The German Tenants’ Association fears that at least the lower-income third of the German population will not be able to pay the rising energy costs. “That’s a hell of a lot of people,” said the President of the Tenants’ Association, Lukas Siebenkotten, to the Tagesspiegel. People who are just above any state transfer benefit are particularly affected. “We’re talking about millions here,” warned Siebenkotten.
In order to relieve tenants, the tenants’ association calls for a comprehensive reform of the housing benefit and better protection against dismissal. “You would have to significantly increase the income limits for people who can claim housing benefit,” said Siebenkotten. Siebenkotten sees the limit at a net household income of 5,000 euros per month. In addition, an annual flat rate for heating costs and a climate component would have to be built into the housing benefit. This could, for example, absorb rent increases following energy-related refurbishment. Chancellor Scholz recently announced a housing benefit reform as a government relief measure.
Tenants who cannot pay the high energy costs should be protected from terminations and also receive a two-year deferral of debt, the tenant protection agency demands. The SPD’s proposal, which only wants to introduce six-month protection against dismissal after receipt of the utility bill, does not go far enough. “You also have to protect tenants from terminations if they cannot make increased advance payments,” said Siebenkotten.