Heating costs are one of the most frequent questions in shared flats. Two levels need to be kept apart: the landlord settles with the tenancy as a whole, and you as flatmates agree internally who bears which share. This guide explains how the allocation works under the German Heating Costs Ordinance (Heizkostenverordnung, HeizkostenV), which deadlines apply and what you can check in the statement.
Short answer: The Heating Costs Ordinance requires that at least 50 and at most 70 percent of the costs of the central heating system are allocated according to the recorded heat consumption. The remainder is allocated by living or usable area (§ 7 para. 1 HeizkostenV). How you split the total among flatmates is a matter for your internal agreement. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- The landlord allocates heating costs under the Heating Costs Ordinance, not by feeling or head count.
- At least 50 and at most 70 percent follow the recorded heat consumption (§ 7 para. 1 sentence 1 HeizkostenV).
- The remaining share is allocated by living or usable area.
- The internal split among flatmates is a question for your agreement and should be recorded in writing.
- The statement must reach you within twelve months after the end of the accounting period at the latest (§ 556 para. 3 BGB).
How does the landlord allocate heating costs?
The Heating Costs Ordinance defines which share of the costs must be allocated by actual consumption. Under § 7 para. 1 sentence 1 HeizkostenV, at least 50 and at most 70 percent of the costs of operating the central heating system must be allocated according to the recorded heat consumption of the users. For certain older buildings heated with oil or gas, sentence 2 sets a share of 70 percent.
| Share of the costs | Allocation key | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| At least 50 percent and at most 70 percent | Recorded heat consumption of the users | § 7 para. 1 sentence 1 HeizkostenV |
| The remainder | Living or usable area of the room | § 7 para. 1 HeizkostenV, allocation of the remainder |
| Buildings under sentence 2 with 70 percent | Recorded heat consumption, higher share | § 7 para. 1 sentence 2 HeizkostenV |
For you this means that part of the bill depends on how much the building uses overall, and the rest on how large the flat is. A flatmate who heats little therefore does not pay only according to his or her own consumption.
How do flatmates split the heating costs internally?
The landlord usually bills the tenancy agreement, not individual flatmates. How the total is divided among you is a matter of your internal agreement. The law does not prescribe a particular split, so agree on one together and record it in writing.
A common solution is an equal split per person. If one person has a much larger room or other habits, you can also agree on a split by room size.
Worked example (assumption): The landlord bills 1,200 euros of heating costs for the whole flat. Three people split the sum equally. Each person then pays 400 euros. With a split by room size, the individual amounts change, but the total stays the same.
Which deadlines apply to the statement?
Under § 556 para. 3 sentence 2 BGB, the statement must be communicated to the tenant within twelve months after the end of the accounting period at the latest. After this deadline, a claim for additional payment by the landlord is excluded, unless the landlord is not responsible for the late assertion (§ 556 para. 3 sentence 3 BGB).
Worked example (assumption): The accounting period is calendar year 2026. The statement must then reach you by the end of December 2027 at the latest. You must raise objections with the landlord at the latest within twelve months after receipt of the statement (§ 556 para. 3 sentence 5 BGB).
How do you check the heating statement?
- Check whether the accounting period is correct and whether you are only billed for the months you lived in the flat.
- Compare the advance payments you made with the total in the statement.
- Check the allocation key: is the consumption share correct, and is the remainder allocated by area?
- Make sure only costs of your flat and not of another part of the building appear.
- Note any irregularities in writing and send your objection to the landlord in time.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay heating costs if I hardly heat myself?
Part of the costs depends on the recorded consumption and the rest on the area. Someone who heats little therefore saves only part of the costs. The consumption figures in the statement show how your own use plays into it.
What happens when a flatmate moves out?
The rules are set out in your tenancy agreement and your internal agreement. If the agreement records who bears which share until the end of the accounting period, there is less room for later disputes. Document the handover of the flat as well.
Can a heating fault reduce the rent?
A heating failure can be a defect of the rented property. Whether the rent is reduced, and by how much, is decided case by case (§ 536 para. 1 BGB). Report a fault immediately and in writing to the landlord.
Where do I send my objections?
Objections go to the landlord or the property management, not to your flatmates. For the deadline, the receipt of the statement by you counts. Keep the envelope or the email with its date.
What you need to check the statement
Before you check the statement, gather the documents you need for comparison. These include the tenancy agreement with the stated floor area, the statement itself, your bank statements showing the advance payments and any handover protocol. Also note who lived in the flat and for which months.
With these documents you can usually quickly clarify whether the area, the number of people and the accounting period match your flat. If something is missing, write it down, because you can raise it in an objection.
Why the heating statement can look confusing
The statement combines several levels. First comes the total heating cost of the building, then the split between the flats according to the allocation key, and finally the share attributable to your flat. The advance payments are then offset against this amount. Looking at each step separately makes errors easier to find.
Pay particular attention to the difference between the consumption-based share and the area share. High consumption in the building does not automatically explain a high additional payment in your flat, because the two shares are calculated separately.
What to do if the total seems high
If the additional payment is clearly higher than in previous years, a comparison is worthwhile. Check whether the floor area has changed, whether the key was adjusted or whether a flatmate moved out for a longer period. Ask the landlord in writing for the basis of the calculation and use your right of inspection under § 556 para. 4 BGB.
A higher statement is not automatically an error. It can also result from rising energy prices or a longer heating period. What matters is that the calculation is comprehensible and that the deadlines are kept.
What to do now
- Note the date on which you received the statement and put the deadline in your calendar.
- Check the items against your tenancy agreement and advance payments, and use your right of inspection where needed.
- Send your objections in time and in text form to the landlord.
- Get advice if the additional payment is high or you are unsure.
Related reading
- Wohnen im Studium: Miete, WG, Wohnheim und Wohngeld im Überblick
- Student Dorm or Shared Flat: Which Suits You Better?
- How to Find a Shared Flat: Tips for a Successful Search
- Student Tenancy Agreement: What You Should Check Before Signing
Sources: § 7 HeizkostenV: Verteilung der Kosten (allocation of costs), gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed November 2026 and § 556 BGB: Vereinbarungen über Betriebskosten (operating cost agreements), gesetze-im-internet.de, accessed November 2026. German legal text, English summary.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
