Erfurt (dpa/th) - As a result of the sharp rise in energy prices, more and more Thuringians are looking for help from tenants' associations. In the past few months, the number of people seeking advice has risen by at least a third, said the chairman of the regional association of the German Tenants' Association, Georg Seidler, on Friday in Erfurt. There is a need for advice mainly because of the significantly increased advance payments for operating costs. "The burden of the advice we have has increased enormously." It is hardly possible for the around 18 advisors from the local tenants' associations in Thuringia to cope with the onslaught.
Many tenants are threatened with additional payments for heating and hot water in the four-digit range next year, said Seidler. A corresponding forecast by the Thuringian housing and real estate industry association from the past few months is "definitely" realistic. In the consultations, at least half of the tenants stated that they would not be able to pay such sums all at once. Many will find it difficult to pay off such a sum in 25-euro installments.
In addition to the increases in operating costs, many people are also affected by rising rents, Seidler said. While municipal and cooperative landlords in particular are currently deliberately refraining from higher basic rents, there are other landlords who would also raise basic rents. Some private landlords apparently even tried to use the current general price increases to their advantage.
Against this background, the state association called for a legal moratorium on cold rent increases. Experience has shown that appeals to landlords to refrain from rent increases are not nearly as effective as legal bans, said Seidler.
