Gas heating - new obligations for owners

Gas is still in short supply. Savings must continue to be made. To achieve this, the Federal Council has adopted measures that have been in force since October 1, 2022. They affect heating systems, among other things. What owners need to consider now.

The regulation with the catchy name Ordinance on securing the energy supply through Medium-term effective measures (EnSimiMaV) is to apply for two years for the time being and provides for the following for private real estate:

• Gas heating systems must be checked annually in order to set low flow temperatures and a reduction during the night.
• Hydraulic balancing is mandatory for large buildings with a central heating supply using natural gas. By optimizing the distribution of water in the radiators, the heating systems should work more efficiently.
• Inefficient, uncontrolled heating pumps in buildings with natural gas heating must be replaced.

On September 1, 2022, the Ordinance on securing the energy supply through short term effective measures (EnSikuMaV) in force. It initially applies for six months and provides for the following for private properties:

• Clauses in residential tenancy agreements that oblige tenants to heat to a certain minimum temperature have been temporarily suspended. However, tenants are still obliged to prevent damage to the apartment through appropriate heating and ventilation behavior.
• Private swimming and bathing pools, whether indoors or outdoors, may no longer be heated with gas or electricity unless heating is absolutely necessary for therapeutic purposes.
• Gas suppliers and owners of larger residential properties must inform their customers or tenants at an early stage about expected energy consumption, its costs and potential savings.

The measures adopted are intended to exceed the European Union's voluntary energy-saving target of a 15% reduction in gas consumption compared to the average consumption of the past five years by the end of March 2023.

According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, gas savings of around 20% are currently required "to avert a gas shortage". So far (as of September 19, 2022), five to eight percent have already been saved. The new regulation aims to reduce gas consumption by a further two to two and a half percent.

Would you like to know how your heating affects the value of your property? Get in touch with us! We will be happy to advise you.

Notes

For reasons of better readability, the generic masculine is used in this text. Female and other gender identities are explicitly included where this is necessary for the statement.

Legal notice: This article does not constitute tax or legal advice in individual cases. Please consult a lawyer and/or tax advisor to clarify the facts of your specific individual case.

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