFA enquiry?
What is important when terminating a lease agreement?
The termination of a lease agreement must be effected in writing to the lessor. The relevant notice periods between receipt of the termination notice and the end of the lease period are defined in your lease contract.
Regardless of the notice period determined in your lease contract please note that the termination notice has to be received by your lessor on the third working day (Note: Saturday is considered as a working day as well!) of a calendar month at the latest. Here, it is the date of receipt of the termination notice by the lessor which counts, not the date on the letter or the postal stamp.
Example:
You wish to terminate the lease contract for your apartment on April 30, a year and your contract determines a three-month notice period. In that case the termination notice should be received by your lessor on, February 4, a year at the latest so that the termination date can be accepted according to your request. If the termination notice is not received but on Thursday, February 5, a year the notice period will be prolonged by one month, i.e. the lease agreement will be terminated on May 31, a year.
If you have any questions related to notice periods and deadlines before filing the termination notice, please contact the service team member in charge of your apartment. We are happy to assist.
Please also remember to terminate any contracts with your electricity and gas suppliers as well as with your telecommunications provider before your lease period ends. If you forget to notify these suppliers, and if the next tenant forgets to register his connections (since electricity has not been disconnected) it may happen that later you receive a bill from your suppliers charging you for electricity which was consumed by the tenant who took over your apartment. In such a case even the GAGFAH GROUP cannot be of any assistance since it is you who have concluded a contract with the utilities companies.
What is my rent composed of (operating and heating expenses)?
In general - depending on the provisions defined in your lease agreement - the monthly total rent to be paid by you is composed of
Net cold rent
+ incidental rental expenses paid in advance
+ charges for heating and hot water paid in advance
Net cold rent is the payment permitting the use of the rental unit, i.e. the actual rent.
Incidental rental expenses (operating expenses) are current expenses resulting from the use of a building or plot of land, e.g..
- Trash collection
- Water supply
- Cable TV
- Building insurance
- Real property tax, etc.
These expenses are regularly paid by the lessor and can be passed on to the tenant according to German Regulation on Operating Costs and the provisions pertaining to rent contracts. On a monthly basis the tenant makes an advance payment for these expenses together with the actual rent. On a yearly basis the actual expenses of the previous year are then settled off against the advance payments made by the tenant over the same period. As a result the settlement of accounts shows either a credit balance for the tenant, or a subsequent payment will be required.
Your tenancy agreement defines in detail which expenses are to be borne by the tenant, and which expense allocation scheme is used to allocate expenses.
A similar procedure is used for any expenses related to heating (and hot water supply, unless an electric instantaneous water heater is used) of your apartment; here again a monthly advance payment is effected by the tenant, and an annual settlement of accounts on the basis of the actual expenses is made which results into either a credit balance or a subsequent payment for the tenant.
For heating expenses there are different possibilities to process the settlement of accounts, e.g. based on the meter readings of the heat allocation devices, or based on the total rental surface. The applicable method for accounting is defined in your lease contract.
If there is any off-peak electricity storage heater or any gas heating system per storey in your apartment, those expenses are, in general, paid directly to the relevant supplier by the tenant, and they are not included into any advance payments paid to the lessor together with the rent. I.e. in such a case the expenses determined in your lease contract (net cold rent and incidental expenses) do not include any heating expenses. However, at any rate the agreements laid down in your lease contract are applicable.
In as similar way, any expenses for electricity supply and telephone connection are not included in the monthly total rent for your apartment - please register with the responsible utilities companies (Stadtwerke, Telekom, etc.). If hot water is supplied by an electric instantaneous water heater, these expenses are included in your electricity bill.
What is a "Wohnberechtigungsschein" (WBS)?
For renting any apartment which has been subsidized with public funds (social housing) and which offers especially favourable rent conditions it is required to present a Wohnberechtigungsschein (WBS, document certifying the eligibility to rent subsidized rental units) before concluding a lease contract.
Only certain groups of persons complying with certain revenue thresholds are eligible.
Detailed information related to current requirements and income thresholds can be obtained from your local municipality office; this is also the authority issuing WBSs.
If you are interested in a certain apartment on the GAGFAH Homepage the entry for the unit in question specifies whether or not a WBS is required.
Which expenses occur when renting an apartment?
Since we only rent out apartments from our own portfolio or from our third-party management, for direct rent transactions no brokerage fee or commission is charged.
In general, the payment of a deposit (financial security) is required at the beginning of the lease period. This deposit amounts to max. 3 net cold rents (without including any advance payments for heating or rental expenses). The applicable rent deposit rate should be remitted to the GAGFAH GROUP on time before receiving the key. Upon termination of the lease and after settlement of all claims arising from this lease the rent deposit - incl. interest payments according to statutory provisions - will be paid back to the tenant.
The responsible GAGFAH GROUP service team will be happy to answer any further questions related to rent deposits.
May I have pets in my apartment?
Small pets, such as ornamental fish, canaries, hamsters, etc. are always permitted in an apartment; if you wish to have any other animal, such as a dog or a cat, the lease contract usually includes a note that you need the approval of the lessor.
As a general rule, animals kept in an apartment must not cause any inconvenience for any other tenant, or cause damage to the apartment.
If you intend to rent an apartment of the GAGFAH GROUP please inform us whether you have any pets so that disagreements can be avoided.
Where do I get additional keys for my apartment?
If you need additional keys for your apartment please contact the responsible contact person at the GAGFAH GROUP.
Our residential properties are frequently equipped with central locking systems so that you cannot simply have a second key made; these systems ensure enhanced security for all our tenants.
Who is my contact person in case I want to report any defects?
If you detect any defect in your apartment please contact the responsible contact person at the GAGFAH GROUP, or the caretaker in charge of your residential property.
What is a credit worthiness/SCHUFA enquiry?
In order to ensure contractual security, before concluding a rent contract credit worthiness and/or SCHUFA enquiries are made by the GAGFAH GROUP related to the tenant in question. This is done only if the tenant has given his agreement in writing prior to the enquiry.
The information obtained includes e.g. details related to any statement in lieu of an oath, any order for arrest to make a statement in lieu of an oath, and/or information about possible non-contractual handling of loans or other liabilities by the tenant. Data about personal income or financial situations are not included in these enquiries.
Of course, all data is treated confidentially by the GAGFAH GROUP in accordance with the provisions stipulated in the Federal Data Protection Law.